Pic Caption : Siviwe “Ta Svich” Mahlahla started BCM TV to tell stories and uplift local community.
Former technician turned businessmen and community activist, Siviwe Mahlahla is passionate about about uplifting his community, something he has been doing for some time now through the lense of his camera. So passionate about story telling that he almost landed in trouble with the authorities for opening an illegal community radio station Mdezee FM. His aim was to create a platform for disgruntled local community members to tell their stories and air their grievances, so as to force accountability from government officials. The station might have been closed down, but that did not stop him from starting another community project that will impact people’s lives positively.
Mahlahla is the driving force behind the establishment of a local tevelevision station, Buffalo City Municipality TV (BCMTV), as he felt that the municipality is the only one legging behind in telling it’s stories.
“When the idea of a television station was conceived I felt that such a platform was long overdue, I presented the idea to our ward councillor who referred me to relevant departments. The sole idea was to expose our area and it’s people to the country as a whole by telling our stories,”he said.
Despite not yet realising his dream of running a fully fledged community television station due to many hurdles, he has not wavered in his quest to achieve his dream. Mahlahla highlighted funding as a major challenge limiting him from executing what he set out to do 7 years ago.
“I was giving youngsters from around the township exposure and grooming them in news coverage and presenting skills when I started, but I think lack of funding made them to lose interest and now I am the only one left to run BCMTV. We were operating from the disused rent office nearby with no electricity, furniture and running water because we did not offices, now I use my house as my workspace as this is much more convenient. The only thing that has kept me going is the love for what I do and my community as well,” he said.
His efforts has not gone completely unacknowledged by local municipality, he is grateful for the camera equipment he received from them so as to ease the load, but wishes that more can be done to assist him. At the moment BCM TV can be accessed on facebook, youtube, tiktok and other social media platforms.
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