There has not been a time in the history of this country when so many blacks occupied the hot seat of editorship at mainstream newspapers, yet they lack political conviction.
The truth of the matter is that most black editors are fence-sitters who are afraid to rock the boat.
This happens at a time when they should not only be flexing their political muscle but taking hard-line positions to protect and promote the interests of the majority who are poor, unemployed and dispossessed.
The big question is: how do we account for the absence of a single black editor who supports the African National Congress? Why haven’t black editors who have benefited from affirmative action — an ANC policy — that has seen many of them fast-tracked to the top and doors of opportunity flung open for them, not pinned their black, green and gold colours to the mast?
A serious response to these perplexing questions requires open and honest discussion now that Jacob Zuma is poised to take over the Union Buildings.
In fact, we need to closely examine the emergence of the so-called new black editorial executive who is only interested in pleasing the share-holders and treats the interests of the country and the majority with disdain. There should be public hearings, perhaps, on the content of the character of our editors, their aspirations and anxieties, orientation and opportunities.
Since 1994, there has been a new breed of black editor who thinks and believes that his vision and mission is to be anti-government.
In fact, this turn to anti-government happened soon after Thabo Mbeki assumed the presidency of the ANC and country to espouse the much criticised “two-nations theory — one white and rich, the other black and poor”.
Shareholders — and other non-white cohorts with vested interests in creating the impression that the problems in South Africa were more about CLASS and less about RACE — took strong exception to what they perceived to be the dangers of radical Pan-Africanism. They were soon followed by liberal blacks who understood that the prerequisite for success and achievement in the mainstream media was to be the voice of the white right-wing.
The late 1990s had seen various white editors relinquish their positions in a grudging gesture of political correctness to make way for blacks who were white clones. These “intellectual coconut” — as they are called in the black community — jumped into white positions not only to retain the status quo but to echo the White Master’s Voice in voicing strong criticism against what they perceived to be an anti-white black government (sic).
Thus the emergence of so-called new black editors has not resulted in any significant shift in the media paradigm which says, “to be courageous, you must be opposed to the black government”. The consequence of this development has been that black editors are not different from their white predecessors except in the amount of melanin in their skin.
Instead, they are not only more oppositional but their role is to look for corruption under the soles of every government minister or official. In fact, the mainstream media today functions more like an opposition party than a platform for the nation to talk to itself.
For the most part, the headlines and lead stories that dominate portray a negative picture of the country and project the leadership as weak and stupid except when it criticizes itself as in the case of the care-taker health minister, Barbara Hogan.
As a result, many people have been discouraged by the one-dimensional, anti-government news that dominate the media. The open secret is that the media suffers from leadership bankruptcy.
Needless to say, Steve Biko, Percy Qoboza, Stan Motjuwadi, Mono Badela and Aggrey Klaaste are all dead and gone, now. Of course, they were neither radicals not militants but they clearly understood that their role was to take a political stand on issues and suffer the consequences.
But today’s black editors do not stand for anything except, mostly, to be opposed to the ANC. This has deprived the country, Africa and the world an opportunity to appreciate the significant fact that without the ANC, there would have been no continent-wide liberation movements to fight imperialism, colonialism and apartheid.
Ironically, the new black editors, together with their over-celebrated columnists and analysts, are beneficiaries of the ANC struggle and its policies. It is the ideals and principles of the ANC struggle that has seen most of them enjoy equal opportunities in positions that were reserved for whites.
Of course, it is important to note that as we head towards the elections, there is not a single black editor who has taken a pro-ANC position and encouraged readers to vote for the party that has delivered so much to so many.
There is not a single black person — including editors — who enjoys a better quality of life outside what the ANC has made possible in this country.
So, it is strange that black editors, especially, would want to distance themselves from the only party that matters. Yet we know that the pursuit of mythical objectivity does not mean that people should not stand for anything. That simply means that editors lack convictions.
So, how can they have balls?
For God’s sake, even the editor of Jehovah’s Witness stands for something.
What is wrong with today’s black editors?
I think thought leader has joined the ranks of the lowest common denominator with this and other articles. Lately, there are too many many articles written by contributers with a totalitarian bent that are considered thought provoking.
Readers who challenge these notions with facts albeit politically incorrent ones are not given the space of a few words.
Time for M & G to drop this utterly thoughtless blog.
If there is one person who can get most south african hot under the collar, it is Sandile Memela. in my earlier encanation I understood Malome Memela to advocate the Pan Africanist Ideoelogy as espoused by the PAC -that of Potlako Leballo and Sabelo Pama.
I was not aware that he is/was a “Charterist”!
He is doing a good job of cajoling the media to see things the ANC way.
After all it is the ANC government that build schools, ensure that there is a health facility within ’10km radius’ and free haelth care at clinics, that there is piped water in such rural areas as Sesehu, that roads are improved in many a local municipailty, and that introduced an ‘artificial layer of dollar millionaires’. Why don’t this ‘bloody black editors’ see this?
maybe they are not so educated as they purport to say, ne’ Malome!
that is why media today , is no longer play critical role to the advance the knowledge or educate the readers , but they are advancing the propaganda of the minority. south African media is an ally of opposition …….even person can see it
Well, well, I’ve finally been disabused of the belief that being articulate and able to string words well together are reliable signs of intelligence.
This must surely be some form of april fools humor.Ha Ha not too funny I’m afraid.
The papers and editors “project the leadership as weak and stupid” because they are weak and stupid. Have you heard Malema lately?
I think you need to rethink what the role of the media on a democracy is about. You clearly want a pro government propaganda machine. How sad and I worry about the pervasiveness of such attitudes.
Do you hope we would see the daily news start with “today his excellency the president…”
Sandile hit the nail on the heaad, as usual.
I would have thought Peter Fabricious, Allister Sparks, Patrick Laurence, Rhoda Kadalie, Ferial Haffajee and lately, Paul Trewhela were doing enough trashing of our government.
But, no, the beneficiariries of the same policies advanced by the ANC are daily trying to outdo one another using the fanciest English to k*k on all this democratic governemnt stands for.
It is not necessary for the black editors to support the ANC, what is needed is perspective and balance in their papers, not a monotonous anti-ANC monotonous drivel disguised as reportage.
The champions of the Be Afraid brigade are now black. Be Afraid of what? Black government? I understand the nostalgia of the white media for apartheid, but I can’t understand what these coconuts are nostalgic for.
“The big question is: how do we account for the absence of a single black editor who supports the African National Congress?”
The big answer: Because the ANC really really sucks.
Your argument Memela will not receive good reception as you question the ideologies that govern the interest of the bourgeoisie class.
That is why the government has relied on SABC (public broadcaster) to communicate its philosophy. The print media is totally controlled by commercial interest and it is a myth that they are neutral and objective.
If you want to examine this subject in details, you can read Belinda Bozzoli’s book: Capital and Ideology in South Africa 1890-1930. In her book, Belinda analyse the organic rise of intellectual middle class and how this class has developed various manifestation to articulate and defend its ideologies based on their interests.
Sandile is correct in one respect; A one-party state controls not only state coffers but the flow of information as well. A one-party state cannot be democratic. Opposing views are not allowed. The uniformity of opinion is achieved through the villification of any opinion that is not in line with government propaganda.
It is, however, refreshing to realise that there are editors who are a thorn in the flesh of the regime and its lackeys like Sandile. To them I say; Always remember that it’s your patriotic duty to frustrate all attempts aimed at turning our country into a banana republic! Could it be too late?
Is this (and the views expressed on the arts etc) a joke around April Fool’s Day, or is Memela trying to be funny just to get some reaction? If it’s his attempt at humor, he seems to be very successful judging by the number of responses. I refuse to take this type of “argumentation” seriously – it would be an insult to my intelligence if I did.
The same papers totaly trashed the NATS so why be racist and and spare a Black Govt that is failing its poor people as so well said by Phillipa: “It is sad Sandile, I am a white woman myself and I realise that it is much easier for me to get work than a black woman and I work part-time for an NGO in Khayelitsha and you cannot imagine how much blacks there are suffering! No jobs! Little hope!”
After 16 years and the poor have “No jobs! Little hope!” so why spare the Govt, a bit less of R50 billion on arms and a similar amount on graft and no delivery and those poor would be much much better off.
Stop the trashing when Govt delivers, delivers, delivers, deilvers nothing else. BEE does not deliver to the poor and hopeless in fact does the opposite.
Sandile, hate it how you surmise that the Black Editors only got their positions because they are Black and not by merit.
Brent
What are narrow minded political figures expecting of the press?,and journalists – to toe the ANC line because it is expected of them to perceive reality as told, and that ALL black people now have to accept and be grateful that they have entered the proverbial heaven because of the ANC?.despite what they see and experience everyday.
I dont think it’s proper in a democracy to expect editors to support the ruling party (even the opposition for that matter), but it’s true that the media, on the whole, in SA have an agenda and aperspective to promote (and it reperesents white interests and values) & no one can argue aginst this. So, Memela has a point. Why is it that Memela is callled all sort so fnames simply because he disagrees wit continuous govt./ANC bashing, and Malala for insatnec is hailed by whites as a beacon of hope. Why? Indepepndence and intelligence cannot be judged by the extent to which one agrees with racists and liberals.
Siphiwo raises an interstng pnt cause Haffajee has just been deployed to push and advance the same agenda at City Press, whilst Khathu has been “promoted” to General Manager. Makes u think doesn’t it?, also given the vociferous and venomous response Memela has generated here.
Jeez, you quote distinguished names like Percy Qoboza and his ilk, yet you seem not to have learnt the lesson he knew so well: it is a journalist’s JOB to shine a highly critical light on the powers-that-be. All very well when they were nasty white men, not so comfy when they’re your friends, neh?
God save us from the day when a servile press uniformly supports the government of the day. And save us from nonsensical commentators like you.
It would be a sad day if editors/the entire media publicly endorsed the ANC, the SABC does that very well already, and it does it goddamn well too.
” that without the ANC, there would have been no continent-wide liberation movements to fight imperialism, colonialism and apartheid. ”
Claptrap, just like the rest of your musings.
“This happens at a time when they should not only be flexing their political muscle but taking hard-line positions to protect and promote the interests of the majority who are poor, unemployed and dispossessed.” = Nationalist and Pan-Africanist Ideology.
After careful reading your argument again, I picked the line that summarise your quest for debate. If you look around at the argument posted above, most of us have been conquered by the characteristics of “capitalist imperialism” (Vladimir Ilyich Lenin).
I have not seen an argument that analyse the Nationalist and Pan-Africanist ideology as less of a progressive revolutionary to our nationalist interest (skills development, land reform, equality etc.). Most of our middle class groups have distanced themselves from the Pan-Africanist ideology because they have become Reformists. They believe that everything should be left as it is, nothing should be changed. The question is, how could you distance yourself from the revolution that brought changes to your itinerary?
Middle class should continue to argue and discuss ideologies that could pave the way to achieve wider National and Pan-Africanist objectives. If people defend their current positions without explanation their ideological symbolism and self-interest are missing the point raise by Memela.
So in brief, what you’re saying is the following:
- the media exists only in the ‘public interest’, kind of like a public broadcaster with no licence fees that must be self-sustaining somehow without being allowed to publish news stories or comment on anything except allowed topics.
- we should have re-education sessions for people whose ‘character’ is not approved of. Very tasty. Who’s first?
- Thabo Mbeki wasn’t that bad after all.
- “intellectual coconut” is a very common phrase heard on street corners everywhere.
- Barbara Hogan won’t be back after elections.
- the only reason that any African person experiences freedom is because the ANC has made it possible. Interesting chronological take there.
- All editors, or at least all non-white editors, are men.
- There is an actual publication called ‘Jehovah’s Witness’. Or alternatively, it just looked like a good keyword to jump up in search rankings. Really, the writing of pieces with little sense and lots of keywords ought to be discouraged, if not banned.
So yeah, nice piece. I enjoyed the dissection. Frogs’ legs for lunch.
Fortunately the masses that appreciate the benefits they have received from the ANC governments do not read this biased view of the ANC from the editors. Don’t forget the educated and the middle class will always resist change in any form. The only manaifesto that will make sense to them is that of the DA because it guarantees protection of what they have.
The ANC advanced its policies in AGENCY of ALL the people of this country-even those who are not supporters.
If you’re going to be a peace time revolutionary, at least understand the ANC for crying out loud-JESUS!
Is it not presumptuous of you to raise a point and simultaneously declare that no one can argue against it? Memela is not criticising ANC/government bashing. He is chastising editorial opinion that is critical of the ANC/government instead of parroting government propaganda!
Racism is not a joke and should not be used to hide the incompetence, corruption, cronyism, mismanagement of the economy by an inept government hellbent on disregarding the rule of law, of tolerating incompetence and of making a mockery of our young democracy! We don’t need racists to point us to the corruption that is rampant in our country. Even if it were so, it would not negate the existence of such corruption simply because the whistleblower were racist or that their motives were inspired by their racist orientation or racial animus.
It is an insult to the intelligence of any South African to be told that the media should serve the government lest they be characterised as puppets of some nebulous and imaginary deity masquerading as an ally whose purpose in life is to snooker the rubes!
My comments are a response to Themba’s diatribe.
I was really frightened when I read Sandile Memela’s piece and some of the comments agreeing with him, frightened because the piece was an ugly uninformed diatribe, undiluted vitriol. Frightened because so many readers, agreeing with him, jump to unwarranted conclusions and wild generalisations. Too many to list but here’s one: “the educated and the middle class will always resist change in any form. The only manaifesto [sic] that will make sense to them is that of the DA because it guarantees protection of what they have.” It’s just a lie! I’m educated and middle class, and so are all my friends (black, white and various shades in between if you must know), and not one of us resists change and not one of us supports the DA. There’s something very unpleasant abroad in this country right now – a supposed freedom to sling accusations and insults around at will. But most frightening, perhaps, is Memela’s “There should be public hearings, perhaps, on the content of the character of our editors, their aspirations and anxieties, orientation and opportunities.” Wow. Is this a foretaste of Nazism?
Dear Philippa,
“I find it quite incredulous (sic – incredible) that white women so vehemently oppose AA when they have recently been proven to have benefited most from it than both black men and black women combined”. Um…maybe it’s because they don’t think that discriminating against people based on their race and gender is ethical? Would you be equally amazed at the traffic cop who refused a bribe out of his moral convictions even though it would benefit him personally? People have more depth than you may suspect.
The ANC never built schools. That was done by the Nats and other colonialists.
All the ANC managed was to provide an education for all that is inferior even to former bantu education.
Hail the uncollared black editors hail! They are the true heroes.
Gus;
Memela’s twisted logic did not need any injection of apartheid glorification. The philosophy of apartheid you appear to be so fond of, was ironically premised on the same irrationality and intellectual bankruptcy which form the basis of Memela’s incomprehensible nonsense.
You attempt to elevate “bantu education” to a status it does not deserve, like Memela’s push for the recognition and acceptance of rubbish to a status it too, does not deserve. What you call “education” was indoctrination and propaganda aimed at making the African people slaves at the service of white supremacy.
Memela’s diatribe attempts to do exactly the same thing but it is journalism that is required to unleash the propaganda and indoctrination and keep us enslaved to government arrogance and its futile attempts to turn us into zombies and robots who see no evil and hear no evil while they line their pockets with our money and the wealth of those not yet born.
The two of you appear to be made from the same cloth that is white with some shades of black! We are through being treated like death-mutes and nonentities by individuals who suffer from “narcisstic personality disorder and delusions of grandeur. Hitler is dead; so is Goebbels!
Meant to say; “we are through being treated like deaf-mutes”.
You are hilarious! You seem to have deliberately misunderstood the editorial role. You’re obviously v intelligent, intellectual even. Why do you do deliberately dumb yourself down?!
Editors are meant to be impartial and see the whole picture. That is why they must be critical of EVERYONE. What use would they be if they only supported one political party? Buying newspapers would be pointless, as you would already know what they would say before you bought them…so what would the point be?
It’s probably best if you refrain from any editorial positions, hahahaha. Your publication would be v dull and predictable.
hahahahahaha! It’s a pity your response to me is not on here. There is nothing I appreciate more than a great comeback. “I already have a high paying government job.” I’m still laughing. LOL!
There are very few people who can speak the truth openly like you do. Most of us (especially blacks) prefer to suffer silently for economic reasons. It’s sad. The thought of challenging your master is intimidating. It is for this reason that the black editors choose to echo their masters voices than being themselves. We still have a long way to go
To answer your first question (how do we account for the absence of a single black editor who supports the African National Congress?) : maybe its because most editors don’t have to rely on food packages that are dependent on supporting the ANC.
Maybe, just maybe, they’re able to analyse the situation and report objectively on issues that affect the interests of a nation and its people, not a party and its president.
But you know this surely, the intentional dumbing down of the issues in your blogs is designed to enrage and distract. The mission is not anti-government, it is to interrogate government.
So while you may be clever enough to manipulate the issues in your article, it doesn’t make you smart.
Just desperate for a govt PR job and Niehaus’ old apartment.