END OF AN ERA AT LOCAL RADIO STATION
LEGENDS of radio this week bid farewell to fans and colleagues at Lotus FM.
Among those who have left a legacy at the 38-year-old radio station were Sagren Naidoo, Suresh Harilal, Byron David, Tansen Nepaul and Deon Chetty.
Over 600 employees left the SABC on Wednesday, among them 346 employees who had opted for voluntary severance packages, while 275 people were in positions that were now redundant. This was after the public broadcaster concluded its Section 189 retrenchment process.
Naidoo, who started at the station in 1989 as a senior music compiler, said he didn’t realise the impact he had made until he received calls this week from listeners.
“I was doing what I loved best as a music compiler, religious producer and working with broadcasters covering a full spectrum of radio. I worked with some of the stalwarts of radio like BK Chinnah, Sergie Naidoo and Amitha Anand. It’s been a wonderful journey and lots of wonderful memories. It has been a rich experience.
“I have been blessed to have been able in my small way give something back to our culture, religion and music,” said Naidoo.
Naidoo, who has a musical background, made his first appearance on stage in a school choir, later performed in eisteddfods and was a member of the Padma Group.
“I travelled around the country and met local and international artists. I also conducted music workshops to uplift local artists in terms of knowledge sharing.”
While at Lotus, Naidoo presented
and which focused on South African artists and visiting international artists.
After 32 years at the SABC, seasoned technical producer Tansen Nepaul took early retirement. Nepaul said sometimes one had to hope for the best.
“We didn’t expect this. I plan to do a lot of things, like music production. I have skills to teach music and conduct workshops on technical broadcast related issues,” he said.
Nepaul has been involved in programming, recording programmes, packaging material, recording adverts.
“At Lotus FM I started as a music producer. I managed to raise the South African Indian music content from 2 to 16% which was not an easy feat as it required long hours and late nights,” he said.
Nepaul has recorded more than 2000 songs with various artists and composed original music for more than 300.
Over the years he also worked as a programme executive and stepped in as the acting station manager at Lotus FM for a year. He moved back to the operations technical department where he remained.
“My work took me to different communities and I experienced their various cultures, lifestyles and music. This helped me to grow, understand and appreciate the South African rainbow nation in all its beauty,” he said.
After 17 years Deon Chetty also signed off for the last time.
“It was emotional leaving after such a tremendous ride, from meeting listeners to international artists and the president,” he said.
Chetty started off recording voice overs and was taught how to edit.
“I then got into production and after a few months I was offered a night-time show on Lotus FM as well as being the stations imaging and technical person. Another break was presenting the on weekends.
“I then got into a full-time position to record and edit radio drama. My biggest achievement was winning the Technology Awards in 2017. Over the years, lots of memories have been created,” said Chetty, who will be taking a break before deciding on what to do.
David, of Queensburgh, started as an intern in 2008 and moved through the ranks. He had the opportunity to present the breakfast show and afternoon drive show to producing the morning show for O’neil Nair. He was also assistant music compiler.
Prior to leaving, David hosted the weekend sports show and presented the English classics on a Friday evening. “Radio is all I’ve known and wanted to do. I would want to get back into radio,” he said.
David said he was disappointed that he had to leave.
“Radio was something I wanted to do since high school. I studied media and communications to help me achieve that dream. I have achieved it somewhat, but working in one station is not enough in my opinion,” said David.
“I WILL always remember your fighting spirit and use it to encourage other patients,” wrote a nursing sister after a Covid patient finally went home after 88 days in hospital.
Last Friday Dashen Perumal, 33, received a guard of honour by staff at Mediclinic in Pietermaritzburg when he was finally wheeled out.
Perumal tested positive with the virus and when his oxyen levels dropped he was admitted on December 29.
“My blood pressure and heart rate went up and oxygen dropped. Breathing was a problem,” said Perumal, a sales rep from Newholmes in Pietermaritzburg.
He said when he left home he had packed clothes for five days, but ended up staying 88 days.
"I spent 24 days on a ventilator and 72 days in the intensive care unit. It was a traumatic and emotional time in hospital. On a daily basis I saw five to six people dying and wondered will that be me, especially the day I went on the ventilator,” he said.
In the 88 days Perumal lost 34kg. He said in all that time only his dad got to visit him once a week.
“My phone was taken away from me and only returned when I was moved to the general ward after 72 days. It is good to be home.
“While I was in hospital my mum and sister also contracted the virus and were hospitalised and I lost an aunt. It was a trying time for the family. I thank God I am alive and well. It’s a second chance at life.”
He is still on a wheelchair and doing physio to learn to stand and walk.
He said the staff at the hospital took really great care of him.
“One of the nurses, Nicole Govender, was instrumental in saving my life.
“I still call her my angel because she pulled me through. The day I went on the ventilator she held my hand and encouraged me until the doctors got there. She also updated my family on my progress,” said Perumal.
In a message on Facebook, Govender wrote: “You are such an inspiration to us all in the ICU at Mediclinic and also to other families out there. There were so many days where we all thought it would be your last but you kept fighting. Your family have been amazing during your hospitalisation, their faithfulness, fasting and prayer never stopped. God heard each cry and he healed you.”
Jackie Slabberts, unit manager of general ICU at Mediclinic, said Perumal, who had the longest stay, was their most critical patient to survive Covid.
“He's our miracle patient. His recovery is as a result of team effort. He has given us hope and inspiration that we can do it and to never give up,” said Slabberts.