702 turns 45! Legendary broadcaster Jenny Crwys-Williams recalls radio during a revolution

702’s Bongani Bingwa speaks with author and broadcaster Jenny Crwys-Williams.

Listen below:

On Saturday, 28 June, 702 celebrates the incredible milestone of 45 years on the air. 

It was exactly at midday in 1980 that the voice of Paddy O’Bryne cut through the static and welcomed listeners to Radio 702. 

The station has grown into an institution, a voice that has challenged power and shaped broadcasting in South Africa.

Crwys-Williams was among the people who helped shape 702 into the sound that we know and love today.

“... 702 started in minuscule offices in downtown Joburg, and that is when I started listening… There was this guy on air that was so riveting, and his name was John Robbie.”

– Jenny Crwys-Williams

“I remember phoning the ANC offices, I needed to speak to Jesse Duarte about something, and a guy answered the phone… I asked, ‘Who am I speaking to?’ and he said, ‘Thabo Mbeki’.” 

– Jenny Crwys-Williams

“It was riveting, you could not miss it. They were dangerous times… John Robbie, he had to have guards because what he was talking about had never been heard in South Africa before… but we were in the middle of a revolution and it was so exciting.” 

– Jenny Crwys-Williams

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.