San journalists produce first current affairs show

The programme, called Morosani, will be broadcast in !Xu, Khwe, and Afrikaans as the bridging language, every Monday to Friday between 13:00 and 14:00.

SABC's Head of Radio News, Pippa Green, says: "The new current affairs slot follows the recent addition of two San journalists to X-K FM's staff in October 2002. It represents a milestone for the SABC and also the two groups of people, the !Xu and Khwe, who enjoyed no form of broadcast or entertainment in their own language before the construction of the station at Schmidtsdrif in early 2000."

The community station has become an integral part of the lives of the San people, who were used as trackers against SWAPO by the former South African Defence Force.

There are definite signs that indicate that X-K FM is succeeding in its aims of uplifting the community and of being a source of education and information. Green adds that the current affairs show will also allow the San people to address local grievances and become actively involved in national dialogue and debate in their mother tongue.

The one-hour programme will be presented by the station's six presenters and will include live interviews and packaged inserts, compiled by the San journalists based in Kimberley.

The SABC is confident that the introduction of the programme is another step towards giving a voice to a previously forgotten people.

It also demonstrates the Corporation's commitment to fulfilling its mandate to inform, educate and entertain the various cultural groupings in the nation and the country by supporting and developing their local culture and education.