The long-awaited community radio station in Louis Trichardt is finally going to serve the listeners in communities around Louis Trichardt and the Vhembe District.

According to the station manager, Mr Moses Muneri, Makhado FM is a project of Luonde Resource Centre that started as an idea with a handful of friends. "It has now become an emerging community voice in the Vhembe District with an aim of providing a forum and an opportunity for community dialogue, entertainment and educational programmes," said Muneri.

This community radio station will cover about 8 570 km², serving a population of about 600 000, which includes residences around the Sinthumule and Kutama geographical areas.

"The intention of Makhado FM, a community radio station, is to unite the diverse communities and assist in overcoming poverty, social intolerance and crime," said the station manager. Makhado FM will be broadcasting in several languages, based on geographical locations around Makhado Municipality that range from Tshivenda, Xitsonga, and Sepedi, to Afrikaans and English. According to the station manager, applications are invited for positions in categories such as: presenters; sales executives; news readers and volunteers for community projects. This is a great challenge to the youth and the community in particular.

Amongst the board of directors are: Junior Ramovha, Hope Ramaphosa, Patrick Ndou, Sydwell Sikwari, Kedobone Makwarela, Dr Ntshengedzeni Nevhutalu and Moses Muneri.

Muneri also emphasised that applicants with media backgrounds and conversant in at least three of the broadcasting languages will be the preferred candidates. CVs and demos of those interested in joining the radio station must be forwarded to the station manager, Mr Moses Muneri, at 015 519 4500 or 076 1139 928.