A public meeting had been called some months earlier to float the idea and attracted a good number of enthusiasts eager to volunteer their services in putting out a daily diet of programmes to Homes in the area, Hospital, Government departments, Community Centers and Peoples cars…
During the transition period of 1997 and 1998, a group of community leaders and other individuals rallied around. They come together to pursue the purpose of setting up a local community radio station through the leadership of the late Mr Saal who was an inspiration to many activists in the Upington community. Other people involved at the time include Moses Mamba , Charles Mchizwa , Nicolette Gunda , Desiree Malo , and others. A lot of mobilization went into this preparation phase with late night meetings.
Funds were received from Open Society Foundation, Northern Cape Department of Arts and Culture, Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA) and The South African Government's Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Preparation for the hearing to acquire the broadcasting license was conducted by Nkopane Maphiri who was then with the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF).
The name “Riverside” was arrived at after the public was invited to submit name proposals for the radio station, and “Riverside” was adopted. Similar process was followed for the logo. Teemaneng Community Radio in Kimberley hosted the first training for the station.
Hearings were held in Kimberley in March 1999 and Radio Riverside panel included, Dicky Mathys , the late Fan Beukes , Charlotte van der Westerhuysen , Andrew Fredericks , Henry Esau and Moses Mamba . There was another group at the hearings, representing primarily the white community of Upington. We were contesting for the same license. The radio station went on air for the first time on 11 October 1999 after using May to October as trial period. The former premier of the Northern Cape province Manne Dipico and MEC for Housing Pakes Dikgetsi attended the launch.
The first person to go on-air for the first time that day at 06h00 in the morning was Douglas Mbambo and there were lots of complaints from the public about the way he spoke. SENTECH informed us about the interference with the OFM broadcast after some neighbours had complained to SENTECH.
Charles Mchizwa who was involved in the management of the station at the time. Responded by saying that, he was not knowledgeable about technical issues and did not know how to handle the matter. This was the first chapter of the Upington Community Radio Forum (Radio Riverside) book. It has nearly been a decade now and Radio Riverside continues writing the book chapter by chapter every year…
