Luzuko Pongoma, The New Age

Mdantsane, the second biggest township in the country, finally launched its own radio station on Wednesday, to the joy of the community.

The Buffalo City municipality, in which Mdantsane falls, said that the station was a dream come true and pledged financial support of more than R100 000 to the station.

Young and old flocked to the Mdantsane Sun hotel in the centre of the township from where the station would be broadcasting to see their new local radio personalities.

Spokesperson for Mdantsane FM Ntombifikile Manjani said that since the station started operating five days ago it had been overwhelmed by the response from the community.

“We are receiving a lot of calls, it is amazing. Sentech said that our audience was as if we had been operating for some time and people were waiting for us,” she said.

Manjani said that the stations broadcast reached King Williams Town, East London, Chintsa and some of the areas in the Kei region like Komga and some parts of Stutterhiem.

“Business has also accepted us, they keep on knocking at our doors inquiring about advertising and we already have an advert playing from Buffalo City Municipality,” she said.

Manjani said that the station had 37 staff members including DJs and producers.

She said that their next goal was to set up a website and make it available for people far and wide to access the station via the internet.

Manjani urged the community to give them a chance and to support them. “As our slogan says, Siguqula Ubomi (we change lives), we want to change the lives of residents and if they have any complaints they must come to us,” she said.

Manjani said the station was like a baby and it needed the support of everyone and when it made mistakes it had to be corrected.

Samkelo Ngwenya, spokesperson for the Buffalo City municipality, said that Mdantsane FM would help the metro reach the residents.

“It covers all areas of the metro. It gives people in the area the voice and also the metro will be able to get input from the residents,” he said.

Ngwenya said that before Mndantsane FM they relied on the IDP meetings and izimbizo to interact.