Barely four months after going live, Community Impact Radio (CIR) has grown from a one-presenter station operating out of a small room into a bustling community platform — and it shows no sign of slowing down.

The online station, based in Portland, went on air for the first time on Friday 20 March, with founder James Tempers, known as Jay-Tee, and presenter Cecelia Less, known on air as Lady C, as its sole voices. Today the station has nearly 10 regular presenters, a growing podcast offering, outside broadcasts and more guest requests than the team can handle.

Full line-up

“We’re almost at 10 presenters now from just me doing one show,” said Lady C.

The line-up includes Lady C, Bevil, Jean, Roshana, Kevin, Pamela, Hilton, and Jay-Tee.

Bevil Lackay, of Portland, the District Governor for the Lion’s Club of District 410W (West), which covers the Western Cape Province and Namibia, hosts the In Good Company show on Wednesdays and Fridays. A recent episode featured a young entrepreneur from Beacon Valley who is not yet 30 years old.

A pastor and his wife also do a regular morning devotion slot.

Lady C hosts her own show from Monday to Wednesday, 12:00 to 15:00, where she also makes time for a wellness segment covering topics such as blood pressure and diabetes. She is currently preparing a local doctor to join her on air.

Interactive and collaborative

She says this is part of the station’s approach to bring in local people and entrepreneurs and give them a platform and sometimes also training.

“They’re part of the community, they live in the community,” she said. “We know what our people put in their mouths.”

Community response

The station is in talks to provide voice and media training to local councillors and candidates.

CIR is also set to partner with a local retailer for a series of outside broadcasts and is working with a charity on three community drives.

Listeners, said Lady C, have taken the station to heart, some even dropping in with cake, cool drink and fruit during her three-hour shows.

New website and app

Jay-Tee says that the station has launched a new, interactive website at www.ciradio.co.za, and is in the process of developing a dedicated listening app that will allow them to do more podcasts. CIR is powered by NT Corporate Solutions, which is directed by Natalie Tempers and is a 100% black-owned, B-BBEE company.

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