Eastern Cape Community Radio Forum Presented At EC-IGCF 10 March 2010 Community Radio Winning Recipe is to Work together Radio Days Africa Conference 02 July 2015 Wits Radio Academy: Radio Days Africa By: Xola Nozewu Thursday, July 2015

Our Vision To create sustainable and professional community broadcasting services in the Eastern Cape.

Our Mission To unite community radio stations in the province for effective services through networking and capacity building towards the sustainability of the sector and strive to render uniform services.

Background The ECCRF was established as a Non- Profit Making Organization in Currently our membership is made up of 23 on-air community radio stations.

Community Radio Station will Prosper if they continue to work together !!!! Community Radio is one unique type of media which in most instances It’s initiated by an ordinary person who has no idea of how radio operates: Even so there are realities and expectations that you are obliged to full- fill because you enter in a competitive space: Meeting listenership expectation Generate Revenue Create Good Quality Programming Operate professionally Be Compliant

In Eastern Cape we created this concept and we managed: To create a common rate card so as to sell member stations as a package to provincial and national clients. We meet on three months basis to share our experiences and plan how to assist each other. We organise trainings for presenters and management. Skills Sharing: We now on the verge of developing proposals for member stations and submit such proposals as a package. What Role can Community Radio Hub Play !!!

But There’s still more to be done !!! SAARF needs to be more realistic when doing audience research, as community radio sector we believe that they are not fair to such an extent we exploring possibilities of second opinion audience research organisation. ICASA licencing does not allow enough breathing space for development of community radio sector i.e. flooding of stations in municipalities which are under developed or not sustainable, some licences which are owned by individuals and families impact negatively to our mandate and image. But again huge responsibility still remains with community stations to redefine these issues i.e. Administration, Voluntarism, Policies, Infighting between Board, Management and Staff.

Thank you…………. Presented At EC-IGCF 10 March 2010 Xola Nozewu Provincial Coordinator Eastern Cape Community Radio Forum Tel: /6 Fax: Cell: