Management & Control

The Management and Control of the organization is totally in the hands of the community, represented by their various organizations, the station manager membership and public institutions. The highest decision –making body id the Annual General Meeting which is composed of CBO’s, NGO;s Fraternal Organization, Sectoral Organizations, Trade Unions, Business Organization, etc. the Board of Trustees, nominated through a democratic process from different organizations and appointed to the Board is presently composed as follow:

The Board of Trustees will be assisted by a Management Committee which will oversee the day to day running of the station, and is presently being assisted by the Working Committee which is presently constituted as follows:

The Management and Control of the organisation is further illustrated as follows by the organizational structure below.

Statement of Need

This proposal is presented before you in support of our application for financial assistance. This proposal is in line with your funding criteria for funding in that in falls within your scope of “Information, Education and Communication”. This proposal covers the period 1 February 2011 to 31March 2012 and is in alignment with our financial year end and annual financial cycle. The proposal will Endeavour to sketch a background of the project, Programmes, implementation strategy and reporting and accounting mechanisms.

The Takalani Community Radio Initiative was started in 1993 by community media activist in the Aliwal North area, soon after the Jabulani Freedom of the Airwaves Conference held in Orlando, Johannesburg in the year 1993. The station was initially mooted as a youth community of interest radio station, but after broad consultation with stakeholders from community based structures, fraternal organizations, and non-governmental organizations within the Aliwal North area, the focus was changed in it being a geographically founded community radio station broadcasting from Aliwal North within a 100 kilometers radius. The station was awarded a licence to broadcast by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa in terms of the IBA act, No153 of 1993 as amended, in November 2000. The Takalani Community Radio started its broadcasting service to UKhahlamba District Municipality area, consisting of three municipalities, Maletswai (Aliwal North and Jamestown), Senqu (Sterkspruit, Herschel, Lady Grey, and Barkly East. Rhodes), Gariep (Burgersdorp, Venterstad, Steynsberg), some parts of the Free State, such as Bethulie, Smithfield, Rouxville, Zastron, Van Stadensrus (some forming part of the Mohokare and Kopanong Municipality under the Xhariep District Municipality in the Southern Free State) and some part of the Lesotho Highlands area.

Area of Operation

The Takalani Community Radio started its broadcasting service to UKhahlamba District Municipality area, consisting of three municipalities, Maletswai (Aliwal North and Jamestown), Senqu (Sterkspruit, Herschel, Lady Grey, and Barkly East. Rhodes), Gariep (Burgersdorp, Venterstad, Steynsberg), some parts of the Freestate, such as Bethulie, Smithfield, Rouxville, Zastron, Van Stadensrus (some forming part of the Mohokare and Kopanong Municipality under the Xhariep District Municipality in the Southern Freestate) and some part of the Lesotho Highlands area.

The area served by TCR is mainly rural in nature with small patches of semi-urban features in areas such as Aliwal North, which is regard as its commercial centre. The total population in its coverage area as per statistics obtained from the 2000 Census could be estimated at around 700 000 (Seven hundred thousand). The main areas of economic activity are in the Agricultural and Tourism Industry with the majority of its residents dependent on the State Social Security System. The unemployment rate is very high as many are leaving to more economically active areas seeking employment.