@KASIBC_AFRICA

#GROK TELL US ABOUT KASI BROADCASTING AFRICA

Overview of Kasi Broadcasting Africa

Kasi Broadcasting Africa (also referred to as Kasi BC Africa or Kasi Broadcasting Corporation) is a South Africa-based online media company founded in 2023 by Channon Lecodey Merricks, a self-described entrepreneur from Kliptown, Soweto.

The company positions itself as a digital platform aimed at "KasiPeople" (a term referring to residents of townships or informal urban communities in South Africa), focusing on empowering local content creation, job opportunities, and economic development through technology like 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) and 5G. Its core mission revolves around the hashtag #MakeKasiGreat, emphasizing accessible media and services for underserved township communities.

The company was officially registered as Kasi Broadcasting Africa (PTY) LTD Contact details include founder Merricks at cell: +27 67 234 5076 or email: kasibcafrica@gmail.com

Services and Offerings

Kasi Broadcasting Africa operates as a multifaceted digital ecosystem with the following key pillars:

Audio Streaming (#MakeAudioGreat): A platform for live news, radio, sports, music, and podcasts tailored to township audiences. Users can access content via the website (kasibroadcasting.com) or a mobile app, featuring local broadcasts in multiple languages

Video Streaming (#MakeVideoGreat): An online service (#KasiBCVideo) delivering local, regional, and international videos, broadcast in all official South African languages to ensure timely access for KasiPeople.

Events and Live Streaming (#MakeEventsGreat): A hybrid platform (#KasiBCEvents) for physical and online events, including live streams of local gatherings throughout the year.

Additional Ventures: Includes news (#KasiBCNews), tours, stores, and free Wi-Fi initiatives (e.g., partnerships with taxi associations in areas like Alexandra and Kagiso to provide Wi-Fi in 3,500 taxis).

The company promotes a "100 Township Model" to establish studios, stores, and event spaces in townships, aiming to create jobs and foster a township economy.

Launch and History

Launch Event: The company launched on June 16, 2023, in Johannesburg South, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprising (Soweto Uprising). The event theme was "Let's We Forget 1976 Youth Uprising" and included discussions on job creation, township economies, and tech integration. It featured a gala dinner, property tours (including helicopter rides over nearby townships), live entertainment by local artists, and a livestream to an estimated 2 million viewers. Planned VVIP guests included figures like Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma, though attendance details are unconfirmed.

A Subsequent Launch: A follow-up event for Kasi Broadcasting News was announced for July 27-30, 2023, in Soweto, described as a grand affair with similar high-profile invitations.

The company has a presence on social media, including a YouTube channel (@kasibcafrica) for videos and music, a Facebook page (22,000+ likes, focused on #KasiPeople), and another for Kasi Broadcasting News (news specialist for KasiPeople).02ef61 It's also listed on business directories like Bizcommunity under media categories (radio, TV, news, events).youtube.com

Controversies and Criticisms

While promoting ambitious goals like reselling goods to KasiPeople at affordable markups and creating a "township empire," the company has faced scrutiny.

A 2023 Daily Maverick investigation labeled founder Merricks a "local media grifter" with a history of dubious ventures, pointing to fake classified listings on the Kasi Broadcasting News site and thin content (e.g., just five articles in May 2023, some unrelated to Africa like pieces on the Central Karoo). The report questioned the viability of investment pitches promising monthly returns via bulk buying and reselling. Merricks has also appeared at public events, such as a Public Protector briefing, making provocative statements.

Note: This should not be confused with Kasi FM, a separate community radio station broadcasting on 97.1 MHz in Germiston and surrounding Ekurhuleni townships since around 2005, which focuses on local music and news but is unrelated to Kasi Broadcasting Africa

For the latest updates, visit their official site at kasibc.blogspot.com or follow their social channels. If you're seeking specific details (e.g., investment opportunities or event schedules), provide more context for deeper research.

#MAKEKASIGREAT

#GROK TELL US ABOUT CHANNON LECODEY MERRICKS

Who is Channon Merricks?

Channon Lecodey Merricks (sometimes spelled Chanon) is a South African entrepreneur, media founder, and self-described community advocate born on June 11, 1976, in Kliptown, Soweto, during the height of the 1976 Soweto youth uprising. Raised in a township environment, he has positioned himself as a champion for "Kasi People" (a colloquial term for township residents), focusing on uplifting underserved communities through business ventures. His story often emphasizes resilience: he lost both ( mother ) parents by age 12 ( 16) and grew up amid socio-economic challenges in post-apartheid South Africa.

Education and Early Career

Merricks completed his matric (high school equivalent) in 1995. He lacks formal higher education but credits hands-on experience for his growth. His professional journey began on the factory floor as a stock carrier at Nu World Industries in Wynberg, Johannesburg, where a pivotal lesson from the owner about small oversights (like losing one screw daily) shaped his business acumen.

He later transitioned to office roles, including an underwriting assistant position at Credit Guarantee Insurance Company, after teaching himself basic computer skills by arriving early and staying late at his first desk job at Kredit Inform.

Business Ventures

Merricks has launched several enterprises, often centered on media, events, and township empowerment:

Soweto Focus Point (2010)

A World Cup-related initiative to convert school classrooms in Soweto, Durban, Cape Town, Polokwane, and Port Elizabeth into backpacker lodges. The project collapsed due to a Gauteng Department of Education directive discouraging school participation, leading to investor disputes.

Vila Kasi Holdings (PTY) LTD Founded as an umbrella company for media and lifestyle services. In 2018, he announced plans to hire 200 staff from outlets like SABC, eNCA, and ANN7 for a TV team rollout.

Kasi Broadcasting Africa ( Kasi BC_Africa )

Launched in 2023, this online media house targets township audiences with platforms for audio (news, radio, podcasts), video, news (countering "mainstream narratives"), tours, events, and e-commerce.

It operates on a "100 Township Model" to generate jobs across South Africa, with ambitious goals like raising R1.5 billion in funding. Services include #KasiBCAudio, #KasiBCVideo, #KasiBCNews, #KasiBCTours, #KasiBCEvents, and #KasiBCStores.

The Merricks ( Lecodey ) Family Trust holds 15% lifetime shares, with 85% allocated to community-owned PTYs in 22 ( 54 ) countries.

He describes these ventures as tools for economic inclusion, often promoting them on social media with hashtags like #MakeKasiGreat.

Controversies and Legal Issues

Merricks' career has been marked by high-profile setbacks and allegations:

2010 Fraud Charges: Accused of 28 counts of fraud related to Soweto Focus Point's collapse, which left investors unpaid. After a year-long trial, the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court acquitted him in 2010, ruling him Not Guilty.

Media Grifting Claims (2023)

During a Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane briefing, Merricks (via Kasi BC News) submitted provocative questions likening her to Jesus Christ. Critics, including Daily Maverick ( competition ) , labeled him a "local media grifter" with a history of dubious projects, questioning the journalistic integrity of his outlets.

Labor Dispute (November 2024) ( 2022 )

Merricks claimed he was "held hostage at cellphone-point" by 78 former ANN7 employees at his offices.

The workers alleged he lured them with promises of better-paying jobs post-ANN7 closure but failed to pay salaries for months ( 28 Days ).

He accused media ( competition ) of bias and refused comment, escalating tensions.

Public perception is polarized: supporters view him as a bold township innovator, while detractors call him a "scammer" in online discourse, including X posts questioning his ventures' legitimacy.

Personal Life and Online Presence

Limited public details exist on his family beyond the Merricks Family Trust tied to his businesses. He maintains an active X presence via @KasiBCFounder (42 followers, Facebook @ChannonMerricks ( 25 000 follower ) bio: "Founder Kasi Broadcasting Africa") and @kasibc_news ( 37 000 follower ) Tiktok @kasibc_africa ( 100 000 follower ) ( reach 15million views every 90 days on Social Media Platforms ) , where he promotes KasiBC_Africa and shares self-promotional content, such as detailed bios and calls for investment.

Recent posts (as of September 2025) include warnings about potential threats involving political figures like Gayton McKenzie and defenses of his empire's structure.

Merricks embodies the entrepreneurial hustle of post-apartheid South Africa—ambitious yet fraught with scrutiny.

His No-Criminal-Record Status (post-2010 acquittal) underscores vindication in legal battles, but ongoing disputes highlight the risks of his community-focused, high-stakes model. For deeper dives, check his LinkedIn or Kasi BC Websites.

THIS ARTICLE DONE BY #GROK , WITH SOME CHANGES IN ( BRACKETS ) TO CORRECT DATES ETC

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