A South African media icon turns 25

These were the early days of CNN, no cellphones, no email, no internet and no satellite TV to alert us, only a paging system, which was usually behind on news events! 702 often alerted the media to what was happening in those turbulent times.

And the 702 journalists in their branded news cars (a first for the media then) were the only ones with car phones and often the only access the rest of the South African journalists had to our city newsrooms when out in the field, as we begged to use them to file for deadline for our afternoon papers.

Talk Radio 702, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, was one of the first independent radio stations, in an environment that was hostile to such stations and where only the then SABC/SAUK was allowed to broadcast within the borders of South Africa.

The station was launched in 1980 and has always played a leading role within the community. It has a proud history of being "the alternative voice" during the dark years of apartheid and has prided itself on being independent and giving all South Africans a voice.

Celebrations included messages of congratulations from Nelson Mandela, a breakfast at which Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa was guest speaker, and memories shared in phone in messages by loyal listeners from all sectors.