Of late, the media has informed (and entertained some of us) with talk of ANC branches falling apart, disruptions and in-fighting within the Youth League and various allegations of corruption.
As the media has reported on these developments, the relationship between the ANC and the media has been steadily deteriorating.
Of late, the media has informed (and entertained some of us) with talk of ANC branches falling apart, disruptions and in-fighting within the Youth League and various allegations of corruption.
As the media has reported on these developments, the relationship between the ANC and the media has been steadily deteriorating.
In last month’s online issue of ANC Today, ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said positive developments do not get enough detailed coverage by the media and the “strongest opposition
to the ANC can safely be described as the media”.
He believes that the media “props up many of the opposition parties”. After engaging with the British media recently, Mantashe noted on their depth of understanding of issues and policies within the party and that they tended to ask informed questions.
“In South Africa the media is not about accurate information but more about sensation that can sell newspapers. When some journalists get information they don’t even bother about attending media briefings,” he said.
At a recent provincial ANC election strategy workshop, the party delved into its relationship with the media.
Lungile Mxube, the ANC Cacadu regional deputy chairperson, said they agreed that positive relations need to be created with the media as well as adjusting the mindset of members and volunteers on how to deal positively with the media.
ANC Regional Secretary Nosisa Siwendu was asked whether the party was intimidated in addressing the media on certain issues.
She replied that the “ANC cannot be intimated by the media. Actually the organisation’s concern is on the manner in which the media reports on the matters affecting the organisation.
Instead of relaying messages as they have been articulated, the media interprets statements and often this is done out of context.
In this process, the essence gets lost or misconstrued.” She said when the ANC does not release statements, it is only regarding matters that are still under discussion.
“Until such time a position has formally been taken by a relevant structure, only then can there be interaction with the media or pronouncements made”.
According to Siwendu, once the required protocols have been followed, the party has a responsibility in keeping with organisational protocol and information management to determine what and when to present
information to the public.
Siwendu corrected what the media views as infighting, explaining it as an expression of internal organisational democracy.
“What others see as ‘infighting’ is essentially differences of opinion which are essential to how the organisation shapes itself. We don’t see it as divisions within the party as we can not always agree on how to drive the ANC agenda.”
She believes being a member of the ANC allows one to see it truly for what it is, an “expression of democracy”.
she strongly believes that this serves as a reason to join the party where “they will get to understand how the organisation operates and how deliberations on both contentious and developmental matters are managed”.
