Radio Pretoria Awaits Ruling

Radio Pretoria, a radio station catering specifically for “boere-Afrikaners”, on Friday asked five appeal judges to order the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to reconsider a four-year community broadcasting licence application.

“We ask that the appeal be granted and that the application for a licence be referred back to the respondent,” said Gerrit Grobler, counsel for Radio Pretoria, at the hearing in Bloemfontein.

Judgment was reserved in the matter.

The Supreme Court of Appeal heard the appeal by Radio Pretoria against a decision by Icasa which had refused it a broadcasting licence.

After the Icasa refusal, the Pretoria High Court dismissed a review application brought by Radio Pretoria against Icasa.

The station has continued to broadcast for the past seven years through several interim orders while in litigation.

It has been broadcasting since 1993 and until 1999 Icasa renewed its temporary licence every year.

In 2000 its one-year renewal application was turned down, and in 2003 its application for a four-year licence was refused.