Community Radio and Internet in South Africa

Summary

The purpose of the proposed missions is to assist the Community Radio stations under the umbrella of NCRF in training and developing technical skills and tools for more effective broadcasting, digital editing, using Real Audio and Cool Edit,  local networking, exchange of content via internet, and web casting. A key element of this package of missions is to link the world of community radio with computer and internet projects like the Digital Villages, in order to share and combine infrastructure, skills and experience. The proposed missions fit in the broader strategy of NCRF to implement computer and internet applications in the functioning of their affiliated stations and to develop technical teams to service them.
(see related documents:….)

Long Term Objectives

a.to empower local community media with technical skills to operate and develop both old and new media
b. integrating training on radio techniques with computer and internet
techniques
c. building links between various stake holders (community radio, local press, news agencies, community computer projects like the Digital Villages, internet cafe's and a range of CBO's and NGO's) using internet
d. develop a functional network both technically and humanly:
    - acquiring bandwidth and access, plus hard, soft and net ware
    - establishing a resource and development centre, as both a physical
environment and a web site for distributing free software, manuals,
training courses, etc. (linked of course with the regional technical teams).
    - getting heads together to discuss the option of building a new
Internet Service Provider, joining forces with Sangonet and
other interested cyber-agents.

This  ISP will have the following features:
- enable effective exchange and networking between
community media (the SACRIN thing)
- a mix of "social venture" and "market enterprise":
some 20% of the bandwidth, training and technical services should be
devoted FOR FREE to community media, schools, CBO's, NGO's and cultural
projects (for free does not mean just like that, it means IN EXCHANGE FOR
CONTENT AND DEVELOPMENT); another 20% would be destined for people
in business, universities and Technikon who can afford a non-profit
fee to the ISP; the remaining 60% would be exploited as a competitive
commercial service (including technical assistance and training,
marketing and advertising, web design, E-commerce, etc.)
- the ISP would offer FAST connectivity and all of its services would be honed to a high degree, enabling it to operate effectively and with good commercial
prospects.
- reach out to disadvantaged areas, neighbouring countries and the global counter current of
open source development (like LINUX) and networking as a fundamental
tool for democracy building, social change and cultural liberation.

Chris Swart and Jo van der Spek started this track of radio-training and internet-development in Lesotho and continued in Cape Town with Bushradio. In Cape town we have identified a number of people and projects that are willing and able to carry this project ahead. We expect to find similar persons and projects in Jo’burg and other areas as well. The Digital Village is an interesting example of a  computer and internet laboratory. Based on what we saw, did and talked with manager Joe Mphahlalele of the Digital Village Soweto and the young guy Thapelo,  we believe they will make a very interesting and interested partner in this network.

We like working from a grass roots level,  sharing concrete tools, hands-on training and creating a stimulating environment for people with power, talent and imagination.
 

Expected outcomes

Two teams of trained network administrators, one specialized in audio applications, the other one in graphic and web design. These will be equipped to pass their skills on to the respective colleagues and to maintain and develop applications, assisted by Chris Swart and Harvey Stanic. It will be a head start for the ICT strategy designed by NCRF. Another outcome will be the linking between the Digital Villages and Community Radio. Third outcome will be a coalition dedicated to developing a culture of networking, resources for training and development and improving technical infrastructure