Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 20-10-2017
While Radio Islam International has become a household name in South Africa, the community radio station started from humble beginnings to become one, if not the most listened to and multi-award winning Islamic medium in the country.
The first broadcast on the 10 April 1997 from a house in Cuckoo Avenue in Lenasia was donated by the Bhikoo family.
Speaking to Radio Islam International on Friday, Sulaiman Patel says his uncle Sulaiman Bhikoo donated the property to the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa more then 21 years ago.
“It used to be known as the ‘big house’ in our family and this house was here and they used to live here, him and all his children. There came a time when everybody moved out and my uncle was alone, so he retired and gave the house to the Jamiat.”
Radio Islam’s Ml Muhammad Kara says the radio stations building has metamorphosed from a small house to an iconic building with a staff compliment of more than 40 people.
“If the presenter was on air, you had to sit with a pen and cue to the cassettes. One presenter had to do the news, take the calls, engineer yourself and your cue the ads yourself.”
Patel says in his house Radio Islam International is switched on from 5am until 10pm Monday to Sunday.
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