A new board of directors was elected on Saturday for the embattled community radio station, Makhado FM.

The nine newly elected board members are Percy Sinthumule, Lawrence Sinthumule, Divhani Dagada, Percy Nkanyingi, Dr Happy Ramakhanya, Noel Fambe, Lufuno Makhado, Winnie Mulaudzi and Bonginkosi Dladlama.

According to Makhado FM's programme manager, Mr Makonde Mbedzi, it was the first time in the history of the radio station that members from the community were allowed to elect board members, who will then represent them at Makhado FM.

The Makhado FM staff will be accountable to the newly elected board of directors, from financial expenditure to governance on the whole. "The radio station's officials won't do anything without the knowledge and agreement of the board of directors, who represent the community," said Mbedzi.

According to Mbedzi, audited financial statements will now be made available to the public by the radio station's heads and board of directors and annual general meetings, in which all stakeholders from the community will be participating, will now be held as well.

During the meeting, people were told that Makhado FM's license holder is Luonde Media Resource Centre and that Makhado FM is a community radio station which does not belong to any individual. "We're going to sit with the actual board of directors to outline our annual projects to see that the radio station reaches the stage of development it deserves," Mbedzi said when speaking to Limpopo Mirror on Monday.

Makhado FM's manager, Mr Takalani Khomola, was suspended on 17 April, pending investigations over allegations of the mismanagement of funds and the abuse of power.