About – zibonele fm

About us

Zibonele FM is governed by seven board of directors who are elected by community representatives in every three years. The board is trusted leadership role to provide oversight and ensure that station operates effectively. It has responsibility of reporting to the stakeholders on annual basis in between Triennial General meeting. The Board is constitutionally obliged with the mandate to appoint station management including the station manager, of which the fundamental purpose of the management is to ensure efficient business leadership on station administration.

Our Mission

Our Vision

To champion community media through community education and responsive radio programming that engages and enriches community

To be the leading community media institution in Africa

Background

We are a broadcasting and media production company that was the first official community radio station in South Africa. We are the the leading radio station in the Western Cape and second rating community radio station in South Africa. The latest audience research ratings for Zibonele FM stands at 236 000.00 listeners, which majority of listeners are between the ages of 18 and 45 years.

Zibonele FM was established in 1993, and obtained its broadcasting licence in August 1995, which made it to be the 1st official community radio station in the Country

In its establishment stages, Zibonele operated in a shipping container, in Town Two (one of Khayelitsha localities). The vision of the community radio was spearheaded by Dr Gabrielle Ugotti who is a medical practitioner from Argentina. The main purpose was to inform and educate community about health care issues, especially to deal with rampant spread of tuberculosis and other prevalent diseases.

This information is sourced from the Internet, government sources and pre-recorded audio, local news, eyewitness news and from the community members

Listenership and Audience Rating

According to recent RAMS, the listenership of Zibonele FM is 231 000. Through diverse radio programming, its audience cuts across different demographics, races, gender and various age groups which range between the ages of 16 to 55.

Zibonele FM foot print covers Khayelitsha and surrounding area such as Gugulethu, Langa, Crossroads, Mfuleni, Delft, Khayamandi, Nomzamo, Hout Bay, Kraaifontein, and Philippi etc.