Southside FM faces financial crisis: Icasa gives 3-month ultimatum

SOUTHSIDE FM is in a dire financial situation, with debts exceeding R3 million and a lack of audited financial statements.

- YOSHINI PERUMAL

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has given the station three months to comply with its licence conditions, prompting a call for community support to revive the struggling station.

This emerged at a public meeting last Sunday to address the challenges faced by the three-year-old station.

There was also a bid to garner support from the South Indian community, and local organisations and businesses.

Station manager Tansen Nepaul said Icasa had renewed the station’s licence for the next five years, and the station’s board and staff - who worked for free — were on a drive to revamp the drive-time shows and attract advertising as part of the turnaround strategy.

In his report presented at the meeting, Nepaul said the station was not fully compliant with Sars which meant they were unable to do business with advertising agencies and businesses.

This, he said, cut their chances of generating revenue.

He said the station also did not have a non-profit organisation status to apply for grants.

Nepaul, who took on the role as station manager in April 2023, said their financial woes began a year after being in operation.