*▫️Alex FM Community Consultation Meeting*
*▫️Eastbank Community Hall*
*▫️Date: 06 June 2024*
▪️Chairperson’ s Address
▫️Subsequently, after the collapsed AGM, they had a meeting with ICASA together with members of Alex FM to seek guidance on how to move forward.
◻️ICASA recommended the membership application and membership fees
▫️A representative from ICASA will be present to observe the election.
▫️The chairperson informed the community that he requested ICASA to let the community decide if they wanted to continue with the membership and membership fee.
▫️He also asked the community if the Independent Election Commission should be represented in the elections.
▫️He further clarified who is eligible to vote according to the kilometer radius stipulated by ICASA.
▫️The resolution that was taken by the board approximately 9 years ago to transfer the radio station from a trust to an NPC
▫️The trust was officially dissolved approximately 2 months ago.
▫️The board reached out to ICASA, informing them of the latter, and to change the operating license from a trust to an NPC. The process is in its final stages as the operating license might be issued before the next AGM.
▪️Issues, Questions, Inputs, Direction from the floor
▫️The radio promo said that there will be a representative from ICASA. Alex fm community member says that was misleading.
▫️Credentials for the voting processes and how the elections will be run
▫️Proposal of opening another window for membership applications.
▫️Suggestion for calling in IEC to run the elections
▫️Proposal to do away with membership as the board failed to introduce the process within their 5 year term and use the voter’s roll
▫️Issues of safety and security during elective meetings
▫️What are some of the achievements that the board can mention.
▫️The board of Alex FM replied that they managed to sustain Alex FM employees’ jobs during the time of Covid
▫️Board members not in full attendance is very concerning
▫️Meetings should follow decorum for the proper sitting of the meeting
▫️After the election of the new board. We should not be alarmed when the number of attendance dramatically drops because people have a vested interest in putting people to power for their own/political benefit
a tendency to participate
▫️The purpose of the board is not to serve any political party’s interest but the interests of the Alex community
▫️A board member contesting the elections must not have a position with a political party
▫️There should be a code of conduct to govern the Alex FM community clearly defining their roles and responsibilities and to prevent some members going to institutions not on behalf of the Alex fm and community but for their personal benefits
▫️Alex FM to initiate a robust drive on membership applications, perhaps in different languages, try by all means necessary to reach the old and the young to make them understand why they must register and also vote. Make a clear distinction between membership and listenership
▫️A representative from ICASA must be present in the elective meeting
▫️Only people from Greater Alexandra should or are eligible to VOTE for the Alex FM board
▫️Proposal of voters roll in line with the membership to prevent election fraud and rigging
▫️Listeners club or forum to be introduced in line with the membership applications to assist the board and station in fundraising and putting hand in the community
▫️The term of the current board has lapsed. The new board couldn’t be elected as the previous AGM was collapsed
▫️Mobilise the community to have voice
▫️Issue of radius, is 50km radius according to the Department of Communications and ICASA
▫️Some Alex FM community members were against that IEC to be present in the elections,that we can run it ourselves
▫️To redirected back to the original agenda of putting inputs to the upcoming AGM
▫️The meeting was interrupted for 5 minutes
▫️We need to protect Alex FM for what it has done to the community and what is capable of
▫️21-day meeting invitation before the elective meeting can sit
▫️The community was encouraged to engage in reports, and they must be allowed to have access to them in advance to read and understand
▫️The issue of not allowing taxis and buses into the AGM was raised. People should learn to mobilise and not interfere with those who did
▫️The proposal for Alex FM to issue a membership card was raised
▫️The date of the upcoming AGM was requested by Alex fm community member
▫️Concerns were raised that the board ran the process of membership without their consultation, as discussed in the meeting with ICASA.
▫️The 3rd of August and the 2nd week of August were proposed to be the date of the AGM
▫️14 days extension of membership then start with the 21 days to the AGM after, the then proposed date of the 3rd and 2nd week of August did not suffice
▫️The voter’s roll can not be relied upon because it is not a national database, and it only comprises of people who are registered to vote. It is a well-known fact that not all people are registered to vote.
