Government's 24-hour online radio initiative, Ubuntu Radio, is set to undergo an overhaul that will see a new schedule and presenter line-up being instituted from next month.
This comes eight months after the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa (Dirco) launched Ubuntu Radio - its first non-commercial online station - in a bid to enhance communication on SA's foreign policy.
According to Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela, Ubuntu Radio is reviewing its programming schedule and content, based on feedback from listeners. For the duration of the review, he says Dirco has decided to scale down on the station's operation, with internal volunteers continuing to do their work and production - as well as covering major events live.
"The decision to scale down has only affected the external contributors to the station. From the beginning of August, the station will launch a new programming schedule and line-up of presenters."
Teething problems
When Ubuntu Radio launched last October, Monyela declined to give an exact cost figure for the establishment of the radio station, but said it was an "extremely cheap" venture, as Dirco already had a fully functional broadcasting studio available that was previously not utilised.
While the majority of the station's external contributors are volunteers who do not get paid, Monyela says there is an element of freelancers - who are compensated for production-related costs - that the department did not budget for.
"The station has experienced teething problems that have resulted in invoices not being paid on time, etc."
Plus, he says, the contract with the service provider that was brought in to assist with setting up the station - Sound Ideas Factory - has since lapsed, forcing Ubuntu Radio to rely on internal capacity.
Monyela says Dirco is in talks with "a long list" of new external contributors who may join the Ubuntu Radio team next month. He could not disclose any names at this stage.
"All of these matters are being attended to and will be a thing of the past when the station re-launches on 1 August."
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