Algoa FM

The annual Algoa Cares Charity Golf Day will now be hosted at the George Golf Club on Friday, August 23.

Life Community Services has been selected as beneficiary of the fun golf day, which is themed “Groovy Green Rocking the 80s”.

Funds raised will go towards the purchase of a greenhouse tunnel to grow vegetables, new school toilets and fans for classrooms.

“We moved the date in order to maximise the fund-raising potential of the golf day,” says Algoa FM marketing manager Lesley Geyer.

Businesses and golfers on the Garden Route can be part of the fun Algoa Cares Golf Day experience while making a difference for the people Life Community Services supports through sponsoring the day.

This includes being a presenting sponsor, booking a tee/green, donating a prize or item for the goodie bag and, most importantly, booking a four ball to play on the day, says Geyer.

In addition to the rewarding experience of supporting charity, business participants stand a chance to win a fantastic prize: a R20 000 generic on-air advertising campaign on Algoa FM.

Algoa FM continues to strengthen its on-air line-up in order to connect more closely with its Eastern Cape and Garden Route audience.

Well-known SuperSport anchor Sam Ludidi has joined the station to present Sunday Lunch LIVE from the Algoa FM’s Hemingways studio in East London.

Ludidi, who lives in East London and works as a property developer, received critical acclaim for his studio work for SuperSport during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

He decided at the age of 15 that he wanted to work in the media after listening to cricket commentary in the car with his father.

Ludidi’s father’s response when he said he wanted to be on air was “so then, do it”.

“So that is what I did,” says Ludidi.

“I’m an energetic ball of optimism, always seeing the glass as half full, with a laugh that apparently rules them all!
“I love my sport. I eat sleep and breathe it, but what I love more is to connect with people and be a positive impact in their lives,” he adds.

“As a proud Eastern Cape business, we are delighted to have Sam on board,” says Algoa FM managing director Alfie Jay.
Ludidi’s radio experience started while studying communications at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, first as a presenter and later, as programme manager of KovsieFM.

He graduated to commercial radio in 2019 as breakfast sport anchor and Saturday chart show host on Algoa FM’s sister station, OFM.

Carly Fields, who joined Algoa FM in March 2023, will now be on air six days a week, taking the early morning five to six am slot to help early risers prepare for the day ahead, and entertain shift workers.

She also presents the popular Carly on Algoa FM on Saturdays from seven to 10 in the evening.

Fields made her broadcasting debut on YOTV in 1996, followed by award-winning stints on radio.

Eastern Cape-born and raised Mandisa Magwaxaza has taken over Carly’s Friday evening show between 10 pm and 2 am Saturday mornings, while retaining her show in the same time slot on Saturday nights.

“Listeners are connecting well with Carly and Mandisa and we wanted to find a way to give both more airtime while fitting into their busy off-air schedules,” says Jay.

Algoa FM is also investing in new talent.

“We have identified two young locals who will be put through their paces as we help them develop their natural talents,” says Jay.

Mark Kolesky and Twaibu (Twai) Mamuss will be mentored by programme manager Mio Khondleka and other seasoned Algoa FM professionals “to hone their skills and to help them learn the Algoa FM way of doing things,” says Jay.

They will cut their presentation teeth on Algoa FM Hit Mobiles, which take the station to the public.

Listeners will also be able to join them between two and five am during weekdays and from two am to six am over weekends once they are ready.

“As they grow into polished Algoa FM presenters, they will be given the opportunity to stand in for our regular presenters,” says Jay.

Life Community Services has been selected as beneficiary of the Algoa Cares Garden Route Charity Golf Day, to be hosted at the George Golf Club on Friday, June 28.

The theme for this fun golf day is “Groovy Green Rocking the 80s”.

Funds raised will go towards the purchase of a greenhouse tunnel to grow vegetables, new school toilets and fans for classrooms.

Life Community Services reaches over 4 000 orphaned and vulnerable children aged 0 to18 a week.

Programmes run by the non-profit organisation include six community outreach centres, education, skills training, and a job creation project called ISIPHO.

LIFE Community Services also has two foster homes with six children each and a foster mother.

The children are cared for, educated, protected and looked after.

“We are honoured to be partnering with Life Community Services to support the work they do to touch lives and mend hearts,” says Alfie Jay, managing director of Algoa FM.

Businesses and golfers on the Garden Route can be part of the fun Algoa Cares Golf Day experience while making a difference for the people Life Community Services supports by sponsoring an area or booking a four ball.

In addition to the rewarding experience of supporting charity, business participants stand a chance to win a fantastic prize: a R20 000 generic on-air advertising campaign on Algoa FM.

“This is an excellent opportunity for companies to network with their clients and enjoy a day on the greens, while contributing to the community,” says Jay.

More information is available on the Algoa Cares page of the Algoa FM website.

Non-profit organisations with an established presence in the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, and which support cancer patients and their families, are encouraged to apply to be selected as beneficiaries of the 2024 Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer, presented by ISUZU Motors South Africa.

The 26th edition of the biggest mass participation charity event in the Eastern Cape will be held on Saturday, 26 October 2024.

The main event will take place in Gqeberha, with parallel Big Walk for Cancer events in East London and George.

For more information and to access the online application form, please visit www.algoafm.co.za and click on Algoa Cares.

The closing date for applications is 30 April 2024.

Algoa FM presenters will be sharing puppy love on air from March 18 to March 23, which is national puppy day.

“All the presenters on Algoa FM are pet lovers and we are using international puppy day to educate listeners all about puppies – where to adopt them, how to care for them, exercising them and how to train them,” says Algoa FM programme manager Mio Khondleka.

National Puppy Day on March 23 originated in the United States to raise awareness of the poor conditions on many puppy farms, where dogs are bred purely for profit.

Selected puppy shelters in Algoa Country will be given an opportunity to talk about puppy adoption and to share photos on Facebook of puppies ready for a new home.

“The puppy shelters we have selected have very strict adoption requirements, which include visits to the home where they will be living, as well as follow up visits and calls.

“The message is ‘adopt, don’t shop,” says Carol-Anne Kelleher of Algoa Cares.

Local vets, a behavioural specialist and other experts on puppy care will be interviewed during the week.

“We will also be talking to a psychologist about the benefits of having a pet and how they can change your life,” says Kelleher.

Their interviews will be made available through the Algoa FM website for those who missed them.

“Our campaign will encourage listeners to have their pets sterilised, and to support organisations which sterilise animals in disadvantaged communities.

Listeners will be encouraged to share their puppy pictures on Algoa FM social media pages, and animal shelters in Algoa Country will share photos of puppies available for adoption.

EAST LONDON – Algoa FM has renewed its lease agreement with Hemingways Casino, which will continue to house the radio station’s Buffalo City operation.

Further investment into Algoa FM’s East London operation will take the form of technology upgrades and an update to the look and feel of the studio.

“So much more than a contractual relationship, this agreement signifies a renewal of vows between the team at Hemingways and ourselves,” says Algoa FM Managing Director, Alfie Jay.

The radio station has been an anchor tenant at Hemingways since 2011.

The renewal of the lease is part of Algoa FM’s commitment to support economic growth and social cohesion in the region.
“The scope of our footprint and the services we offer to companies of all sizes in the region are broad.

“Our renewed investment into Buffalo City provides our local team with the resources needed to ensure that we can thrive in difficult market conditions and build on our commitment to support economic growth and social cohesion in the region.

“Our planning around this, and the strategies we are rolling out to ensure that we’re addressing these risks, include more emphasis into the region and our brand,” says Jay.

“Our performance in the Eastern Cape and Garden Route reflects the continued investments we have made over time.

“These include the premises we built in Nelson Mandela Bay and the launch of our Garden Route HQ in George, all commissioned with a view to improving service to our stakeholders.”

Algoa FM recently committed to a new ethos in which the value proposition of the business benefits people, including its staff, audience, clients, communities, its shareholders and other stakeholders.

“It’s the most sustainable way to build long-term value,” says Jay.

Aside from the news that Algoa FM will be renewing its vows with Hemingways Casino and that the radio station will be investing in upgrades to its East London operation, Jay also announced the welcomed return of Gordon Graham to the afternoon drive show, effective 4 March 2024.

This follows the departure of Vinny Nogemane earlier this month.

“My family and I have been discussing a return to East London for a while now,” says the former, popular drivetime host, Gordon Graham.

“We’ve spent about nine years in KZN and although it’s been a blast, home is where the heart is and I can’t wait to once again engage with listeners and clients alike,” says Graham.

Reinforcing the station’s commitment to the people in the region, Algoa FM will also be introducing a new show featuring Jeff Moloi, who is also returning to the station. Commencing Sunday the 3rd of March, Breakfast will be hosted live from Hemingways by the broadcast lecturer from Walter Sisulu University.

“I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with the listeners and my former colleagues,” says Moloi, who some years ago presented the early evening show on the station.

“We are as committed to the eastern half of our broadcast footprint as we are to the west, and the announcements made today, are testimony to our passion for the people of Buffalo City and Algoa Country as a whole,” says Jay.

GQEBERHA – The Bethelsdorp Comprehensive School in Gqberha’s northern areas this week rejoiced during the handover of R10 000 to the school.

Schools who entered as a bulk entry in the recent Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer stood a chance of winning R10 000 and an opportunity to be interviewed by one of their drive show presenters on the station. An Educator at the school, Adre Weideman took up the challenge and entered close to 30 learners and educators in the Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer, presented by ISUZU Motors South Africa.

School principal, Jerome Meyer said the money will be spent on educators. As a quintile three no-fees school, Bethelsdorp Comprehensive School does not have funding for staff development. “We will therefore use the money for our strategic planning workshop and training and development of staff,” explained Meyer.

Bethelsdorp Comprehensive School was established 51 years ago as a direct feeder to learners who were relocated from areas such as South End and Newtown during the 1960’s. Soon the 1 200 learners and 39 educators will be moving into a brand-new premises which is currently in at advanced phase of construction, situated next to the existing school.

The Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer celebrated 25 years this year and attracted close to 12 000 entries in Gqeberha, George and East London. “Every year we encourage schools to participate in the event. It is also an opportune reminder for youth to be aware of early detection and treatment, within their families and communities,” said Lesley Geyer, Algoa FM Marketing Manager. 

This year’s beneficiaries of the Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer are Wings and Wishes and Reach for a Dream. Both organisations fulfil a critical role in children living with life-threatening diseases. Wings and Wishes support families with transport to treatment centres usually in other cities or provinces and Reach for a Dream provide hope to children by granting them a wish.

The Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer donation to Wings and Wishes will ensure that the organisation can continue booking flights and bus tickets for children and their caregivers, who also receive a snack pack and toiletries for the journey. While the support to Reach for a Dream includes the purchase of laptops and tablets which will provide dreamers the opportunity to connect with their families while in hospital, do research as well as complete school assignments, learn, and develop as they will resultantly have access to the world.

Lynn Oberem, winner of the Algoa FM Cruise to Dubai with XL Bay Travel competition, left for her dream trip with daughter in law Zelda Inglis on November 16.

They will be spending seven idyllic days on the Arabian Sea soaking up the sun, sipping cocktails, indulging in gourmet dining and spectacular onboard entertainment, with the compliments of Algoa FM and XL Bay Travel.

Keeping it local, Oberem was the finalist from The Drive with Vinny in East London

As a bonus Lynn’s stay has been extended for a week for her to visit her daughter Adele Inglis, who stays in Abu Dhabi.

GQEBERHA – It is her love and compassion for people who are fighting cancer that inspires Inge Human, Manager of charity organisation, Wings and Wishes, to participate in every Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer over the past 25 years.

The Gqeberha based social worker said she spent her entire career working for non-profit organisations (NPOs), and she understands the financial constraints. However, to her the Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer is more than just a fundraiser. “The five-kilometre walk is such an emotional journey and a true celebration of life. You see the thousands of people, everyone with their own personal story. Some are celebrating victory over cancer; others walk in memory of someone that courageously fought the battle and will never be forgotten. The Big Walk shows them, you are not alone!” she said.

Wings and Wishes is one of the beneficiaries of the 2023 Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer, alongside Reach for a Dream. Human explained that Wings and Wishes was established out of a real need to get children from the Eastern Cape to the paediatric oncology unit at Red Cross Hospital in Cape Town. “At that time there was no oncology unit in the Eastern Cape and children travelled to Red Cross Hospital for treatment,” said Human.

She said children who are affected with life-threatening illnesses travelling from rural areas are often at a disadvantage due to limited access to treatment. “The biggest challenge is that the Eastern Cape is extremely rural across a vast province with expert medical care for children requiring oncology, only available at Frere Hospital in East London or PE Provincial Hospital in Gqeberha,” said Human.

However, the services of Wings and Wishes are not limited to the Eastern Cape. The organisation provides transport support to children across all nine provinces.

It is Human’s journey with Wings and Wishes that motivates her to celebrate life every day and participating in charity events is one such blessing. “I realise how blessed I am and that I have nothing to complain about. This encourages me to always be kind, as you never know the battles others are fighting and your kind word or smile might just be the motivation they need to keep going on,” said Human.

The Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer donation to Wings and Wishes will ensure that the organisation can continue booking flights or bus tickets for children and their caregivers.

They also receive a snack pack and toiletries for the journey.

Meanwhile the support to Reach for a Dream includes the purchase of laptops and tablets which will provide dreamers the opportunity to connect with their families while in hospital, do research as well as complete school assignments, learn, and develop as they will resultantly have access to the world.

The Algoa FM Big Walk for Cancer donation facility is still open on the radio station’s website. Donations will be channelled to the beneficiaries.