The ANC’s 54th national conference was predictably filled with drama. Spare a thought for the journalists who tried to bring every twist and turn of the soapie – while many important sessions were closed to them.
Here is a look at some of the media moments that defined the
conference, which took place from Saturday at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Soweto.
Strike two
Two days before the conference started, hundreds of SABC
staff went on strike, threatening the broadcaster’s ability to bring this major
political event to millions of South Africans. The stoppage followed months of
wage negotiations, during which management refused to budge on workers’ demand
for an increase. But after it emerged that interim board members had collected
a R3.9 million cheque, it was difficult for the SABC to use its struggling
finances as an excuse not to pay an annual increase. The potential conference
blackout could also have been a factor in the SABC’s decision to backtrack. The
day that the conference started, a breakthrough was announced. The SABC would
pay workers a backdated 4.8% increase. Crisis averted.
‘Why are you even
here?’ Clashing with Collen
Don’t cross eNCA’s Uveka Rangappa. ANC Youth League
President Collen Maine learned that the hard way when he tried to take on the
seasoned news anchor during an interview.
Maine had been brought into the studio to discuss the ANC
conference, but used the opportunity to have a go at the media.
“Why are you even here?” Rangappa chirped after Maine took several
digs at the press.
Watch the clip at the following link: ANC Youth League President takes a swipe at media
Eish
There had to be at least ONE faux pas during such a
high-pressure event. That award goes to TimesLIVE, which prematurely reported
that Cyril Ramaphosa had won the race for the presidency of the ANC on Saturday
night – way before voting had even started. The news outlet explained that its
reporter had misunderstood comments made by ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete when
she endorsed Ramaphosa.
See the TimesLIVE apology here: Apology: Mbete's endorsement of Ramaphosa was not party decision
Backing NDZ
The Sunday Independent nailed its colours to the mast when
it urged conference delegates to vote with their conscience and elect Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma as president. The endorsement did not go over well when City Press
journalist Andisiwe Makinana posted it on Twitter.
— Scapegoat (@AndiMakinana) December 17, 2017
Kicked out
The difficulties facing journalists at the conference were
highlighted when Bloomberg correspondent Sam Mkokeli was kicked out after
apparently complaining about waiting 45 minutes in the sun for Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mkokeli was roughed up by a policeman after he asked to be
escorted to the media venue, instead of continuing to wait for Ramaphosa.
The incident prompted many other journalists to come forward
with their complaints about ill treatment by security officials. The ANC promised
to address the complaints and Mkokeli was eventually allowed back into the
event.
-Content by TMTV
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