The role of the news media in the dominance of English over the other ten official languages of South Africa

Mpho Moloele

Tongues, Reading and Understanding capacities bound in chains, chains of the English language being put by the news media prison warder, in hope of breaking through to other languages.  

As I gather my thoughts and put letters into words to compile a piece, I do so in a language which is known to be influential in a far distant land of its origin. A tongue that is not of my ancestors but of lost travellers commonly referred to as colonizers, who decided to settle in a land at the South of Africa. Not being part of the community while colonization was still at its peak I am still influenced by the English language as that is what the mass media communicates its information to the public. The massive exposure of the language gives it more authority and results in the majority overlooking their mother tongues. 

The natives of South Africa of the 19^th century saw the spread of English from coastal areas which then extended into inlands. This led to some Africans adapting to English norms and characteristics. In the 21^st century Black South Africans perceive English as a language of emancipation and unity where majority of them have knowledge of the language.

Although the South African Constitution guarantees equal status to all the 11 official languages, English seems to have more dominance especially looking at the mass media. The lingua Franca has been established to be the medium of communication that is generally understood by masses for business, politics and media regardless of it being a mother tongue to the minority.

While the media has evolved, the commercial language has been constant where little of the other languages has been utilised to report on current occurrences. Mass media consists of print, recordings, cinema, broadcast media (radio and television), digital media (internet and mobile phones). These have largely contributed to news media consumers to opt to English news programmes. “Afrikaans has some difficult words while English is easy to understand” says 22 year old, Lucrecia Markham. With information on her finger tips’ most of it is in the language of her preference.

English publications of newspapers nationally, provincially, student, online and regional takes the lead. While with commercial radio stations English still being the primary language of broadcast, the Public Service has stations broadcasting in all the official languages. Nyiko Ngobeni, a journalist at the Public broadcaster says he prefers reporting in English because he did a different language at school which has resulted in him not being able to read and write properly in his mother tongue TshiTsonga.

With IsiZulu being the largest ethnic group, King Goodwill Zwelithini royal traditional wedding has never been broadcasted live but that is a different case for the Britain royals Catherine Middleton and Prince William, the duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The news media informs and educates the South Africans more about the western culture.

Even with the inception of 24 hours news channels such as the SABC news, eNCA and ANN7, more coverage is given to English news programmes as compared to those in vernacular. How then can one become a patriot when all the media feeds does not acknowledge and embrace who they are? Without exposure of the other 10 official languages in the mass media they could be just an addition to the history of the languages of South Africa.

While for some English has become the only language they can read, write and understand, it appears to be a different case for other people says an article in the City Press on the 20^th of April 2014 titled English to blame for booing Zuma. The article states the residents of Malamulele in Limpopo did not clearly understand President Jacob Zuma as he was addressing a number of “Shangaan speaking” audience in English.

Media bosses have invested in news media as a commercial business where profit must be generated. In order for that to occur, the mass media should be able to reach and have a large audience consuming the media. For that to happen an internationally recognised business language declared to be English is used.

But a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity, Threats) analysis can be done. Where you can create a big demand for information in the other 10 official languages, supply and people will consume it. Practical example is the KwaZulu Natal province consisting of a large Zulu speaking population.

With Sunday Times Zulu edition closure in March 2013 due to it being a mere translation of the English edition, of high Living Standards Measure and selling at R8 while its competitors sold at R3. Isolezwe seems to be growing as the circulation and readership increases. Here human interest stories in the readers’ proximity are written in their mother tongue. More of these throughout the republic can result in grooming and educating a nation.

Prior 1994 one wouldn’t progress to the next grade if you failed a vernacular as a language, today you find schools only offering English and Afrikaans that also being the case with programming on televisions and the print media. “I went to an English speaking school and got used to it being my main language of communications” says Samkelisiwe Njapha, a Zulu speaker.

The news media’s role is to inform, entertain and educate in hope of enabling citizens to make informed judgement on issues of the time. How more informed decisions would be made with more of the inclusivity of the other 10 official languages in the news media?

That can be declared true liberation from the English language colonisation with more of such pieces being vernacular.

Alexandra Township: Is there light in the commonly known “dark city” township?

Mpho Moloele

What is the dark? Can one ever be confined to it? Can darkness ever drive out darkness in a city? Or can darkness only be driven out by light?

As power supply becomes under pressure due to coal being wet. Residents of Alexandra Township are feeling the pain just like the Mbanjwa family who were the first residents of the “dark city” when it was proclaimed a township in 1912. 

As the soft showers continues outside and families loudly conversing in the dark in the comfort of their colourful painted houses and zinc shacks. They are not bothered because in the midst of all the surroundings the “Son” light is still shining within them and the Sun light will provide them with Vitamin D to move their muscles “to be the change that they want to see” in Alex.

The name the “dark city” has been attached with the lack of electricity in most of the 20th century and it still remained even when Reverend Sam Buti’s resident became the first to be powered with electricity in the early 1970’s. He then became the light when he established a Save Alex campaign to stop the township from being demolished in 1979. With electricity having being defined as a “mode of motion” by Thomas Edison it became natural for residents to become pioneers of the community and improve its residency.

To eradicate the filthy bucket system toilets and to educate people about sanitation, a group of inspiring four young people have established an organisation called Building Blocks Foundation. Here recipients participate in building flushing toilets and after that they undergo an informative workshop on hygiene and management of the toilets. “The people are now aware of the sanitation debacle, they are taking ownership and doing it for themselves rather than having to wait for the government to help them” saying it with a sense of relief, the Research and Operations officer, Itumeleng Mothopeng. 

As the power station generates the electric power from outside the community, these life changing agents do it from the inside out.

Kala/Mine Productions gives spot light to the countless of untold stories of those who are said to be suppressed and excluded in society. “ It is a tool that is there to really suck out hidden talent, use memorable moments for ones history to be told through theatre, television, music, photography and poetry” says founder and creative director of KLM, Banele P. Mtebele. With his team all being from Alexandra they want to make the world see the multi faceted flowers (Residents) growing from a dustbin (Alex).

The name “dark city” can now be associated with the socio economic problems that the inhabitants encounter. Some being lack of housing and sanitation, unemployment and crime. These are being overshadowed because just as electricity lights up the community these young agents do the same by transforming peoples’ lives. Their light is striking like lightning, electrifying their minds to innovate and implement sustainable community development power stations. 

The truth is “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that”, Martin Luther King Jr. said.

“Pro”gressive Process

Mpho Moloele

Do you prefer either white or dark chocolate? Or do you reckon top deck is the better option because it is the best of both worlds? Could be a hard pick especially when your taste bud is content with what it is already used to.

Legislation such as the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act of 1968 which was later repealed to Immorality and Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Amendment Act of 1985 by the then President PW Botha changed peoples perspective. While the prior brought great divide, with the latter many saw a hopeful future change on paper but hard in practice due to the law initially being imposed on society and made it to be acceptable. Now who is to blame you may ask?  Is society now expected to not only acknowledge mixed marriages but also embrace it?

Looking at the older generation inter cultural marriages is still disapproved that still making some to break their necks when staring at such couples, while with the younger generation they seem to not have any problem in engaging in a cross cultural relationship later to pursue marriages. The cultural differences can only become a hindrance when parents become involved. Why? Because they have only tasted white or dark chocolate and not willing to give top deck a try as it is different. Better the devil you know than the one you don’t know some say.

Having Freedom of Association and being exposed to people of different cultures in political parties, sports clubs, religious groups, the workplace and schools is making inter cultural relationships later pursuing marriages nothing out of the ordinary for the younger generation. Megan Whately, a white lady in her late twenties, who had been in relationships with mixed race men, says “Even though we had different heritages, we grew up in similar ways”. It is unfortunate for the older generation as this is still an uncomfortable issue and reality especially having to look at history and the cultural differences.

As much as pigmentation and geographical home of origin might be different, with blood being of the same colour those should not be the dividing factors to marriage.

Nombulelo Mazibuko, a Zulu girl from Durban, KwaZulu Natal dated a white guy which was a bit different for her as she was introduced to the family. Nombulelo would even go out on a lot of dates with him and his family. Although at first it was uncomfortable, she got used to it. Her siblings knew about the relationship and were okay about it, her mother whom she thinks wouldn't have approved, didn't know about it at all.

Being in an inter cultural relationship one becomes enriched with knowledge about their partners cultural package. “Our oddness is so similar that it makes our cultural difference” says Roxanne Rhoda a coloured South African engaged to marry a white American, Gregory Jewel. In preparation for their marriage the couple will have an American rehearsal dinner and a coloured catered reception. That includes acknowledging, keeping and celebrating both heritages. The couple love being able to celebrate being different with one another.

The transition is work in progress inclusive of old moral roots being uprooted. The neck breaking stares of inter cultural couples in the public sphere will one day come to an end. Just as the suburbs are a place of choice for the couples to stay, soon the township will be that and a safe home environment.  A society where there won’t be any prejudice against such unions.

Lilly Yon, a Zulu lady who married into a coloured family had discussed with her family a year before she got married about not wanting her family to take lobola and both sets of parents gave their blessings.  Lilly didn't not understand the concept of lobola, having being part of her best friend’s lobola proceedings that experience didn't offer concrete evidence of the process being a relationship builder between both families. Although there was a bit of communication barrier between the two cultures, the parents were pleased that their children were getting married before they died. Lilly and Julian Yon have built their relationship on trust and love with support from both families.

Inter cultural marriages having been classified as a taboo has instead resulted to it taking glory looking at the number of increasing couples in that matrimony. Take Trevor Manual (Coloured) and Maria Ramos (White), both over 50 years, got married in 2008. The old generation could learn from this and know that it is possible and is happening even with their peers. 

So as we take this long distance journey of adapting to change, may we overcome the pain and enjoy the fruits of it together with the good health it will bring to society. After all having a top deck is more on point as it is two in one, united in being the best. 

The young X correcting the old X

Why should South African youth care about politics where there seems to be no transparency and accountability in the governance of the nation?  Or are the young people fighting a losing social economic battle on their own?

The young people have a desire for a changed South Africa where the civil servants truly live by the principles of Batho Pele (People First).  Living in a society where there is openness and transparency with provision of information.

The recent protests in communities over service delivery show the frustration over the fact that even when the constitution of the country guarantees social and economic rights there seems to be no implementation of these rights to the general public. They only end up on paper and on politicians mouths when they canvassing for votes. So the questions the young person have are,” will my vote even make a difference/ do I even care about politics”?  Every political party knows that in order to either sustain or increase its political influence over the country, it must have the young people’s vote because they constitute the majority of the population.

“Yes a lot of people in the government have failed us in service delivery and the system has gotten extremely corrupt but choosing not to vote will not bring us any step closer to a better society “says Olwethu Sizani , 24.

The youth longs for political leaders to have genuine interest for the people of the Republic at heart where politicians from different parties will work together on a common vision for the benefit of the citizens. In result socio economic challenges will make the average young person to care about politics and elections as they are personally affected and have direct impact on the economy.

“I will be voting for the first time as I want to see change in the South African politics by keeping the current government on their toes” says Clarence Makgato, 23. In this way when an opposition party is a little bit strong, the ruling party will improve their services to the public.

With some civil servants having a political engagement with the youth on social media, it encourages the political involvement of the individuals and serves as a platform to increase the knowledge of understanding about and being involved in the democracy of South Africa.  

Lauren Tracey a researcher in the Governance, Crime and Justice Division at the Institute for Security studies said ‘it is important to understand what drives the youth to participate in elections and how key issues impact on their willingness to vote and for whom’

When a young person votes they have the power to influence the direction the country is taking and with the average youth wanting to be the change that they want to see, they are making politics part of their lives where casting their votes will result in economic victory together with the government.

At the end of it all the South African young generation cares about the politics and elections of the nation.