Sisonke in Democracy Project- Radio talk shows

The Project has thus far successfully completed its first three activities for the year 2023. Recent activity – Radio Talk Shows conducted in three community radio stations were a great success.

Regardless of the ever-evolving technology, radio is still relevant and serves as the most democratic medium in providing access to everyone. Community Radio Stations offer broad-based participation by engaging multiple voices to contribute. Thus, such projects as Sisonke In Democracy succeed whenever community radio stations are involved. The activity execution proved that media plays a crucial and critical role in promoting and contributing towards social cohesion.

To achieve project’s main objective – To strengthen community interrelationships between African migrants (refugees and asylum seekers) and their host communities (South Africans) towards co-govern together their communities as partners, Inanda 88.4FM, Izwi Lomzansi and Siyathuthuka FM were identified as partners of the project.

The project communities and the public, in general, gained insights about the importance of inclusive governance and the respective roles and responsibilities of all citizens including the migrant community. Further, they learnt their role as a citizen on how to promote and protect human rights for all.

Combined the activity reached a listenership of more than 100 000 in the Greater Durban where the project’s target audience is.

Some of the insights gained from the Radio Talk Shows

• Migration Management is a challenging task that requires diverse interventions.
• More time should be spent on educating communities through these radio programmes and be enhanced with drama series.
• Radio Talk Shows needs to be enhanced with drama series that will portray what can be achieved if local governance structures would consider the inclusion of African migrants.

The project is expected to kick off the new year with Community Dialogues in its three implementation sites.

Listen to the podcasts here>

• Izwi Lomzansi FM
• Inanda FM
• Siyathuthuka FM