CJN is proud to welcome Zanokuhle Advice Office that has partnered with Nqubeko FM in Ladysmith – Kwazulu-Natal to engage with the legal issues in their communities. The partnership is one step toward achieving the overall goal of the programme to realize the reporting of legal and social justice issues in under-reported areas. We are therefore pleased that we will be able to reach the community of Amazizi in the Northern Drakensberg as well as other neighbouring communities.
This will be made possible by Zanokuhle Advice Office and Resources Centre – a community-based advice office that falls under Ward 7 of the Okhahlamba Municipality. The office operates under Amazizi Tribal Authority Court and is managed by our new paralegal Mr. Msizi Miya.
“Our office serves everyone from children to elders; we serve wards 6 and 7 in the area of Amazizi which have a population of 21146 combined, as well as nearby communities of Amagwane, Ladysmith and Winterton. We primarily deal with legal, maintenance and unclaimed benefits cases” says Msizi.
Nqubeko FM is situated in Ladysmith and was established in 2015; it covers the Uthukela Districts and overlaps to places like QwaQwa, Dundee and Msinga. In 2017 their Breakfast Show was nominated for a Liberty Radio Award and their Traditional Music Show was nominated twice for the SATMA awards in 2018 and 2019.
Programme Manager Msuthu Zungu says this partnership is a great initiative for them as a station as well as for their listeners – He says this will create conversations around issues concerning legal challenges that the communities deal with every day. “We’re located at a place where the community we serve lacks knowledge and understanding on legal matters, so I believe that the partnership will play a huge role in opening their eyes and helping them understand their rights on legal issues” he concluded.
Msizi Miya will be on air from the beginning of March on Nqubeko FM’s legal show at a time slot to be announced – please lookout for more details on our social media platforms or on www.citizenjusticenetwork.org.
Written by: Gladys Matasane – CJN Editorial Journalist