RC 260819SAfmBridget Masinga
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
SAfm marked its 90th anniversary with tributes and a look back at its role through apartheid, democracy and public debate, alongside a sharp warning on digital sextortion.
- 00:25
SAfm spent most of the show celebrating 90 years on air, with repeated tributes from media, business, religious and civic voices calling it a trusted public platform for South Africans.
- 01:37
A retrospective traced SAfm from the English service and Radio South Africa through apartheid, the state of emergency and Mandela’s release to the rebirth of SAFM in 1995.
- 00:34
Public broadcasting was framed as central to democracy: contributors praised SAfm for election coverage since 1994, editorial independence, and helping police and other institutions communicate with the public.
- 02:48
An AI and digital policy expert warned that digital sextortion works by exploiting fear, shame and reputational harm, and said AI has made these attacks more scalable and sophisticated.