By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA -The Qwa Qwa based community radio station board of directors’ chairperson George Mei Salemane , has send a stem warning to politicians ahead of much anticipated 2026 local elections.
Salemane who is the longest serving board chairman is not a stranger to politics as he is a former politician who served as a councillor for a long period and now an established businessman, said they will not allow politicians to take advantage of the local broadcaster during their campaigns.
The local radio station enjoys a wide broadcast footprint across the biggest and highly contested district in the Free State province with also audiences in KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring Kingdom of Lesotho.
During elections political parties eye for good elections results in this district with assurance of having a good stand in the province.
He vowed that to offer fair play ground to all political parties and independent candidates in line with ICASA regulations and IEC guidelines.
“I want to assure the community at large , our listeners and all interested stakeholders that the is no way that we will allow politicians to abuse their powers and use this radio station for their benefit ahead and during elections. ICASA has gave us clear regulations to follow, “said Saleman.
He said going against the broadcasting framework will be seen as not being objective or fair and that may cause public unrests.
Local media in South Africa has a critical role to promote democracy development and community engagement.
Previously media capturing was seen and exposed during the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption, and fraud in the public sector, where The New Age publication was found to have been captured.
On the other hand political analyst Valerio Manzini said the upcoming elections will be highly contested as the 2024 and 1994.
Manzini said parties will have to use all they have or loss the race.
“Politicians are politicians they have a lot of surprising tricks up their sleeves and want power in all costs, media capturing do exist ,”said Manzini.
He added to be always best that media houses have clear standing positions and be fair to all as per regulations frameworks.
The station has a good track record of producing professional news broadcasters to the SABC NEWS, Lesedi FM, free-lance journalists for both electronic and print media since its establishment in 2000.
