Unisa online - Unisa Radio broadcasts success

Helping make Unisa Radio a resounding success, from left: Francois van Heerden (Station Manager), Talifhani Munzhedzi (Deputy Station Manager), Prof Rosemary Moeketsi, Prof Danie du Plessis

Prof Narend Baijnath gave his full support for the station and its future development

Unisa’s inaugural Radio Day was held on 26 April 2012, marking one year since Unisa Radio was launched.

A number of management staff were present and Unisa Radio volunteers, primarily comprised of students, also made their presence felt. Singing, chanting and revelry set the tone for the rest of the event.

Prof Danie du Plessis, Chair of the Department of Communication Science, who has been described as, ‘the father of Unisa Radio’, explained how the Unisa community would likely benefit  from the station in the future. “When we envisaged this radio station, we had a dream that a student listening in a rural village in Venda could participate in a debate, that a student listening in Japan would be a part of an interactive session, that we could have people listening globally.”

If Prof du Plessis is the father of Unisa Radio, then Prof Rosemary Moeketsi, Executive Dean of the College of Human Sciences, is the mother. She charted the long and arduous journey of making Unisa Radio a reality and the journey of progress it has made since. “We spoke at length about a radio station reaching people in far-flung areas. There was lots of interest from students, they were trained for free and several companies pledged to advertise,” she said.

Prof Narend Baijnath, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, was on hand to deliver the Inaugural Unisa Radio Day address revealing that Unisa Radio had increased listenership by over 450% in the last six months. He spoke about the potential to combine Open Distance Learning and the Electronic Learning model with the streaming radio. “They key goal is to enhance students’ learning experience by using radio to stimulate debate and we can potentially reach most Unisa students’. I foresee Unisa Radio making a significant contribution to the South African learning context.”

A number of Unisa Radio staff entertained with acts, and awards were handed out to outstanding individuals nominated by their peers.

Kgaugelo Pule (Head of News) was all smiles for Unisa Radio’s first birthday

Unisa Radio. The African voice, it