Abstract:
The question of the use of languages in radio broadcasting is of particular importance in
multilingual communities in Vhembe district of Limpopo province. The Independent
Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) issues broadcasting licenses, and
further regulates conditions of implementation of these licenses. The purpose of this study
is to explore the extent to which community radio stations in Vhembe district adhere to
ICASA language policies and guidelines stipulated in their licenses. Literature was drawn
from government language policy documents (Acts, rules and regulations), broadcasting
legislative framework manuals (ICASA), government gazettes, books, journals,
magazines, and newspapers. The design for the study is exploratory, whereas the target
population comprised of seven (7) community radio stations, fifteen (15) radio
programmes, and station managers of community radio stations in the Vhembe district.
Purposive sampling was used to select three community radio stations, three
programmes per station and station manager of each sampled station. Non-participant
observation, documents analysis and tape recorder were used as instruments for data
collection, whereby the researcher observed, recorded a total of (nine) 9 talk format
programmes. The researcher further analysed documents (broadcasting licenses and
programme schedules), from sampled radio stations, to examine stipulated language
quotas by ICASA. Lastly, the researcher employed unstructured interviews to collect data
from the station managers of community radio stations, in the Vhembe district. The
sampled data was analysed through qualitative content analysis and interpreted
subsequently. Findings from data analysis determined that community radio stations
partially adhere to the policies stipulated in their licenses.
