Introduction

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, South African television was centred on educational programs that aimed to inform and uplift the youth by exploring the everyday struggles young people go through, societal issues and diseases such as HIV and TB, and their impact on our society. These programs gave the youth a better understanding and knowledge of issues relating to the above-mentioned topics and how they affect people daily. 

Soul Buddies 

Soul Buddies, which aired on SABC 1, focused on educating the youth about illnesses and diseases such as HIV/AIDS, which terrified South Africa during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and helped inform people about the disease to help combat the stereotypes and prejudice HIV/Aids patients faced in society. This was during a time when few people knew a lot about the illness and when various misconceptions existed about the illness. The show also taught people how to prevent the spread of the virus and how to protect themselves from the virus. It also educated HIV/AIDS victims on how to take care of their health and boost their immune systems. 

Soul City 

Soul City was another TV program which informed its viewers about HIV/Aids and how it affects its victims and the relatives of those living with the diseases. The program gave people hope, inspiration to live their lives to the fullest, and consoled them while teaching them about the disease and how to live with it. The show also helped to decrease the stigma associated with the diseases and helped people accept their status and take their medication and try to improve their health. Soul City focused more on the daily struggles and issues of adults and South African households, whether it’s living with HIV/Aids, overcoming abuse and Gender Based Violence. The show also showed how Gender Based Violence affected women and encouraged man and society to speak out against GBV and not tolerate abuse against children and women. 

Yizo Yizo

Yizo Yizo was a controversial TV program which aired on SABC 1 and focused on the effects of drugs, alcohol and crime in our society and how people from township and impoverished communities find themselves involved in criminal activities to try and escape their circumstances or enroll in gangs due to peer pressure. The show depicted how the future of young people can be destroyed and wasted due to a life of drugs and how drugs drive young people to the life of crime which leads the two prisons. The show also highlighted the difficulties of living in prison and how same sex rape impacts the lives of those in prison. 

Conclusion

These shows played a significant role in teaching young people about societal issues that affected our communities and how to deal with them. They also gave people hope and support by informing them much better about these issues and how to receive help to overcome their burdens. Some of the shows taught the youth how to adapt better lifestyle choices, such as eating well, exercising, and so forth.