A Tribute to Issie Kirsh: The Father of Independent Radio

We join the broadcasting community in mourning the loss of a true pioneer, Issie Kirsh whose vision and courage reshaped the soundscape of South Africa. Long before democracy, radio was already a part of everyday life in our country. But it was controlled, segregated, and carefully curated by the state. While millions of Black South Africans tuned in, what they heard was often filtered through the lens of a regime intent on division and control.

Issie Kirsh changed that!

Issie Kirsh has passed away at 90. Source: Primedia.

By launching 702 as South Africa’s first independent, commercially funded radio station, he cracked open the door to real freedom of expression. Creating space for new voices, braver conversations, and a vision of radio that reflected the country as it truly was, not just as it was dictated to be. Igniting a spark of independence that paved the way for transformation. He pioneered the space for independent thought, diverse perspectives, and uncensored expression at a time when our country needed it most. In doing so, he unlocked the true power of radio; its ability to move people, not just inform them, but shift hearts, minds, and ultimately, society.

As a company that exists to build and support radio across the region, especially in rural and underserved communities, we owe a great deal to Issie and so many like him. He proved that radio is not just a medium, but it is a connector. A lifeline. A trusted companion that reaches people where roads don’t. A force that carries news, education, music, comfort, and hope to the furthest corners of our continent.

His legacy resonates deeply in our work, especially as radio evolves in today’s world. Today, we are seeing a renaissance of audio, where community radio remains the most accessible and inclusive form of media in Africa. Digital radio is expanding reach, podcasting is unlocking new voices, and hybrid formats are creating deeper listener engagement than ever before. Radio is no longer just linear, it is layered, mobile, and on-demand, and still, at its core, profoundly human.

In Issie’s footsteps, we continue the mission to empower local stations, invest in talent, and amplify voices that matter. Our collective belief in the right to be heard is the backbone of what we do.

Written by Nkopane Maphiri | Director at Torque Media