THE STORY OF 702: In Touch, In Tune and Independent

“No newspaper or broadcasting station in South Africa had been closer to the momentous political events of the 1980s and 90s than 702. More than playing a reporting role, the station had itself become part of the process that opened up democracy”. In the final decade of apartheid rule, a feisty new independent station called Radio 702 exploded on the scene in South Africa. Innovative, in- your-face and exciting, it revolutionised the local broadcasting scene, breaking boundaries and challenging conventions as never before. Radio 702 became the station that everyone was talking about. From the outset, it imbedded itself in the community it served, continually finding new ways to connect and engage with its audience so that listeners could feel that the station truly belonged to them. In the process it became a beacon for much of the country’s most promising broadcasting talent, from the legendary John Berks to John Robbie, Jenny Crwys-Williams, Dan Moyane and many others.