A disc jockey, also known as South African DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" (sometimes spelled "disk", although this is now uncommon) referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium. 

There are several types of disc jockeys. Radio South African DJs or radio personalities introduce and play music that is broadcast on AM, FM, shortwave, digital, or internet radio stations. Club South African DJs select and play music in bars, nightclubs, discothèques, at raves, or even in a stadium. Hip hop disc jockeys select and play music using multiple turntables, often to back up one or more MCs, and they may also do turntable scratching to create percussive sounds.  

In reggae, the DJ (deejay) is a vocalist who raps, "toasts", or chats over pre-recorded rhythm tracks while the individual choosing and playing them is referred to as a selector. Mobile DJs travel with portable sound systems and play recorded music at a variety of events. 

A South African DJ, or disc jockey, is a person who plays musical recordings for a living. This may take place in a variety of venues. Therefore, the exact role of the South African DJ may vary depending on the setting or the purpose of the music. 

One career path for a South African DJ is to work for a radio station. In this capacity, the South African DJ is responsible for playing musical selections from a playlist that has been provided by the management of the station. This playlist is developed to reach the target audience of the station. Generally, the target audience is determined by the genre of music the station chooses to play, or vice versa.