Non profit 7441FM community radio station start up costs

7441 Media Communications is fully registered non profit organisation which founded 7441 FM community radio station.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) granted 7441FM a frequency on which to broadcast in one of the most historically disadvantaged communities on the West Coast, Malmesbury. The frequency covers a wide area and reaches other disadvantaged communities on the West Coast as well. 7441FM would become the second only indigenous language radio station in Cape Town. Because of lack of funds to purchase radio equipment to enable the community radio station broadcast its programs on air on its allocated frequency, the radio stations streams its content online.

Buying data bundle is a problem. Currently one of the founders of the community radio station engages in freelance photography, in the Gugulethu Township, Cape Town, shooting still pictures at Mzolis, a braai meat eatery. The money raised from this freelance photography is then used to buy data bundles to enable the radio station to stream its programs online, and stay in existence.

The community radio was established to broadcast as follows: 2 languages; isiXhosa 80% and English 20% and covering 50 minutes of news, of which 40% is local and 40% national, with the other 20% being for international programs, education, and general information.

Due to the continuing lack of funding, the radio station had submitted an application for funding to the government agency the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA). The request for funding was submitted to the MDDA in October 2016 and was only considered in the funding cycle of last year October upon which the agency threw out the application for funding without giving reasons.

It has been reported in the media that the statutory development agency has a questionable history, with allegations of corruption, incompetence, and maladministration; https://mg.co.za/article/2019-04-05-00-staff-back-...

We are currently running a campaign to raise start up costs to cover basic broadcasting equipment such as a 300 Watt FM transmitter, 88-108MHz and a dipole antenna system.

Good samaritans can purchase the cited equipment and donate it directly to the non profit community radio station.

For more information on the aims and vision behind the community radio station please visit our website www.radio7441fm.co.za/#