The community radio station, Makhado FM, has appointed a new marketing manager. Takalani Khomola is the man who believes that he can rescue the radio station from its current debt-ridden situation. Currently, the radio station owes its creditors more than R700 000.

Khomola says he is up to the challenges and he believes that his 14 years' experience in radio will help him come up with the answers to Makhado FM's problems. Khomola worked for Bushbuckrige FM for many years before coming to Makhado. He has already had to make some tough decisions and on Monday, only days after officially starting work at the station, he had to fire two presenters for not being serious about their job.

Apart from the money which the radio station owes the landlord, the station apparently also owes the Makhado Municipality a lot of money on the outstanding electricity and services bill. The radio station currently operates with two members of the management, which is the station manager, Moses Muneri and his brother, Mulalo "Jomo" Gededzha, who fills in as the programme manager.

Khomola is realistic about the problems that Makhado FM is faced with, but still believes that things can change.

He says that his joining the station came after Moses Muneri had called him to come and assist him in re-shaping the radio station. "I have been working for the station for only two weeks, but already there are a lot of things that need to be changed," says Khomola. The station did not have a proper management team, as it is only Moses Muneri and his younger brother, Mulalo, he explains.

"I have started engaging stakeholders to come and rescue the radio station (from its financial woes). I know that people have lost trust and hope in the radio, but believe things can be changed. Out of 40 people I invited for our first stakeholder meeting, only five businesspeople showed up. This clearly indicates that they have lost trust in thestation," stresses Khomola.

"I am busy trying to raise money from the business community, to rescue the station. We are also planning to have a music concert to raise money. I urge people to come and advertise, since the station has new management. I encourage people with experience in radio to bring their CVs to me at the radio station. We need people who are serious for the job," he says. According to him, Makhado FM belongs to the community and not to the management.

The case between the radio station and the landlord proceeded in the High Hourt on Thursday. This follows after the sheriff of the court had attached all the equipment at the station. The outcome of the court proceedings were not yet available at the time of going to press.

Khomola can be contacted at 072 294 7880.