Gauteng shutdown: Looters target community radio stations

Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were deployed in Alexandra township in Gauteng on Tuesday as rampant looting continued in the province. Picture: Elmond Jiyane/GCIS

Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were deployed in Alexandra township in Gauteng on Tuesday as rampant looting continued in the province. Picture: Elmond Jiyane/GCIS

Published Jul 13, 2021

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TWO community radio stations have become the latest victims of the rampant looting that’s gripping Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

On Thursday, Mams Community Radio was vandalised and its equipment destroyed, according to the Mamelodi-based radio station’s spokesperson Sipho Motau.

“Our broadcasting transmitter, studios and other office equipment have been vandalised, while other equipment has been stolen,” he said.

“Hence we are unable to broadcast, but please bear with us for any inconvenience while we are off air until further notice.

“We have opened a case and the police are investigating. We call on anyone with information to come forward or inform the police about the looting and vandalism at the station.”

Across the province, AlexFM, a community radio station based in Alexandra, also had its studios broken into and equipment stolen.

“It is with sadness and devastation that we announce that on the morning of July 13 (yesterday) our station became one of the targets of looters,” station manager Takalane Nemangowe said in a statement.

Both radio stations will remain off air for an indefinite period of time. | The Star