The interaction between Khwezi community radio, transformative power and social change in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Date
2021
Authors
Khumalo, Sibonile Linda
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Abstract
The research contributes to the discourse on participatory development communication
through responding to the primary question: How does community radio as a participatory
medium of development communication contribute to social change? Through their
participatory means, community radios (CRs) empower communities to move away from
imposed developmental solutions towards attaining individual and collaborative
empowerment to tackle their community challenges. The thesis examined rural communities
who actively listen to Khwezi community radio to obtain a broad understanding of the crucial
roles that CRs plays in enhancing social change through a multiple embedded case study. The
researcher collected data through qualitative methods, i.e., face to face interviews, focus
group discussions, observations, systematically listening to development programming on
Khwezi radio, and documents analyses. These were conducted with community members
(listeners of Khwezi radio), radio staff, key station partners and community leaders.
The study found that CRs contribute to facilitating individual and community level
social change in various ways. Individual level change included behavioural change and
spiritual upliftment. It further established a strong sense of community fostering social
cohesion in Masibumbane listeners club which consists of Khwezi’s active listeners. This
sense of community enabled communities to address their societal challenges collectively.
The study also illustrated the critical role that the community radio plays for listenership
communities in facilitating the accountability of community leaders to citizens, service
delivery and other development-related projects. The study contributes a unique
understanding of the role played by community radio in fostering the transformative power
of communities resulting in their active contribution to social change initiatives. It further
highlights the significance of organic spaces of participation in fostering collaborative
empowerment for communities to manoeuvre power contestations as active agents of social
change. The thesis concludes on the need for multifaceted support to CRs development roles
as transformative agents facilitating social change within a broader ecosystem
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Development Studies) to the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand, 2021