Johannesburg – The Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has upheld the recommendation of the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) to revoke the community broadcasting service licence of Karabo FM – a community broadcaster based in Sasolburg, Free State, with immediate effect.

Karabo FM has a history of repeated non-compliance with the orders of the CCC as approved by the Council of ICASA. In a period of approximately 18 months, Karabo FM has appeared before the CCC as a respondent at three public hearings held on 17 March 2017, 24 January 2018 and 21 September 2018. The community radio station has repeatedly failed to comply with ICASA’s orders handed down in terms of  Section 17E of the Independent Communications Act of South Africa Act No. 13 of 2000.

At the public hearing held on 21 September 2018, the CCC reached a conclusion that the two community groups who are at loggerheads and representing Karabo FM would never work together to serve the needs and interests of the community. The threats of disruption and violation have become an imminent problem within this community radio station.

“All the interventions by ICASA and CCC to bring stability and ensure compliance within this community radio station have become futile and Karabo FM remains non-compliant. Therefore, the CCC is of the view that Karabo FM has no potential future as a community broadcaster,” says ICASA Council’s Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng.

Ends

For all media enquiries please contact:

Paseka Maleka

011 566 3455

079 509 0702

pmaleka@icasa.org.za