ICASA held separate meetings with a group of residents calling itself the “Task Team” on 25 September 2007 and later with the management and board of Jozi FM on 26 September so as to appraise itself of the issues and to hear “both sides of the story” in the dispute.
The authority has also sought the participation of the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) as a facilitator in resolving the dispute surrounding the radio station.
The dispute resolution process, to be overseen by ICASA, seeks to be consultative and will culminate in the holding of an AGM of the radio station. The NCRF, as an association of community radio stations, is expected to play a critical role in assisting Jozi FM and the Soweto community in arriving at a sustainable solution.
The 1 October meeting comes in the wake of negative media publicity surrounding the Soweto radio station in the past weeks, and a subsequent picket by members of the “Task Team” at ICASA's head office in Sandton.
In a strongly worded statement issued to the press on Friday, 28 September 2007, ICASA said: “The Authority would like to put it on record that as a regulator of the communications industry, the Authority is responsible for the execution of its mandate in the public interest. It should be noted that the Authority rejects all insinuations that it is taking sides with any of the warring parties in the dispute. The Authority condemns all violent actions and intimidation by any party in the dispute as a means of realising their objectives.
“With respect to the meeting of the 1st October 2007 - involving the parties in the dispute - the Authority hopes it will have set in motion a consultative process that would restore order to Jozi FM, and enable the Soweto community to be proud – once again – of their community initiative.
“Any party in the dispute that is not satisfied with the outcome of the outlined process, has the right to approach the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) to lodge a complaint. The CCC is a committee established by the ICASA Amendment Act to investigate, hear and recommend to the Authority on matters relating to disputes in the provision of communications services.”
