Public Radio Broadcasting and Cultural Pluralism South Africa’s case of ‘Holy Cultural Matrimony’

Brilliant Mhlanga

doi:10.16997/wpcc.185

Abstract

A closer analysis of the long and arduous journey traversed by African nationalism often shows ethnicity marching along as an invisible ‘matrimonial’ partner. It is on that note that this article seeks to present South Africa’s project of managing ethnic diversity using public radio broadcasting as new form of cultural ‘holy matrimony’, with its consummation evinced through the implementation of policies that encourage ethnic diversity. The article acknowledges that the re‐appropriation of meaning for ethnicity in South Africa now denotes the politically correct and constructed descriptor of ‘culture’, and is characterized by the continued conflation of ethnicity and race relations. Unlike in some parts of Africa, where ethnicity is criminalized as ‘tribalism’ – thus emphasizing its instrumentalized destructive element – in South Africa cultural diversity is seen as the panacea for a stable democratic arrangement. This article proposes to discuss cultural pluralism as a democratic imperative within the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which is a public service broadcaster (PSB). Two case studies of ethnic minority radio stations will be presented as empirical evidence: Munghana Lonene FM and Phalaphala FM .

Highlights

This article seeks to make sense of ethnic minority radio stations in South Africa as ‘residual and incremental policy models’
The article will conclude by acknowledging the emerging hegemonic trends following the use of ethic minority radio in bringing about a reproduction of social relations within the discourse of cultural pluralism – confirming the features of what is commonly referred to as the ‘Rainbow Nation’ or ‘Proudly South African.’
Even the names of locations were changed from Afrikaans to local ethnic languages; for example, the name Pietersburg where Munghana Lonene FM and Phalaphala FM were located was changed to Polokwane

Summary

Introduction

This article seeks to make sense of ethnic minority radio stations in South Africa as ‘residual and incremental policy models’. We have a public service arrangement.viii The position above presents an interesting case for the continuation of these ethnic radio stations, including the maintenance of homelands in the post-Apartheid South Africa as provinces.

Results

Conclusion