Against the backdrop of the many social ills affecting the country, South Africa continues to makestrides in the creation of a non-racist, non-sexist and non-violent society. The media’s role inthis endeavour is important. Hence, this research examined whether the media in South Africaoffered alternatives to violence in their coverage of the municipal protests recorded between 2009and 2011. The research revealed that the media’s coverage of these protests was narrow andpartial. In order for the coverage to be holistic, it is critical that the media go beyond reportingthe violence, its causes and its effects to offering alternatives to violence. However, offeringalternatives to violence is not the magic tool to prevent or even stop violence – it is a professionalactivity that highlights the key issues the media could focus on in order fully to inform the audiencein the public interest. It is also about socially responsible media.