Latest news with #SouthsideFM
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Double standards, and let's band together to save Southside FM and build a better South Africa
Such double standards applied There are moves afoot to impeach Ayman Odeh, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset known for his principled stands against what Israel is doing in Gaza. Military theorist Carl von Clausewitz said: 'War is the continuation of politics by other means.' It is the obverse vis-a-vis Israel's Knesset, for their parliamentary duties have become the perilous as typically the Jewish lawmakers like the apartheid SA lawmakers acted in a similar fashion, with Helen Suzman one of the few active opponents Prime Minister BJ Vorster's war against anyone who opposed his government. And so in the Knesset, being an opponent to apartheid has led to the continuation of war by other means. What was Odeh's crime? In January 2025, soon after the two-month Gaza ceasefire came into effect, he reportedly tweeted that: 'I am happy about the release of the (Israeli) hostages and (Palestinian)prisoners. From here, both peoples (sic) must be freed from the yoke of the occupation. We were all born free.' Scant attention was paid by the 'only democracy in the Middle East', ignoring the parliamentary legal adviser that impeachment was illegal. Nevertheless, it carried on. It looks like the mask of democracy has slipped as (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) Bibi's minions mimic their Arab cousins (Arabs and Jews bear a similar bloodline). The next move – Supreme Court action? | Saber Ahmed Jazbhay Newlands Band together save Tamil radio station Southside FM faces financial crisis; Icasa gives 3 month ultimatum', highlights a regrettable reality. The Chatsworth community radio station is facing a critical financial crisis that threatens its very existence. This institution has been a cornerstone of community life, providing a platform for local voices. The South Indian community needs to fully support Southside FM. Let's rally together to save our station. Tamil culture has been an important characteristic that embodies our rich cultural heritage. We need your (community) support to preserve our culture for future generations. It's time for a major shake-up and a new chapter. Maybe it's time for the station to seek more additional vibrant board members, the likes of Morgan and Darsen Nadasen, Merebank Tamil School Society, and Professor Gan Moodley to play a crucial role in shaping the station's future. If elected it will have people making significant contributions towards reaffirming Tamil values, as this is important so it can be passed down to the next generation. Let's make it happen. We owe it to ourselves, our community, and future generations to preserve this vital institution. The fate of our radio station reflects our community's values. We need to act now to ensure that Southside FM continues to thrive. It is unfortunate that staff are volunteering. Hats off to the presenters Thashriya Naidoo, Yogambal Singaram, Lalitha Gurukkal, Daeshni Pather, and not forgetting Station Manager Tansen Nepaul and many others who work tirelessly on a voluntary basis, sacrificing their time, energy, and expertise – you will be richly blessed. It is also unfair for these presenters not to be paid. Something has to be done. I love the quote by Elizabeth Andrew that so aptly expresses puts their devotion into context: 'Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart'. | Dhayalan Moodley Mobeni Heights Let's build on this for the good of SA Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube's announcement of the Safe Schools Programme is a welcome sign of urgency and intent. School safety is a foundational issue – learners cannot thrive in classrooms where violence, fear or instability are the norm. For too long, South Africa's education debate has been weighed down by basic questions of safety, sanitation, infrastructure and attendance. This programme is an important step forward, but let us be clear: Safety is only the beginning, not the end goal. The real crisis in education is not just about safety, but about outcomes – and what those outcomes mean for the future of our economy. We are in the grip of a long-term unemployment crisis, especially among the youth. And while government and civil society focus on interventions to stimulate job creation, too often they ignore the truth: Jobs don't just appear – they are built by entrepreneurs. The question is whether our education system is producing the kinds of learners who will go on to create businesses, innovate products, and grow industries. Right now the answer is no. If we truly want to prepare learners for life beyond the classroom, we must go beyond ensuring safety. We must commit to building schools that nurture entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving, curiosity and digital fluency, because that's where job creation really begins – not in a policy, but in a classroom that gives every child the confidence and tools to dream big and build boldly. Gwarube has opened the door, now let's walk through it and transform our schools from safe zones into launch pads for a thriving business ecosystem in South Africa. | Nicole Mirkin CEO at Omnia Strategic Counsel & Communications Digging an even deeper hole for itself Israel will only be digging a deeper hole for itself internationally if it proceeds with a plan outlined by its Defence Minister Israel Katz to eventually forcibly relocate the entire Palestinian population to a 'humanitarian city' on the ruins of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, from where they will be unable to leave once relocated. | Eric Palm Gympie, Australia Have we truly lose our critical thinking? If you can create a global crisis, you can promote a global solution, right? Successful and famous businessmen and philanthropists such as Bill Gates, George Soros and Klaus Schwab are masters of making us believe that if we do not agree with them or go along with their sick ideas for a better future, we are the problem. Think of the 2020 Covid Pandemic, so-called global warming and other potentially dangerous, but highly fabricated, man-made dilemmas, such as water or food shortages. They were all designed to make you believe that if we don't do something quickly, or if don't trust the global elites and unelected oligarchs, something terrible will happen if we do not heed their calls. Meanwhile, the opposite is true, but any attempt to discredit these obscenely rich know-it-alls, is drowned out or deemed to be 'misinformation/disinformation. When you hear woke doomsday prophets, such as Greta Thunberg spew garbage about the planet busy dying from too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, Bill Gates warning us of the 'next global pandemic, or Klaus Schwab – whose brainchild is the World Economic Forum – tells you that you will 'own nothing and be happy', you know that its time to start asking some serious questions. How did these unelected bullies get so wealthy, influential and arrogant, and why do we listen to them? When the World Economic Forum suggests that we should start eating crickets and bugs instead of meat, due to rising carbon dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere, are we honestly going to believe this rubbish? It's scary that so many people believe these lies and spend 99% of their lives with their heads buried deep in the sand. Can we not think for ourselves anymore? Have we lost the ability to think critically? A big threat to our privacy is the rise of CBDC's, or Central Bank Digital Currencies, and digital ID. Could you imagine the immense power that would be given to any government if we allow them to track our every move and transaction. This is already happening in some parts of the world, such as Scotland and Australia and other first-world countries. | L Oosthuizen Durban DAILY NEWS
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Cultural ambassadors rally for support station faces financial crisis
Southside FM faces a financial crisis. Image: Facebook CULTURAL leaders have expressed concern and rallied support for Southside FM, a station facing financial challenges, as they discuss strategies for its future sustainability. Selvan Naidoo, director of the 1860 Heritage Centre, said the station had consistently failed to meet the needs of the people it was meant to serve. 'It is sad that despite its incredible potential, SouthsideFM has failed to meet the needs of the majority Dravidian Indian African Diaspora living in South Africa. 'Bereft of a strategic vision to grow the station beyond a fiefdom of egoistic leadership, Southside FM has consistently failed to meet the needs of the people it was meant to serve. It is welcoming to see its present board reaching out to the community to develop a vision and mission that will help grow the station to meet its full potential. 'It is incumbent on the new board and all of us to put our shoulders to the wheel in ensuring that Southside FM develops a strategic vision that will be delivered with accountability, good governance and competence. Southside and its people deserve this much and much more,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Les Govender, deputy chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) said the financial crisis at the station was unfortunate. 'It was unfortunate to hear that Southside FM has been experiencing administrative and financial challenges and had to relocate from Westcliff to the premises in Silverglen. The meeting was robust, engaging the officials who have taken the initiative to call the meeting with a view of resolving the urgent issues,' he added. Govender said it was agreed at the public meeting that the committee that is already in place should continue to resolve administrative issues such as the status of the licence, registration of the station as a non-profit company, and attending to tax compliance matters. 'Once these issues have been resolved, all of us who are committed to preserving and promoting South Indian languages and culture need to work together and ensure that Southside FM grows in popularity and audience numbers. This will encourage advertising and sponsorship that will make the station sustainable. 'It's unacceptable that staff are not receiving regular salaries due to a lack of funding. I must commend the present staff component for their commitment and dedication. In these difficult times it's not easy to find such dedicated individuals who make themselves available to keep the station going. I have full confidence in Thaniga Moodley, Tansen Nepaul and others who are in the committee and I pledge my support to them in their efforts,' added Govender.
