Perpetuating Tribalism in Community Radio Coverage: The Case of Malamulele FM and Vuwani FM in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

In post-apartheid South Africa, community radio was established to promote distinct marginalized ethnic cultures and identities. Language played an integral role in this endeavour (Mashau 2019). Community radio aimed to unite cohabiting disparate ethnic groups within previously racially homogenized spaces by promoting multilingualism and social cohesion (Lewis 2015). This study examined the role of community radio in the interethnic communities of Collins Chabane Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa, using Malamulele FM and Vuwani FM as case studies. It interrogates how language functions ideologically in community radio broadcasting to privilege dominant ethnic groups and perpetuate tribalism. The study used qualitative research methods anchored on in-depth interviews, document analysis, and content analysis. The study drew insights from social responsibility theory, democratic and social cohesion, media responsibility, inter-ethnic communication theory, media and ethnic conflict studies theory, and political economy theory. The findings reveal use of majoritarianism in the programming languages of Malamulele FM and Vuwani FM, where the languages of dominant ethnic groups enjoy broadcasting rights while minority languages are marginalised. The study also found that tribalism in community radio programming results from the legislated language quota system in the current Community Radio Broadcasting License Conditions which promote linguistic hegemony and isolation of minority tribes. This leads to the perpetuation of tribalism and ethnic divisions within the communities of Malamulele and Vuwani. The thesis recommends the realignment of community broadcasting language policy to foster social cohesion, reflecting a multilingual and inclusive South African society by ensuring equal representation of tribes instead of majoritarianism in programming.