The decision taken by the South African Presidency to grant “exclusive control” to private broadcaster eNCA to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nation address is suspicious and dangerous, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said on Sunday.
The EFF issued this statement after the Presidency Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya informed the public that eNCA will provide a feed to all media houses in a live streaming of the proceedings scheduled for Monday evening.
The EFF warned that this move “represents the capture of the Presidency of South Africa, of Cyril Ramaphosa as a person and a President, and a nefarious relationship between eNCA and the state.”
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The EFF further claimed that this is a reward and promotion of a private broadcaster that is embedded and backed by the funders of Cyril Ramaphosa.
Responding to the public backlash, Magwenya later explained on X social media site that eNCA is not being paid for providing this service.
“A media feed means sharing the signal with all media houses. Tomorrow’s address to the nation will be available in all TV channels, including SABC TV and Radio stations. eNCA is not being paid for this service, nor is it charging for signal distribution,” the Presidency Spokesperson wrote.
However, the EFF insisted that the broadcasting arrangement must be cancelled with immediate effect. It called for all “self-respecting” media houses to oppose the “monopoly” of the eNCA over the office of the Presidency and also boycott its livestream feed.
“If for any reason there is a need to conduct access to Presidential addresses to the nation in this fashion, then the SABC ought to be the first port of call, especially considering the need to assist the public broadcaster which is struggling financially,” the EFF said.
