Creating an Enabling Policy Environment for Democratic Participation Through Community Radio: Perspectives of a Practitioner

This chapter tells the story of the birth of the community radio movement in South Africa, as relayed by one of the founder members of the sector. It is, therefore, a practitioner’s perspective from lived experiences. As part of reflecting on 100 years of the existence of radio in South Africa, this chapter recounts the tale of how the most recently established tier of the three-tier sector has gone on to be the most dominant in terms of the number of radio stations. This reflective chapter is intended to help provide historical context, and address the questions and concerns faced by community radio practitioners working on the front line of guidance.