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Smaller parties slam “unfair” media coverage

ATM leader, Vuyolwethu Zungula
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The African Transformation Movement (ATM), Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) and Land Party have raised their concern regarding media coverage from mainstream platforms.

ATM leader, Vuyolwethu Zungula, says the ANC is getting too much attention and this will benefit them. “It does not make sense for the media to cover where former presidents Motlanthe, Mbeki and Zuma voted, fifteen or twenty ANC leaders.”

Zungula says “These elections are not about the ANC. It is about the people of South Africa, who are speaking in different ways and forms.”

When asked about the amount of coverage his party has been getting, compared to other newly established parties, he says it has all been negative.

“We are getting coverage in response to all these things that are being said about us -” referring to a story that links the party to former state president Jacob Zuma and ANC secretary general Ace Magashule.

He says their party programs have not received any attention.

ATM president, Vulyolwethu Zungula on negative media coverage:

SRWP says they don’t view themselves as a small party, but blame the media for characterising them in this manner.

SRWP central committee member, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says, “As SRWP we don’t view ourselves as a small party; obviously the media will characterise us as that, because for them the only parties that matter are the parties that they know.”

She says their goal is to distract the capitalist system, and this has made them the enemy of mainstream media. “When we look at the media coverage we are not surprised to see that the media has virtually ignored us because the media in itself is an institution of capitalism.”

SRWP says their anti-capitalist stand is costing them media coverage:

Another so-called party that raised a concern on the matter is the Land Party. Land Party central committee member, Vanessa Swanepoel says the focus on most media platforms was on the big three – ANC, DA and EFF. “They (media) haven’t given the opportunity for the smaller parties to present their policies and manifestos to the general public.”

Land Party argues that the political landscape in the country has changed and this proportional media coverage legislation should be changed.

Watch Land Party’s take on the matter below:

Analysts, have dismissed the concerns raised by these parties, with Professor Susan Booysen saying “How can all 48 parties be accommodated? besides ATM has gotten more coverage than other political parties.”

 

 

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