November 4, 2024
Tshegofatso Malete's Image

Tshegofatso Malete is making a positive contribution to his community. Image: Tshegofatso Malete

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By Beverley Maphakane

A first-year South African Sign Language (SASL) student at the University of Venda aims to uplift youth from his village by establishing a radio station.

Born and bred in Stydkraal Village, Fetakakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality in Limpopo, Tshegofatso Malete (21), wants to use the radio station to enable fellow community members to have an easier and closer access to information and opportunities.

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Malete, who was born deaf and uses hearing aids for communication, plans to use his already established and running non-profit organisation (NPO), Tshegofatso Malete Foundation, which was established as a vehicle to help underprivileged youth.

Through the NPO, he has donated sanitary pads and stationery to different local schools.

Malete told ThisAbility that, “I am a passionate philanthropist, poet, author and gender-based violence fighter. It is naturally in me that I contribute positively to the people around me.

“I am inspired by the DeafSA (Deaf Federation of South Africa) director, Bruno Peter Druchen. He made it easier for fellow deaf people to pursue their dreams. He has proven that no one’s dreams are ever far-fetched, despite their physical limitations and disabilities.”

His mother, Leah Malete, (55), says, “Being born deaf, I had made peace with the possibility that my son would not have any desires and aspirations, let alone being an active contributor to the community that stigmatises people with disabilities a lot.”

Leah, who says she did not always trust that his son could achieve his dreams with community projects, admits that he has proven her wrong so many times, that “I eventually gave in to trust his capabilities and render my utmost support”.

Kamogelo Matenche, Malete’s partner in the NPO, says his childhood friend has always been relentless about making a positive impact to society from a tender age. “For as long as I can remember, he always made it clear that he refuses to be limited by his environmental background and his disability,” Matenche said.

He further said, “When he first mentioned the radio idea, I thought he was just bluffing. But seeing him constantly seeking information and sending applications to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to obtain a broadcasting licence, it made me join and help him in his quest of making progress of establishing a radio station.”

Malete says he first fell in love with an idea of radio after he got invited for a studio interview regarding his NPO at the province’s urban radio station, Energy FM, in December 2019. Since then, he has not looked back, and has been doing research on how to establish a radio station. His application for a broadcasting licence is pending feedback from Icasa.

He is planning to use an empty garage at his home as a studio, and his personal laptop and two recently bought condenser microphones, as a start.

For the station to operate, Malete says full broadcasting equipment, transmission equipment, signal distributor and radio systems are still needed. A lack of funds is holding him back.

“I am doing my best to source funds from my own pockets and from the contribution of family. I have also been in contact with the department of communications in the hope to secure sponsorship for some of the outstanding equipment. And I have written a proposal to other potential sponsors in seeking help for funding.”

He believes that the radio station is a great vehicle to uplift his community. “Besides being a potential tool to create employment opportunities, the information will be sourced to reflect community needs and priorities. The content will be relatable to the residents, and they will use it to their advantage and feed themselves with information and opportunities that will serve them first.”

He also strongly encourages his fellow community members to join hands and contribute to building a better community and lead their own lives by believing in their dreams. “I am a firm believer of giving back to the community, so that we are able to elevate each other and go forward together.”

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