President Cyril Ramaphosa under the microscope over media freedom
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been criticised for complaining about negative media reports after being heard on a leaked tape during the recent ANC national working committee (NWC) meeting.
The buffalo soldier, Ramaphosa is heard lambasting the media, “There has been negative reporting and all those things. We have agreed to take that up. We want fair treatment. We want more than fair treatment because we are the governing party. TV stations have no right to be negative towards us and always either are not reporting on our activities or just continuously brand us in a negative way. We have agreed as the NWC that there will be a team of comrades who are going to be watching the space, all the time, and we are going to make sure we take that up.”
The DA’s MP Ashor Sarupen argued that President Ramaphosa is attempting to control the media which is reminiscent of past attempts to capture the SABC.
Sarupen also called on the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) to probe Ramaphosa over this threat saying that firm stance against such utterances must be taken against Ramaphosa.
“This blatant manipulation seeks to sway public opinion and undermine the democratic process. In light of these revelations, the DA calls on the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) to condemn this egregious manipulation of the media. Sanef, as a champion of media freedom and democracy, must not stay silent in the face of such flagrant abuses of power. We urge Sanef to uphold its constitutional objectives, particularly Section 4.1.1, which emphasises the promotion of a free, independent, and pluralistic press. It is imperative that Sanef takes a firm stance against any attempts to coerce or control journalists in their reporting duties,” said Sarupen.
The ANC said it would not want to dignify unethical behaviour by responding.
“While the ANC will not be drawn on statements made by individual leaders during its meetings, the ANC is confident of the impact its elections campaign is making and the positive reception the movement is receiving across the length and breadth of the country,” the ruling party said.
In responding to the leaks, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said the ruling party will seek assistance from the State to deal with people who intercepted the ANC NEC private meetings. “We condemn the interception of our meetings as the ANC, and we urge them to refrain from this unfair treatment of the ANC as we have observed that other political parties do not get intercepted as they discuss their election activities and planning meetings. Allow the ANC to present its plans just as other political parties are given the same opportunity to do so without any interceptions,” he said.
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