The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has awarded licences to 18 new community radio stations, expanding the country’s local broadcasting landscape and strengthening community media’s role in supporting access to information, cultural expression and social cohesion.
The announcement, made in Pretoria on 12 August 2026, concludes Phase 2 of ICASA’s Invitation to Pre-Register (ITP-R) process for Community Sound Broadcasting Service and Radio Frequency Spectrum licences.
The licensing process began in December 2024 and attracted 93 applications. Of these, 41 progressed to Phase 1, with 19 applicants meeting the required pre-registration criteria.
Following the final evaluation, 18 applicants were approved for licences, while one application was unsuccessful.
ICASA said the new licences will contribute to greater diversity within South Africa’s broadcasting sector and provide communities with additional platforms to share local stories, languages, concerns and cultural experiences.
Councillor Ntombiza Sithole, Chairperson of ICASA’s Committee on Sound Broadcasting Services, highlighted the broader social and democratic value of community radio.
“Community radio plays a critical role in promoting access to information, supporting local development, fostering social cohesion, and preserving South Africa’s diverse cultures and languages through storytelling,” Sithole said.
She urged the newly licensed broadcasters to place the interests of their communities at the centre of their operations.
“We encourage the newly licensed broadcasters to use these platforms responsibly to serve their communities, amplify local voices, and contribute meaningfully to the growth and sustainability of the community broadcasting sector.”
The newly licensed stations are spread across all nine South African provinces, further broadening the geographic reach of community broadcasting.
Among the successful applicants are Lit Radio Academy and uThukela FM in KwaZulu-Natal; Bulungula Community Radio and Sabela FM in the Eastern Cape; Sibasa FM in Limpopo; Bonjanala FM in North West; Cape Winelands FM in the Western Cape; Mahube FM in Gauteng; Mbombela FM in Mpumalanga; and Tsantsi Rise FM in the Northern Cape.
ICASA congratulated the successful applicants and said the new broadcasters would add to the diversity and sustainability of South Africa’s community broadcasting sector.
The regulator also reaffirmed the importance of community radio in giving visibility to grassroots issues, local languages and underserved communities, helping ensure that a broader range of voices is represented in South Africa’s national conversation.
The latest licensing round highlights the continued importance of community broadcasting as South Africa’s media environment evolves, with local radio remaining a key platform for community engagement, public information, cultural preservation and local development.
