Radio Laeveld is an Afrikaans-language radio station broadcasting on 100.5 FM in the Lowveld area of Mpumalanga, South Africa. It received its first four-year broadcast licence on 1 March 2003 and began broadcasting 31 May 2003. Broadcasting mainly in Afrikaans and in English. The footprint covers roughly a 100km radius from Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. Listeners are from all walks of life and includes farmers, office bound workers, representatives and travelling sales people, tourists, small and medium enterprise owners & managers, teachers, municipal and local community care organizations. The targeted audience are in LSM 6-10, age group 35-55 and program content focused on family Life style.
Current People
Current Board Members: Kobus Bester, Vanessa Roets, Jan-Frans Van Aard, Lasea Swift, Estelle Roe, Marilise Heyneke. Current Management & Employees: Robin Jansma, Loretta Vorster, Connie Moyana, Richard Bessinger. Current Presenters: Neels Kemp, Sanett Oosthuizen, Amanda Botha, Ludi Botha, Anike vd Merwe, Pieter Malan, Sanette Mattheus, Derek Wolf, Roelf Van Jaarsveld, Geraldine Scholtz, Helmi White, Tom Farmer, Frieda Rieger, Charissa Du Toit. Current Journalists: Mireilles de Villiers Current Sales People: Alichia Van Ee, Yolande Calvert.
Previous People
The very first voice heard at 6h00 on 31 May 2003 was Pieter Rischmuller, who at the time was asked to assist the station until it found its feet. After that various presenters from the community were part of the different shows on the radio: James Williams, Martin Jansen, Jan Prinsloo, Lappies Labuschagne, Bokkie Taute, Bez Bezuidenhout, Andri Roodt, Charles Gentle, Gert Booysen, Endria Stronkhorst, Adam Van Deventer, Cindy Labuschagne, Dennis Wales, Sarie Saayman, Jannie vd Berg, Giep Van Zyl, Franswa Eloff, Theresa Schoeman, Jeanne Steyn, t.b.c.
History
It all started when the need for a local community radio station, focused on Afrikaans culture and language in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga was identified by a group like minded people known as 'Die Verkenners'. The idea was spearheaded, around two years before the license was awarded, by Albertus Van Zijl, who also later became the first Chairman. At that stage the frequency 100.5FM was in use by Radio Pretoria who were broadcasting from Pretoria. Negotiations centered around the fostering of Afrikaans language, believes and culture in the Lowveld through this broadcasting service. The original studios were in the Whiteriver Centre and later moved to Nelspruit in the Sonpark centre.
