| South Africa has witnessed a significantly different | | | | Archbishop Desmond Tutu and later endorsed by |
| evolution from other nations within the continent due | | | | Nelson Mandela was a metaphor to describe the |
| to two major factors. The first being, immigration | | | | country's newly-developing multicultural diversity in |
| from Europe and the second, the strategic | | | | the midst of apartheid ideology. |
| importance of the Cape Sea Route. Mainly as a result | | | | During the Apartheid era the majority of commercial |
| of immigration, South Africa is a very racially diverse | | | | and all public-service radio stations and television |
| nation. It boasts of the largest population of Colored | | | | channels were operated by the South African |
| people (mixed racial background), whites, and Indian | | | | Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). These media |
| communities in Africa. Negro South Africans account | | | | vehicles were subject to strict control and censorship |
| for slightly less than 80% of this population. | | | | by the government, with a few independent regional |
| Throughout history South Africa has been in the | | | | stations allowed. After the war against apartheid was |
| spotlight mainly due to widespread images of racial | | | | won, the broadcasting industry was allowed its |
| and political tensions that were once rampant in the | | | | freedoms. Many of the commercial regional SABC |
| country. Issues of racial strife between the white | | | | radio stations and former Bantustan stations were |
| minority and the black majority has played a large | | | | then privatized and sold to companies that were |
| part in the country's history and politics, culminating in | | | | owned by black people. Three SABC television |
| apartheid. The oppression that was knowingly | | | | channels are in place at present. |
| created by the white minorities asphyxiated the | | | | The images that have been captured for decades by |
| people of South Africa. Photographers illustrated the | | | | photographers are a brave attempt at illustrating a |
| long and often violent struggle by the Black majority | | | | nation's frustration. However, it is essential that |
| as well as many Colored and Indian South Africans to | | | | viewers understand that the media forms whether |
| an appalled international audience. | | | | they be visual or audio integrate their own forms of |
| Based on this, two ideologies were adhered to. | | | | biasness into the issue. South Africa is a nation that |
| These were: ubuntu (the belief in a universal bond of | | | | has struggled with oppression, poverty, crime, political |
| sharing that connects all humanity); and Gandhi's | | | | instability and corruption for many years. The reality |
| notion of "passive resistance" (Satyagraha). As seen | | | | is that photographs and documentaries only highlight |
| in many images, South Africa is often referred to as | | | | certain issues. |
| "The Rainbow Nation". This phrase coined by | | | | |