by Herman Manson (@marklives) The reputation of South Africa’s media establishment (and anti-establishment) has been taking a beating of late. We collate some of the public reaction on the retractions, misogyny and what appears to be personal vendettas. It’s been a shameful couple of weeks.
The Huffington Post South Africa (JV with Media24)
We failed to seek out comment from @AntonHarber and Thandeka Gqubule before publishing untested allegations. We are deeply sorry and apologise without reservation.https://t.co/0hOGXsL3Im
— HuffPost SouthAfrica (@HuffPostSA) April 13, 2018
Huffington Post has once again failed to meet the standards of responsible journalism in South Africa, publishing baseless accusations against journalists is essentially calling for a witch hunt for clickbait https://t.co/kWDzMugt6E
— Benjamin Glyn Fogel (@BenjaminFogel) April 13, 2018
Amazing how silent @TomEatonSA and @jsteenhuisen are this time around. Perhaps journalism ethics only matter to them when a certain type of person is offended.
— Verashni Pillay (@verashni) April 15, 2018
1/ Just to recap this Winnie/Stratcom business: In a 2017 interview Madikizela Mandela laments her negative press coverage and decides to link journalists/editors who wrote about her and her TRC hearing with a known apartheid media spy organisation, Stratcom.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
2/ It is worth noting that her ambiguous language – “they were doing the work of Stratcom” – is open-ended enough for her to claim that she was merely comparing what she perceived to be unfair reporting to the Stratcom campaign.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
3/ In their infinite wisdom, @HuffPostSA decide to post this particular clip online and promote it on social media without approaching the people implicated by Winnie for comment. It goes viral.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
4/ The clip is then used by various Winnie supporters as irrefutable proof that these people were linked to Stratcom. Most notably the EFF through their leadership, their official twitter handle and prominent members.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
5/ Within 24 hours social media is buzzing with threats to all the linked journalists, including several death threats. Anyone questioning the witch hunt is immediately accused of having been Stratcom agents too, even if they were just children at the time.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
6/ The media reports that Winnie took exception to (particularly in the Weekly Mail) dealt with her role in the kidnapping, torture and murder of various people in Soweto between 1986 and 1991. (Read about it on the TRC report from pg 555 https://t.co/LIhoPfaRIu)
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
7/ In the wake of her death, and in an attempt to whitewash this part of her history, that entire TRC report is now being brought into question. Her hagiography is so complete that only a few brave commentators recognise any of her crimes out loud.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
8/ It is also worth noting that the cheerleaders in this witch hunt – the EFF – are running an open vendetta on the media. Also on the receiving end of unflattering reports more often than not, they’d jump at any chance to discredit journalists.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
9/ The bitter irony in all of this is that the accusation they have fabricated against honourable journalists – unfair reporting, smears and propaganda – is the very same thing they are unashamedly carrying out through this dangerous social media lynch mob.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
10/ @HuffPostSA’s belated decision to remove the video and its apology to the journalists in question are woefully inadequate given the ramifications. How sad that such a compromised news title can threaten the reputations of some our best journalists.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 13, 2018
“Abject failure to adhere to the basic tenets of professionalism journalism….” @HuffPostSA
Quite.
Almost exactly a year ago they did a similar thing.
No lessons learnt it seems. https://t.co/pv2hb73YO0— Justine Limpitlaw (@JustineLimLaw) April 13, 2018
Silencing MamWinnie even in her death. Shame on you @HuffPostSA (No surprises. You are not a credible news source) That interview where MamWinnie names Thandeka Qgubule, that is a FACTUAL account. Her LIVED experience.
— NdinguNothemba eKapa (@Kutshomna) April 13, 2018
.@HuffPostSA did not do journalism and played for clicks. People started calling reputable journalists, spies. Then HP got cold feet. Now they want to apologize. The editor should actually resign. @AntonHarber and #ThandekaGqubule should sue them.https://t.co/vidRx6Ivqy
— IG: @Africasacountry (@africasacountry) April 16, 2018
Sunday Times (Tiso Blackstar Group)
The Sunday Times thought a “Blonde Ambition” would make a swell description of a female politician’s amibitions.
@SundayTimesZA let talk. Why the need to resort to blatant sexism and misogyny when talking about me? A woman stands for a high position and you call it "blonde ambition". Do you have something against blondes, or woman in general. Discuss my capabilities not my looks… pic.twitter.com/lYpRrKuVUE
— Natasha Mazzone MP (@Natasha9Mazzone) April 15, 2018
#SundayTimesZA a little low and totally #Sexist! When intellect fails go for the colour of her hair – dof. @Natasha9Mazzone
— Will Wertheim Aymes (@Flicycle) April 15, 2018
It's sexist. Irrespective of ones political views, the minute we let this slide, we give journalist carte blanche to demonize women and reduce them to catchy sexist sound bites…. Deal with the content. No need to bring in people's physical appearances.
— Fazlin Fransman (@FazlinFransman) April 15, 2018
Again. It is entirely possible to write about a female politician without referring to her looks. We are not our looks, we are our capabilities. https://t.co/nhtGni7DlS
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) April 15, 2018
1)My stand is EXACTLY same I wrote about when NDZ was called "Zuma's ex wife." & when Winnie was called "Mandela's ex" & when Mugabe called Lindiwe Zulu a "street girl" & when male MPs thought they could "joke" about Lindiwe Mazibuko's hair or Madonsela's nose.Sexist and wrong https://t.co/G7ZJ89zbBT
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) April 15, 2018
2) Sexism is wrong regardless of political affiliation of woman at the receiving end of it. They NEVER subject male politicians to same physical appearance prism. But, this is twitter! Expect "we disagree with your politics so we won't call out objectifying & sexist headline" https://t.co/G7ZJ89zbBT
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) April 15, 2018
3)When Marikie De Klerk died, Winnie made a powerful comment, even though they were polarised politically. She applied gender lens to tragedy, saying Marikie did what a lot of women do, "exhausted emotional capital" in support of her man & ultimately,was left exposed. My point is https://t.co/G7ZJ89zbBT
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) April 15, 2018
4) It takes a big brain, heart and a level of maturity, to trascend political affiliation, cross the bridge and see this headline for the sexism it displays. Regardless of WHO the woman is or what her political ideology is, this headline is sexist & condescending. https://t.co/G7ZJ89zbBT
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) April 15, 2018
Mail & Guardian
The Mail & Guardian ran three different iterations of its story on the death of Ramon Leon (father of former Democratic Alliance leader, Tony Leon) revising the otiginal not one but twice.
It took @mailandguardian three attempts to get the facts straight about @TonyLeonSA's father, Judge Ramon Leon.
And they don't even have the decency to remove the incorrect tweets from their platform @khadijapatel https://t.co/uRJ6aMASHs pic.twitter.com/660bI0M4jp
— Laurie A Claase (@LaurieAClaase) April 17, 2018
The M&G would like to apologise and clarify a point in the following article: Judge Ramon Leon did not sentence Solomon Mahlangu to death, but he did turn down Mahlangu’s appeal. https://t.co/gLiOk738c7
— Mail & Guardian (@mailandguardian) April 16, 2018
Correction and apology: A previous version of this article claimed Ramon Leon had sentenced Solomon Mahlangu to death and referred to him as a 'hanging judge'. https://t.co/UjuNIuGOsH pic.twitter.com/O1VGWQJxyc
— Mail & Guardian (@mailandguardian) April 17, 2018
After leading with a patent lie, the @mailandguardian then double down with another. Judge Ramon Leon was neither the judge in this matter, nor the appeal court judge. This is the most shameful and insensitive pack of lies manufactured for clear political endshttps://t.co/Lm8wSZiJlC
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) April 17, 2018
So all this about Tony Leon's father, Ramon Leon, being the Judge that sentenced Solomon Mahlangu to death is nonsense.
It was Judge Theron.
Be careful out there! Tweeps are trying to change history to suit their political agenda. pic.twitter.com/1YATo7NjKL
— Xolani (@XondoZ12) April 17, 2018
The truth: SAn media exposing itself at an alarming rate. Is it because we have unqualified media reps or do they honestly not care about maintaining any form of integrity in with consumers?
Time to start boycotting independent media till they get their shit together& respect us https://t.co/eT7DWeVNsl— ZeeSha (@Zeeni_Panini) April 17, 2018
Laurie, we made a mistake- our usual processes were not rigorous enough. We owned up. We corrected. What more would you like, my head on a stake?
— Khadija Patel (@khadijapatel) April 16, 2018
you're an embarrassment to journalism for such an elementary error. And judges were constrained in terms of what grounds were admissible for appeal.
— Tom Moultrie (@tomtom_m) April 16, 2018
Oh dear. Got the story wrong, got the correction wrong.
This is very poor.
Media having a torrid time at the moment.
Trust levels are low as a result.
Not good for us all…. https://t.co/Kd50U3k2Wb— Justine Limpitlaw (@JustineLimLaw) April 17, 2018
The editor of the newspaper herself stated this as fact. Twitter followers of the MG spread this unchecked fact far and wide. This on the day that the man died. It doesn’t matter if you like Tony Leon or not, but to brand his father ‘hanging Judge’ without checking is just mean. https://t.co/u5tdD0X96q
— Palesa Morudu (@palesa_morudu) April 17, 2018
Further reading
M&G pulls ‘hanging judge’ claim against Ramon Leon
“Publication forced to apologise after making false claims against highly-regarded jurist following his death.”
Business Report (Independent Newspapers)
What is going on at Business Report? Two versions of same story by “staff reporter” (but see editor’s note and opinion inserted into original ‘news’ story). No note to readers explaining changes either.
Updated story
Story with changes
Further reading
amaBhungane Analysis: Iqbal Survé’s mythical beast
“The full extent of the destruction at Independent Media since the Public Investment Corporation placed the company at the disposal of Iqbal Survé has been laid bare – ironically via Surve’s outrageous attempt to use other peoples money to plug the R2,3-billion hole in his media balance sheet.”
Independent Media response to amaBhungane/Daily Maverick
“The most important point we would like to make here is that we, as Independent Media and Sagarmatha Technologies Limited, have nothing to hide. We have been consistently transparent. What worries most of our media competitors – our main detractors – is that we have identified the future of media and have constructed a Multi-Sided-Platform (MSP) that will make traditional media houses obsolete. They are fighting for their existence.”
Independent Media sets the record straight on JSE listing
“In the weeks leading up to the listing, certain opposition media companies embarked on a disinformation campaign against Independent Media in an attempt to scupper the listing. Snippets of information, contained in the 212-page PLS, were extracted and represented as an “exposé”, in an attempt to mislead the public and create a picture of wrongdoing and to cast suspicion on some of the people and companies involved in Sagarmatha Technologies.”
The original was published to add substance to their unproven claims regarding Sagarmatha. Check the placement. pic.twitter.com/tbUpnYcicq
— Cameron Benjamin (@CamRant) April 18, 2018
Independent Media sets the record straight on JSE listing | IOL Newshttps://t.co/4ZH5AjY8WQ
(Haha. So Independent Media is not in financial trouble, but critics of Sagarmatha "disrupt the commercial viability of Independent Media"? How does Mr Survé square that circle?)— Ivo Vegter (@IvoVegter) April 17, 2018
This fantastic valuation is what inspired Sagarmatha praise singers to refer to the company as an ‘African Unicorn’. https://t.co/IpSZnPTwuN
— Victor Dlamini (@victordlamini) April 17, 2018
The trials and tribulations of aspirant African tech giant Sagarmatha Technologies already make for a long list, just two weeks after it announced its intention to list on the JSE. https://t.co/gQW79lS7uL
— Mail & Guardian (@mailandguardian) April 16, 2018
It's pretty sad to see a 120 year old institution using its own pages to punt it commercial viability.
The old adage rings true:
"Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations."
— Smiley (@smilingSAfrican) April 17, 2018
"Attempts to portray Independent Media in a negative light are a stark reminder of apartheid-era-style disinformation campaigns. It reeks of monopoly and is indicative of a desperate attempt by our competitors to thwart us." @IOL Dr @IqbalSurve https://t.co/7qr42pjtwB
— Pretoria News (@pretorianews) April 17, 2018
"Attempts to portray Independent Media in a negative light are a stark reminder of apartheid-era-style disinformation campaigns. It reeks of monopoly and is indicative of a desperate attempt by our competitors to thwart us." @IOL Dr @IqbalSurve https://t.co/yXUDJdefAv
— The Star (@TheStar_news) April 17, 2018
"Attempts to portray Independent Media in a negative light are a stark reminder of apartheid-era-style disinformation campaigns. It reeks of monopoly and is indicative of a desperate attempt by our competitors to thwart us." @IOL – Dr. @IqbalSurve https://t.co/dL6UebJRj6
— Sunday Tribune (@SundayTribuneSA) April 17, 2018
"Attempts to portray Independent Media in a negative light are a stark reminder of apartheid-era-style disinformation campaigns. It reeks of monopoly and is indicative of a desperate attempt by our competitors to thwart us." @IOL Dr @IqbalSurve https://t.co/A6fZ2UG9DH
— The Mercury (@TheMercurySA) April 17, 2018
It took a whole 48 hours for Iqbal Surve to go from accusing journalists of being CIA operatives to comparing himself to Winnie Mandela as a target of STRATCOM
Guy has major ego issues https://t.co/lE4CrxwdPG
— Matthew Atmore (@mattymore) April 17, 2018
A failed Ponzi scheme
— Amu Shivambu (@AmaruShivambu) April 17, 2018
Interesting response @IqbalSurve reassures the good ppl who work tirelessly @IndyMediaSA amidst all the rumour mongering. Would love to hear how @SamSoleZA reads it though. Seems like Indy won't be going broke in Aug and deadlines for the 50% repayment will be met? https://t.co/WEchZ7UXj4
— Zohra Teke (@ZOHRATEKE) April 16, 2018
The Public Investment Corporation was investing in Sagarmatha Technologies, the fantastically overvalued new venture by media mogul Iqbal Survé https://t.co/o9ZA6IIGzG pic.twitter.com/NBSuyTbwuN
— City Press Online (@City_Press) April 15, 2018
Whites now conspiring against brother Iqbal Surve. They are using their #Stratcom strategies. WMC wants him out of the media space. No blacks allowed in strategic sectors.
— andile (@Mngxitama) April 15, 2018
Zapiro's cartoon @dailymaverick (12 April 2018) on @IqbalSurve Mount Everest #Sagarmatha @IOL – https://t.co/cYMtCJBllJ pic.twitter.com/PUuG9XGR5m
— Zapiro (@zapiro) April 13, 2018
Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com.
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