Interviewing Numsa KZN organiser, Bonga Ngwane, makes one realise why he is one of Numsa’s djs – he has a smooth clear voice that is so right for radio.
He hosts one of the 40 labour slots organised on community radio stations around the country on Isipingo-based community radio station – Imbokodo Radio.
Ngwane’s voice is beamed out across Durban to Amanzimtoti to Hammersdale all the way to Tongaat.
“I love doing the show,” he says. “I can communicate with a lot of people in a short space of time and convey my message.”
Now into his second year of radio hosting, Ngwane admits to being nervous the first time.
“But as time went on I gained confidence as the listeners have informed me that this is a wonderful and informative show,” he says.
When asked how it is different from being an organiser, he conceded that there is not much difference.
“When you talk to workers, you see them face to face. With radio you use the air waves and it is much quicker and covers a lot of people in a short space of time.”
Sometimes listeners invite him to come to their companies to see how they are exploited by their employers.
“I have been to some of these companies,” he says “and I give them information as to which union they should join.”
Ngwane believes that this project is “an excellent idea. We have waited too long to have such a programme. This is due to commercial radio not offering us the opportunity to do so for free . And we took too long to popularise the good work that is done by unions.”
Each week a different topic related to workers is discussed from violence against women to HIV/AIDS and so on.
Find the radio stations on:
RADIO STATION
FREQUENCY
TIME OF SHOW
1. Teemaneng
89.1 FM
Wednesday 9-12 noon
2. Riverside
98.2 FM
Wednesday 9-10pm
3. Bush
89.5 FM
Wednesday 7-8pm
4. Zibonele
98.2 FM
Monday 9-10pm
5. 786
100.4 FM
Alternately Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8-9pm
6. Atlantis
107.9 FM
Monday 7-9 pm
7. Valley
88.8 MHZ
Monday –Thursday 6-7 pm
8. KC
107.7 FM
Wednesdays 8-9 pm
9. Eden
90.1 and 103.9 FM
Monday and Tuesday
10. Maputaland
107.6 FM
Tuesday 6.40-7.40 pm
11. Indonsakusa
100.4 MHZ
Monday 7-8 pm
12. Imbokodo
96.8 FM
Tuesday 7-8pm
13. Newcastle
103.7 FM
Tuesday 6-7 pm
14. Maritzburg
107.6 FM
Wednesday 6-7 pm
15. Greater Lebowakgomo
96.0 FM
4 days a week @ 6 pm
16. Greater Tzaneen
100.3 FM
Tuesday 7-8 pm
17. Moletsi
98.6 MHZ
Thursday 7-8 pm
18. Univen
99.8 MHZ
Friday 8-9 pm
19. Moretele
106.6 FM
Monday 7.30-8.30 pm
20. Mafisa
93.4 FM
Thursday 8-9 pm
21. Vaaltar
93.6 FM
Monday 6-7 pm
22. Letlhabile
99.5 FM
Wednesday 8-9 pm
23. Vukani
99.9 FM
Thursday 7-8 pm
24.Takalani
98.2 MHZ
Thursday 6-7 pm
25. Khanya
106.1 FM
Thursday 7-8 pm
26. Grahamstown
102.1 FM
Tuesday 6-9 pm
27. Unitra
97.0 MHZ
Monday 7.30-8.30 pm
28. Graaff-Reinet
90.2 FM
Monday 6-7 pm
29. Bushbuckridge
88.4 FM
Wednesday 2-3 pm
30. Moutse
96.3 FM
Wednesday 6-7 pm
31. Barberton
104.1 FM
Thursday 6-7 pm
32. Greater Middelburg
89.7 FM
Tuesday 6.30-7.30 pm
33. Qwa-Qwa
100.3 FM
Wednesday 7-8 pm
34. Naledi
103.9 MHZ
Wednesday 9-10 pm
35. Mosupatsela
107.4 MHZ
Tuesday 7-8 pm
36. TNG
96.2 FM
Tuesday 6-7 pm
37. Soshanguve
93.0 FM
Wednesday 7-8 pm