Radio Pretoria

PretoriaFM is a community-based radio station in Pretoria, South Africa, whose programmes are aimed at Afrikaners. It broadcasts 24 hours a day in stereo on 104.2 FM in the greater Pretoria area. Various other transmitters (with their own frequencies) in South Africa broadcast the station's content further afield, while the station is also available on Sentech's digital satellite platform.

PretoriaFM
Frequency104.2 FM
Slogan"Hoop, glo, leef in Afrikaans" (English: "Hope, believe, live in Afrikaans")
Programming
Language(s)Afrikaans
Links
Website

History

PretoriaFM was founded in 1993 by the Afrikaner Kultuurbond (en: Afrikaner Cultural Union), led by Afrikaans reverend Mossie van den Berg. It was immediately controversial, as the South African government saw PretoriaFM as a thinly disguised mouthpiece for the Conservative Party.[1] The station management obtained a one-day broadcasting license for 10 hours from the government on condition that the programming was aimed at promoting the Bible Society of South Africa's Bibliathon '94. Thus, on 18 September 1993, PretoriaFM started broadcasting, after being officially opened by General Constant Viljoen, who later founded the Freedom Front Plus.[2]

When the government found out that PretoriaFM did not comply with the above-mentioned conditions, the Minister of Home Affairs rejected its application for another temporary broadcasting license and, only three days after the first broadcast, the station was ordered closed down. However, broadcasting continued illegally. On 21 September 1993, a barbed wire fence was constructed around the studio premises, while right-wing supporters guarded the site with firearms to prevent the authorities from shutting down PretoriaFM.[3]

Over the next few months, the station was in a constant battle with authorities over licensing issues,[4] while its staff continued broadcasting with or without permission. Occasionally, right-wing groups were still called upon over the airwaves to patrol the premises as the police threatened to disable the station's equipment.[5]

Along with a few other radio stations like Bush Radio (Cape Town),[6] PretoriaFM took the lead in changing the South African radio broadcast landscape to stake a claim for community broadcasters. At the time, the state-controlled broadcaster, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), had a monopoly in broadcasting.[7]

By 2002, Ratio Pretoria had come under criticism for its racially-charged programming.[4]

Transmitters

PretoriaFM operates 14 transmitters in towns in Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal. On the farm Kleinfontein just east of Pretoria, there is a 100m mast transmitting on 104.2mhz.

Broadcast languages

Broadcast time

Coverage areas
  • Gauteng[8]
  • Limpopo[8]
  • Free State[8]
  • Mpumalanga[8]
  • North West[8]
  • Parts of KZN[8]
  • Also countrywide via satellite[8]

Target audience
  • Educated[8]
  • Working class[8]
  • LSM 6 - 10[8]
  • Age Group 25 to 50+[8]
  • Female 56%, Male 44%[8]

Format

Listenership figures
Estimated Listenership[9]
7 Day
Feb 2013 56 000
Dec 2012 48 000
Oct 2012 38 000
Aug 2012 51 000
Jun 2012 45 000

References
  1. "Radiostasie behoort aan AKB en nie aan KP". Beeld (in Afrikaans). 10 September 1993.
  2. "Talle Afrikaanse omroepers wil Radio Pta help". Beeld (in Afrikaans). 20 September 1993.
  3. "Regses span draad om Radio Pretoria-ateljee, uitsendings gaan voort". Beeld. 22 September 1993.
  4. Swarns, Rachel L. (7 October 2002). "In a New South Africa, an Old Tune Lingers". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  5. "Kommando moet sender beskerm". Beeld (in Afrikaans). 14 December 1993.
  6. "Bush Radio se stem nie stil". Beeld (in Afrikaans). 29 April 1993.
  7. "SAUK weer in die spervuur". Beeld (in Afrikaans). 12 May 1992.
  8. The Annual Guide to Radio in South Africa (AdVantage 2012). Media 24. 2012.
  9. SAARF RAMS (Presentations)

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