y cares

Y-Cares is the Social Responsibility arm of the Yired group of companies. Through Y-Cares, we try to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than us. Y-Cares does not give out money, nor do we raise funds. What we can do is mobilise the hearts and minds of our caring listeners to help us make a difference.

Read about the Rotary Spring Charity Walk on 5 September here

In the cold winter of June 2007, YFM's CEO challenged The Essential Rush and the Kamakazi Breakfast to see which team to collect the most winter clothing for charity. The Essential Rush weighed in with more than 550 kilograms of clothes. Chilli and Dineo persuaded our listeners to donate more than half a ton of clothing. Part of this included a selection of brand new end-of-line clothing from Hang Ten. This is a huge achievement for GP's hottest afternoon drive show. But the Kamakazi Breakfast definitely captured the hearts of our listeners that time. Rude Boy and Sanza's fans brought in two thousand two hundred and fifty eight kilograms of clothing. That's 2.2 tons of clothing! Rude Boy and Chilli then led a group of YFM deejays into the city centre to distribute these to the homeless and to welfare centres.

Y-Cares 10th Birthday Party

To celebrate our 10th Birthday, YFM visited Sefikeng Primary School situated in Sandton, right at the premises of Leeuwkop Prison on the 31st of October. The main reason the school was chosen is because the school is in dire straits!

When the Department of Education allocates resources for all the schools, this school only gets a total amount of R13, 244.87! This can't fix or buy new furniture, to say the least. The school Principal Mr Mogale wrote several letters to the Department of Education pleading with them to stretch the budget because they are struggling to do anything with the little money they get. The reason they only get that portion of the Department's budget is because of where the school is situated ( forgetting that most of these kids' parents are domestic workers who can't afford much).

The school decided to take another route of raising funds by asking companies around the area to adopt a class. This is where one company can either paint one class, buy chairs and tables or anything that can help. This initiative didn't get a warm response either. So YFM decided to forfeit its 10th Birthday staff party and rather use the money where it'd make a big difference, by giving the party to these kids instead.

The party was priceless! The teachers were so humbled, the kids were jumping up and down filled with excitement! It's times like these where the Y-Cares team felt that they'd done something right!

We would like to thank Ghetto Ruff for sending their music ambassadors, Malik and Gumshev, to come share the memorable day with us. To Chomee and Speedy, thank you for extending your hearts to those in need, much appreciated guys Not forgetting our own DJ's Pabi, Amon and MacGyver. Thank you.

The Rotary Club of Morningside, which first brought Sefikeng to our attention, continues to support the school and has recently donated shipping containers converted into classrooms.

press room

YFM Media Statement: Passing of DJ Monde

YFM regrets to announce the sudden passing away of Music Manager Monde Mabaso on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 at 10 pm. He was 33 years old.

DJ Monde had been in post-operative recovery after undergoing a series of medical procedures, but had been showing excellent progress and was expecting to resume his role at YFM in January 2010.

Monde Claude Mabaso, born in Brakpan in 1976, began his journey with a chance meeting with DJ Christos in a record shop. Christos taught Monde how to mix vinyl, catapulting him from small-time township parties into Joburg's bourgeoning house circuit.

In 1997 DJ Monde became one of the youngest to play on YFM's "Mad Half Hour", the popular breeding ground of Jozi's deejays. His introduction to the club scene came in 1998, when he opened sets for big names such as Vinny da Vinci, G-force, Fresh and Glen Lewis.

DJ Monde has played in New York, Miami and in Ireland - and was invited by Richard Branson to play at a special Virgin gig aboard a plane flying from Joburg to Cape Town. CEO Kanthan Pillay said the Y team were devastated by the loss.

"Monde was one of my first appointments to the Y management team when I came on board in 2007. The music department had been leaderless after Nutty Nys vacated the position to pursue his music career. Monde at that time had been Nutty's quiet and unassuming sidekick in the music department, but he came through for the interviews and wowed us with the depth of his music knowledge which was so much wider than the R&B, Hip Hop, House, and Kwaito which YFM is famous for," said Pillay.

"Monde was at the point in his career where he was moving into the same leadership role as those who had mentored him in the early days of Y. Three successive classes of Y Academy have benefited from his knowledge and skill and his genuine desire to share those. His passing is a tragedy not only for the Y team but for the industry as whole. I myself feel a great sense of personal loss. He will be sorely missed."

The station will run tributes to DJ Monde over the next period. Funeral arrangements will be announced after discussion with the family.