Population:
Literacy:
Employment:
Land use:
Age:
Income:
Electricity / Water:
Telephone:
Housing:
122 000 Coloured 31120 White 29 000 Black 3 341 'Other' 462 Indian
Around 131000 or over 2 thirds of residents have not reached matric level. Of these, over 20 000 have had no education at all, while 59 000 have finished primary school.
Just under 13 000 people over 15 are unemployed.
Just over 65 000 are employed.
By far the most land in Drakenstein municipal area is used for agriculture.
Over two thirds of residents are under 34. The largest single age group is youth between 0-19. The elderly make up under 5"/0 of the population.
Just under 40"/0 of households in the muncipal area earn under R18 000 a year (that's under R1500 a month).
Most households do get municipal electricity (35 000 out of 42114), water (30 775), and flush toilets (36 048).
Just under half (50"/0) of households have a phone at home.
Most households live in formal housing, with just
under 7 000 households living in informal or traditional housing.
General comments from Radio KC listeners
(These comments were gathered during various research visits to parts of the Radio KC community during October and November 2002, and
during a focus group discussion with four Radio KC listeners at the station on Tuesday 26 November 2002.)
Generally the people the researchers spoke to were very excited about Radio KC. Specific programmes that were often mentioned favourably by people we spoke to, were "Thetha" with Rebecca Moahloli, "Levona's
World", "Rapping Donkey", Donna and Frolicks, and the News (bear in mind that it was the presenters of some of the programmes that were doing the interviews -- and that could have meant that these names were at the top of respondents' minds.)
It became very clear during our research visits that the reception of Radio KCs signal varies quite considerably, probably because of the
mountains in the region. Many people in places fairly near to Paarl, such as Klapmuts and Franschhoek said that part of the community can pick up the station, and part can't. In Saron, almost nobody could receive the station, and most of those people who heard it, listened when they visited other areas.
Language was also a big issue that listeners pointed out. A number of listeners turn the station on and off, depending on what language is being spoken during a specific programme. But Xhosa-speaking listeners also strongly support those programmes where it is spoken. It might be a good idea for KC to try to mix languages within all programmes (perhaps by having multiple presenters) so that listeners are encouraged stay tuned.
The people they spoke to felt that KC plays a very positive role in the community, helping promote racial understanding, and informing them on important issues. However, it was pointed out that the presenters and producers should not assume that hot political issues are hot issues for the listeners. Many of the issues that listeners care passionately about are more directly related to their lives - such as conflicts over land, jobs and resources for example, or issues facing local church congregations. We also heard that some listeners hate missing their favourite
programmes, because they are at work or out. This means that Radio KC can perhaps consider repeating very popular programmes at different
times - either recording and repeating them in full, or re-broadcasting edited versions.
Nov 26 Focus group
Focus group participants:
Listeners:
Mrs Valencia Fell (from Belhar 952-0158)
Thapelo Moahloli (from Mbekweni, 072-376-7243)
Andiswa Zweni (from Mbekweni, 083-520-8160; 868-2546 w) Xolani Mvula (joined in later, from Mbekweni, 868-2866) Radio KC:
Rebecca Moahloli Donna Godfrey Georgette Frolicks Sonwabile Dwangu Levona
How do you feel about the community?
All felt that it is a friendly community. Valencia felt that the station is friendly too. She has been a listener since the start. She feels' at home here.' Thapelo and Andiswa also like Paarl and Radio KC. They particularly like Khululeka, Rebecca's programme: "You must know yourself, and speak freely". Rebecca said both at the station and in Paarl, black, white and coloured are together, and it wasnt like that before. She feels that Radio KC is changing Paarl.
Where do people go to find out what's going on?
Generally to friends. The name of Nellie Johnson came up as someone whos well connected in Mbekweni. She's a community worker, and a granny. Xolani Mvula is also someone who's seen as well connected, and a catalyst. (He arrived later to be part of the group.)
What are the concerns in the community, what do people talk about?
• There's controversy over the way that funerals have become fashion parades.
• In Belhar, people complain about smokkelhuise (shebeens) and drugs. It's a particular worry for parents during the school and end of year holidays.
• Inflation and food prices.
• Elderly people being neglected by their own children.
• HIV/Aids.
• House breaking, car theft.
• Farm murders and attacks (Important, since Paarl is and agricultural area).
• Gay people experiencing problems.
• Whites who feel superior. All participants talked about racism when shopping in white-run shops.
• Politicians who don't deliver.
Any Ideas for Programme topics?
• Women's health issues
• Poverty
• HIV and child rapes
• Bring back children's programmes during the afternoon.
• Guidance for young people - how to choose a career, study options etc.
• Helping people with entrepreneurship, learning self-reliance.
• Community work.
• Telling people about alternatives to crime.
• Refugees and xenophobia.
• Prejudice against people from the Eastern Cape.
• Issue of Dube houses in Mbekweni - a divisive issue over who has access to these houses.
What are your favourite programmes?
• Levona' s World.
• Donna and Frolicks.
• Oordenking.
• News.
• Thetha is a favourtite among isiXhosa speakers.
• "Please bring back Vernon Jacobs' programme Liefde vir 'n Leeftyd"
Why do so few callers call in to talk shows?
One problem might be the language - if there's an English presenter, Afrikaans speakers might be afraid of calling. It also depends on the time of the programme - some people are at work during the day, for example, so can't call in, even if they're interested in the topic. Xolani pointed out that often we think that because we are discussing burning political issues, people will be interested. But he says most people are NOT interested in politics, but that other things get them hot under the collar. Therefore it's important to continuously do research about what is bothering and concerning people.
IDEA: Integrate a variety of languages into programmes, particularly talk shows, so that listeners who don't understand the language that's on at a specific time, don't need to turn off.
IDEA: When people call in for request shows (versoekkies) ask callers 3 research questions before putting them on air. It's an easy way to
continuously gain information about listeners, and can be used to update resources like this file.
When and how do people listen to Radio KC?
Generally in the home. Valencia listens from 6am to 2am the next day.
The others generally listen in the afternooon (possibly because that's when the isiXhosa programme is on).
All the participants feel that KC is 'their' radio station. They say that when they listen, they don't feel alone.
'If
I listen to presenters like Sonwabile and Donna and I hear them giggling I know something's going on and I start giggling myself.'Hulle praal my laal
Radio KC 'feels vlbey, groovy .
ITheir friends and family also all listen to KC.
According to Valencia, not all in Belhar get the station. She pefers KC to other stations because she feels more free to call in and get advice.
"Hulle praat my taal', and RSG is too verkramp. For isiXhosa speakers, Umhlobo Wenene is still a powerful rival, butif KC could have more isiXhosa, people would prefer it. 'It could be more juicy' than Umhlobo Wenene.
According to Donna, many whites generally get home and have a drink or put on TV after work, rather than switching on the radio. The others felt that in their communities, TV is not a big rival to radio.
'If
you put on the TV you have to concentrate. With radio you can do other things.'Some feel the Indaba current affairs programme does not have enough local news, especially from the Mbekweni side.
Xolani feels the station needs to publicise tiself more, and get out into the community more, do more programming in the field, and not so much in the studio. He feels there's a need for more voxpops, and a need to engage more people. He suggested a programme summit, involving the community.