Yes, I’m referring to Soweto Television that recently signed a multimillion rand deal with Nasper’s owned MultiChoice, recently.
The deal offers installation of Soweto TV’s final control facility at the world acclaimed street Vilakazi, in Orlando, where the station was founded eleven years ago.
Being the first community TV station in the country to be granted a licence in 2007 and to be launched on DStv the following year, its mandate is to create job opportunities, skills development and make the Greater Soweto “an intergrated urban area in which people live, work, invest and recreate.
Soweto TV’s chairman Meshack Mosiya thanked MultiChoice for being bold enough to recognize the potential of the now 11 year old community television channel.
“This is a special place for this channel which began broadcasting from here on July 1, 2007. We have come a long way and we thank MultiChoice for being bold enough to have taken us into their bouquet as early as October 2007 when we were still an unknown entity.
You know the history of Vilakazi Street, and you may be aware that we have enthusiastic young people who are always keen to learn. I would like to believe that we are the first township that boasts this state-of-the facility, which will ultimately help us provide a platform for them to advance themselves,” he said.
Jackie Rakitla- MultiChoice says the installation of Soweto TV’s final control facility goes a long way in demonstating their commitment to community development and youth empowerment.
“Our mission as a development driven media institution is not to give handouts, but to leave a lasting legacy for our communities and in this regard, the people of Soweto,” said Rakitla adding: “I am glad that this very same facility was designed by a group of an all female engineering team, which also demonstrates our commitment to inclusion, diversity and celebrating differences in driving change in the workplace.
And even though it took us a long time to get here, I believe this will take us to the next level and show why we are at the heart of building legacies for future generations.”
The likes of media doyen Tim Modise also contributed to the growth of the station.
Soweto TV was founded by Tshepo Thafeng, who was then a board member.
As for my aunt, this will be good news to her ears…
