A big question people are asking themselves is whether or not it is the end of the road for the community radio station, Makhado FM. This follows after the sheriff of the court in Louis Trichardt attached the equipment in possession of Luonde Media Resources, the not-for-profit organisation that runs Makhado FM.

That the radio station is experiencing financial problems has been evident for quite some time. Rumours of unpaid bills have been circulating and even the municipality was questioned on their practice to allow the station to go into arrears without cutting off the electricity.

The sale in execution has been ordered by the owner of the premises where Makhado FM has been operating. Apparently the owner, Mr Petrus Janse van Rensburg, grew tired of waiting for the radio station to pay him the rent that is due. He did not want to comment much on the issue when phoned this week, but did admit that the outstanding amount is substantial. "I have been carrying them for three years, but I simply cannot do it any longer," he said. His pleas fell on deaf ears and he had no other option than to resort to a legal route to get the money owed to him.

In notices that appeared in newspapers the past two weeks, it shows that the sheriff had attached equipment such as office furniture, television sets, computers, sound mixers, microphones, speakers and editing equipment. The goods are to come under the hammer on October 19.

Mr Mavhungu Makatu, who deals with consumer education and awareness at ICASA, said this week that he was not aware of the matter. Mr Makatu is also the person responsible for all community radio stations in Limpopo. He said that he had visited the station recently and was aware of the fact that there were many challenges facing the station. "I am, however, not aware of the fact that the equipment was attached by the sheriff, following the summons," he said.

Makatu said that if the equipment was sold at auction, it meant that whoever was responsible for the running of the station would be held accountable.

Several presenters and newsreaders had left Makhado FM in the past months, claiming a complete lack of transparency at the station. Others, who spoke to Mirror on condition of anonymity, said that the station manager, Mr Moses Muneri, behaved as if he owned the station.

"The problem is that people do not know that they have the right to know how the station is being run. It is a community radio station and every member of the community has the right to know what is going on at that radio station," they said. This is the case because taxpayers´ money is used to establish a community radio station.

When contacted for comment on Monday, Mr Muneri stated he had no knowledge of the summons. He asked to be called the following day, as he was busy in a meeting.

Last year Zoutnet, a company that ran the Makoya 7-11 show on Makhado FM´s frequency, pulled out of a deal they had with the station. The company stated that it could not do business with an entity where a complete lack of transparency was present. At that stage, Luonde Media Resources had yet again not submitted audited financial statements or held an annual general meeting to which all stakeholders were invited. Rather than get embroiled in a murky deal, the company opted to pull out and close its broadcasting unit.

Community radio stations are obliged by law to interact with members of the community and get their input on the running of the station. They are accountable to the communities which they serve. Section 21 companies, such as Luonde Media resources, are also obliged to have annual general meetings to which all stakeholders are invited and, during such meetings, audited financial statements must be presented.