SA media entangled in political power

• Author: Siyabonga Hadebe
• Date: 28 January 2021
• Published date: 28 January 2021
• Publication title: Daily News

The persistent revelations about journalists’ involvement in political games and corruption indicate that power and those who are supposed to speak truth to power are inseparable. At worst, the media’s reputation is severely damaged and it will take some doing to fix its image.

Today, the media struggles to uncover the truth behind its reporting of events. It also dismally fails to undergo a justifiable and morally ethical way to “fix any leaks” in the supply of information. Instead, the media lies, spins, obfuscates and brazenly ignores its fluffy ethical standards.

That the media is trapped in the bigger struggles between those who want to control the state and resources means South Africa lacks a critical voice in society. Instead, the media widens the cliff between those who want to defend the status quo and the rest of the population that exists on the periphery.

Journalists are adept in smear campaigns and slander using their pens and microphones. In the past few years, journos have made it their business to publish books to spread propaganda, but also turn a blind eye to everything else that is happening around them.

Both political and capital powers have ensured the annexation of freedom of speech by using money and other favours to win over journalists. For example, Ranjeni Munusamy reportedly “received money to settle the balance she owed on a car from a slush fund”.

The legal papers submitted to the Zondo Commission expose an arrangement between spooks and CNBC Africa, as well as the implication of Karima Brown in dirty work of surveillance. It is clear journalists are as fallible as the people whom they accuse of being corrupt when it comes to money.

Evidence before the Zondo Commission shows how the media is enmeshed in political power plays involving millions of rands.

The media and the ‘battle for the soul’ of the ANC

The media is in an unenviable position where it is absorbed in the ongoing feuds that primarily involve South Africa’s dominant political party, the ANC. The ‘battle for the soul’ of the ANC involves everyone from its members and non-members to capital and media. It is more than just a political war, and it extends to the economy and influence over society.

In Factional Politics: How Dominant Parties Implode or Stabilise (2012), Françoise Boucek lists South Africa alongside Japan, Canada, Italy, Sweden, the UK and Australia as countries that keep re-electing one political party. Although there is no theory to articulate this...