The Port St Johns base community radio station, Sajonisi Youth Radio (SYR) has received a huge boost from Media Development Diversity Agency (MDDA), as part of the agency’s continued efforts to support and promote the development and sustainability of community and small commercial media in South Africa.
The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong together with the MDDA Board, last Friday 11 July 2025, unveiled the brand new studios at Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape. In his address Deputy Minister Morolong stressed that the radio station has already demonstrated its commitment to be the voice for the youth and with this new studio has potential to drive change limitlessly. “A system of support will be put in place led by the Government Communications & Information System, working with the media to assist the community media to deal with statutory requirements such as license condition requirements, SARS compliance, corporate governance, management and leadership stability as well as community involvement in activities of the media which were established and broadcast on their behalf,” he said. Morolong called on municipalities to support and invest in community media.
Meanwhile, SYR unlocked the gates in broadcasting to a number of young people from Port Johns who joined national radio stations. SYR is proud of producing the likes of Mntwana Womgquba who joined Umhlobo Wenene, Hope Maweni who joined TruFm and Amanda Xhala who also joined TruFm.
The station manager Smiso Shozi was content with turn-up of the community members including stakeholders to come and witness the handing over of the brand new state-of-the-art digital studio. He expressed his gratitude to the MDDA and government for the support of community media even in the rural small town of Port St Johns.
