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