Phakane Moses Masukela, the Board Chairperson of Mahikeng FM community radio, has recently achieved a remarkable milestone by obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Business Management from North-West University on the 19th of May, 2023.
In his PhD thesis, he developed a framework for assessing the influence of public service motivation on core work evaluation (job satisfaction, organizational commitment, work engagement) and counterproductive work behaviour among employees at 11 North-West Provincial Government departments
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Dr Masukela says leading Mahikeng FM has been an arduous journey, as within just 48 hours of assuming the role of chairperson, he was summoned to the North West High Court by the previous board, who claimed the rights to the station.
“The following six months were overshadowed by adversity as we mourned the loss of our Board Secretary and Board Deputy Secretary. The station also faced the unfortunate departure of two esteemed presenters. Despite these challenges, with the unwavering support of the entire board and staff, I managed to navigate the ship in the right direction.”
“It's worth noting that serving as the Board Chairperson is voluntary without any financial compensation, as a sense of community service drives it. Moreover, it should be acknowledged that I had to take risks by leveraging some of my assets to achieve the following accomplishments when I started. I utilized family funds to engage lawyers and even personally invested in fuel to ensure the radio could operate,” said Dr Masukela.
Dr Masukela, alongside his fellow board members, took professional risks and successfully revitalized the station, establishing Mahikeng FM as the number-one community radio station in the province for three consecutive years. Here are the notable achievements to date:
1. Obtained a self-transmission license for the station.
2. Acquired two state-of-the-art studios to enhance our technological capabilities.
3. Increased listenership by over 15.8% in the past 24 months.
4. Currently ranked third in the province for minutes listened, trailing behind Motsweding and Lesedi FM, both of which are PBS stations.
5. The Transference of skills and talent to Motsweding FM and grooming talents such as DJ Nash, Don Makhosi, Oarabile Gaborone, and Kgomotso Biloane within 36 months.
6. Stabilized the station's financial situation and ensured compliance with regulatory bodies such as ICASA, SARS, SocDev, and SenTech.
7. The Procurement of two vehicles within the first 18 months after repossession of the initial vehicle.
8. Implemented a medical arrangement, in partnership with a medical scheme, for the well-being of Mahikeng FM employees, making Mahikeng FM the only community radio station in the country to provide such benefits.
9. Ensured employees received regulated stipends based on the commercialized community rate card.
10. Received recognition and accolades in the past 18 months, including winning the Best Station Playing Kwaito and the Imaging Station award in the Community and Campus station category.
Mahikeng FM Station CEO, Mr Karabo Kgokong, says the station is very proud of Dr Masukela `s achievement.
“This remarkable achievement is a testament to Masukela's unwavering commitment to personal growth and academic excellence.”
“As a leader in the community radio station, Masukela's academic accomplishments inspire, demonstrating the power of determination and dedication. With his newfound expertise and scholarly achievements, Masukela is poised to enhance his leadership abilities further and contribute even more significantly to the success of Mahikeng FM and its impact on the community,” said Karabo Kgokong.
