What a year this was! The COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of the University of Pretoria (and everything else) which meant that Tuks FM had to really innovate to stay on air. And so, Quarantine Connection was born – a radio station broadcasting largely via Whatsapp and filled with content aimed at providing a sense of calm and certainty during what was a very uncertain time. We relied on the fact that radio is a trusted source of information and entertainment to capitalise on the explosion in  listenership as people were forced to stay home.

And, while the South African Radio Awards gala event was cancelled and replaced with an online version due to the pandemic, Tuks FM went on to win the Campus Station of the Year award for a record sixth time. We also won five other awards and remain the most awarded radio station (for Station of the Year awards) in South Africa!

Tuks FM also hosted two successful events, Tuks FM Freshers, and an alumni reunion event featuring the Tuks FM’ers of yesteryear! The below picture shows two of our alumni, Anele Mdoda and Grant Nash, who attended the event.

Tuks FM’s repositioning in 2018 bears fruit as the station reclaims the Campus Station of the Year award – for a record 5th time – at the Liberty Radio Awards. The station won five other awards including Radio Innovation, in which it was the only campus or community radio station nominated among commercial giants. Tuks FM also won an international Small Business Award, hosted by UK-based company, Corporate Vision magazine. The awards “recognise the outstanding achievements, dedication and hard work of those running a small business or organisation. The awards include small businesses from around the globe and from a vast and diverse range of business sectors.”

Several community outreaches were also hosted including Back2Varsity, which saw over R40 000 worth of stationery, food, clothes and toiletries being handed over to the University of Pretoria’s SNAPP programme, which assists students in need.

Tuks FM also hosted several successful events, including Tuks FM Freshers, which will become an annual event.

Tuks FM undergoes a full transformation. The station changes format (from rock to a mix of hip hop, house, RnB and pop music) to better represent a diverse youth market. All new imaging and a new programme line-up are introduced under the mantra, “Young, Fresh, Relevant”.

Tuks FM won four awards at the Liberty Radio Awards, including Best Breakfast Presenter and Best Afternoon Drive Show.

The station also handed over nearly R264 000 to the SRC of the University of Pretoria, to benefit students in need. Additionally, R40 000 worth of food, blankets and stationery were collected and handed over to disadvantaged UP students as part of a charity drive.