ICASA Licenses 18 New Community Radio Stations After 93 Applications
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has awarded broadcasting and radio frequency spectrum licences to 18 new community radio stations following a competitive process that attracted 93 applications.
The licences were announced in Pretoria on August 12, 2026, marking the conclusion of a process that began with an invitation to pre-register in December 2024.
Each successful applicant received two licences: a Community Sound Broadcasting Service licence, which authorises the station to operate as a community broadcaster, and a Radio Frequency Spectrum licence, which gives it access to the frequency needed to transmit its programmes.
18 Stations Selected From 93 Applications
The licensing process began after ICASA published an Invitation to Pre-Register in Government Gazette No. 51727 on December 10, 2024.
A total of 93 applications were submitted. However, only 41 applicants progressed to the first stage of the process.
Of those 41 applicants, 19 satisfied the requirements to proceed to the second phase. ICASA eventually approved 18 applications, while one applicant was unsuccessful.
The final outcome means that fewer than one in five of the original 93 applications resulted in a licence.
Eight Provinces Receive New Community Stations
The successful stations are spread across eight of South Africa’s nine provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal receiving the largest number.
| Province | New Community Radio Stations |
|---|---|
| KwaZulu-Natal | 5 |
| Eastern Cape | 3 |
| Limpopo | 3 |
| North West | 2 |
| Western Cape | 2 |
| Gauteng | 1 |
| Mpumalanga | 1 |
| Northern Cape | 1 |
| Free State | 0 |
KwaZulu-Natal leads the allocations with five stations, followed by the Eastern Cape and Limpopo with three each. North West and the Western Cape receive two stations each, while Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape each receive one.
The Free State is the only province without a successful applicant in this licensing round.
Among the organisations awarded licences are Bulungula Community Radio in the Eastern Cape, Lephalale FM and Sibasa FM in Limpopo, Cape Winelands FM in the Western Cape, Mahube FM in Gauteng and Mbombela FM in Mpumalanga.
The successful applicants include non-profit companies, community trusts, youth-focused organisations and faith-based groups.
Why Community Radio Still Matters in South Africa
Despite the rapid growth of smartphones, mobile internet and digital streaming, community radio remains an important way of reaching audiences, particularly in rural areas.
Unlike online platforms, traditional radio does not require a data subscription or a smartphone. A basic radio receiver can also provide access to information at a much lower cost than many connected devices.
For local communities, a broadcasting licence can also provide a direct platform for sharing news, local issues, cultural content and information in languages and formats that are relevant to their audiences.
ICASA highlighted the role community radio plays in expanding access to information, supporting local development, strengthening social cohesion and helping preserve South Africa’s diverse cultures and languages.
New Licences Form Part of ICASA’s Wider Broadcasting Agenda
The latest community radio awards come as ICASA continues work on other areas of broadcasting and spectrum regulation.
The regulator is also dealing with proposed rules concerning satellite spectrum, while preparations for a similar licensing process for community television have continued following workshops held earlier in the year.
The 18 new radio licences therefore represent more than the addition of new stations to South Africa’s FM landscape. They form part of a wider effort to expand community access to broadcasting services while making more room for local organisations and voices across the country’s provinces.
