Thebe Mabanga IN YOUR EAR Religion provides a rich source of interesting debate on a range of moral issues and radio has wisely latched on to its pulling power. Commercial stations do not touch religion with a bargepole. You see urbanised black people spend their Sunday mornings recovering from a Saturday night of clubbing, playing soccer in places like Eskom Megawatt Park in Midrand (ask MetroFm’s Glen Lewis) and rushing off to jazz clubs. African language stations, on the other hand, lay the gospel thick every Sunday morning, primarily aimed at the guilty people who fill up churches only on Good Friday. My problem with the sermons is that they merely extend a platform already offered by trains and the ever-growing churches in townships. Surely radio can go a step further? It can engage in the kind of debate that will attract even atheists. Issues that can be covered include atrocities committed in the name of religion and whether the devil can make you do it. If you like your religious debate with an esoteric dimension, check out 702’s Kate Turkington every Sunday evening. At a policy level, monitoring religious broadcasts requires the wisdom of Solomon. The newly formed Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) treads a tightrope. Cases like that of The Voice (95.4fm in Johannesburg) come to mind. The Muslim station sought to bar female presenters from its line-up, arguing that a woman’s voice is a diamond and should not be heard in public. This view was found not to be representative of the majority of its listeners and one can now have diamonds trickling out of the radio. In the recent past Icasa’s predecessor, the Independent Broadcast Authority (IBA), had to turn down a licence application from a charismatic and rapidly growing church group. The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God attempted to obtain the KwaZulu-Natal private licence of Capital Radio in 1997 and then again in 1999. It was denied on both occasions and has since taken the IBA/Icasa to court. The broadcasting authority’s reluctance is understandable. By issuing the licence, it might set a precedent. For then a group like the Zion Christian Church could also demand its space on the airwaves, as might some cult in a remote part of the country.
This past Sunday, on M-Net’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, a contestant was asked who hosted Hospitaaltyd on radio for 25 years. Besides the correct option of Dulcie van den Burgh there was also that of the equally popular and late Esm’ Euverard. When the contestant asked for audience help, over 70% voted for Euverard. Shame, the actual listeners have died and they misinformed their grandchildren. Listeners – they just do not listen.