Southside FM takes to the airwaves

AFTER a decade-long battle to get on the airwaves, Southside FM went live on Friday morning.

Dinesh Naidoo, the head of operations at the station, said: “It’s been a long journey. We now look forward to bringing our listeners the best content, from local to international South Indian music to lifestyle and empowerment shows.”

He said in 2009, a group of likeminded people thought it was time to start a station that catered to the South Indian community.

“A committee was elected. However, over the years, there have been many stumbling blocks. One included them struggling to get a broadcast frequency. Without this, they were unable to acquire a licence from the Independent Communications Authority of SA.”

The committee, he said, subsequently liaised with Roy Padayachie, who was the minister of public service and administration at the time. When Padaychie died in 2012, his wife, Sally, assisted. She is now the chairperson of the station’s board. The board members include Richard Naidoo, Devan Moodley, Mahen Moodley, Logan Naidoo and Dilly Naidoo.

“Sally and the other members managed to obtain a frequency – 107.2FM – and licence in December 2019. But there was another hurdle – the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Naidoo, who was part of the initial committee, said he was contacted in

December to get the station operational.

“I initially left the committee because I had several other projects at the time. When I was asked to assist last year, I was keen. We sorted out the statutory requirements and built a studio in less than eight weeks on lovely premises in Musgrave. We also began to interview for radio jockeys.”

He said Southside FM had 15 radio jockeys – some are from communitybased radio stations, while others include veterans in the industry, such as Devan Nair, Vijayluxmi Balakrisha and Lloyd Paul.

“We enlisted Manick Thor, a former SABC radio jockey, to train the team. He is also the station’s sound engineer."

The shows include the Weekday Breakfast Show, Brunch Show, Drive-Show and Youth Unplugged.

There are also the top 20 Tamil, and top 20 Telugu shows, among others. The station, said Naidoo, was only mandated to play Tamil, Telugu, English and isiZulu music.

“We will play about 90% local and international South-Indian music. We will also play what is popular in either English or isiZulu. We don’t only want to reach the South Indian community, but the country.

“Apart from music, we have topical and lifestyle shows. For example, there will be discussions with medical doctors, lawyers and financial specialists. The youth shows will address issues that include teenage pregnancy and bullying.

“We intend to interview legends in the South Indian industry such as singers, actors and directors. We will also

have the singers introduce their own songs before these are played. We are able to do this because of the relationships we have with artists in India.

“We also intend to do a daily linkup with people in countries such as India, Malaysia, Singapore and Mauritius, which have large South Indian communities. They will give insight into what is happening there.”

He said Southside FM was being livestreamed, so they expected to garner an international listenership.

Naidoo said the station was a non-profit organisation, and they depended on

donors and advertisements to remain on-air.

Revathi Pillay, who presents the weekday Breakfast Show and Youth Unplugged show, said: “We aim to empower the youth and aid in getting their voices heard. We will highlight the challenges they face and provide solutions.”

Sivani Chinappan, who presents the weekend breakfast show, Kaalai Kondaattam, said: “I am looking forward to sharing the gift of edutainment alongside a buffet of South Indian hits. This will hopefully inspire the youth to get in touch with their cultural roots within the multicultural South Africa that we live in.”

Yovani Naidoo, who presents The Centre Stage, said: “This show will promote local talent to help them shape their craft.”

The station reaches Port Shepstone, KwaDukuza, Howick and Ixopo.