eNCA's racist mask-scandal widens: SANEF criticises defensive eNCA for immature response, president Cyril Ramaphosa 'quite disturbed', UDM lodges broadcasting complaint, EFF demands inquiry and wants eNCA banned from parliament, IFP ghosts eNCA.

by Thinus Ferreira

The racist mask-scandal of eNCA (DStv 403) continues to widen with the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) that is criticising the TV News channel for its defensive and immature response that it says "lacks the maturity that this moment demands", while the country's president Cyril Ramaphosa says he was "quite disturbed" to see eNCA's mask double-standard approach.

At least one political party, the UDM, has now lodged an official complaint about eNCA at the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA); another political party, the EFF, has called for an official and urgent parliamentary inquiry into eNCA which it wants to be banned from the parliamentary precinct; while an IFP MP has said he won't be giving any further interviews to eNCA or e.tv's eNews until it changes its statement.

The latest controversy that the eMedia Investments TV news channel finds itself in started when viewers noticed during the channel's 2021 Budget Speech interviews on Wednesday to get reaction over Tito Mboweni's speech, how white and black politicians were treated differently during interviews.

Viewers noticed a pattern in the way in which reporter Lindsay Dentlinger, that eNCA said has 21 years of experience, did a series of interviews on the steps of parliament where black politicians were repeatedly asked to wear their Covid-19-masks but white, maskless politicians didn't get similar instructions.

eNCA blamed it on the pressures of "live television" and said that its reporter isn't racist and that the apparent double standard is not because of "malicious intent".

Viewers and politicians have been up in arms about the incident, angered even further by eNCA response which the TV News channel struggled to formulate and that only communicated about for the first time on Thursday night at 22:02 in a media statement.

Sbu Ngalwa, chairperson of the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) says "This issue and the responses that it elicited should be one big lesson for us as the media industry and it is not just about eNCA or their journalist but it is about us as the media".

"It challenges us as newsrooms to now introduce standards of procedure in terms of how we treat guests during these times of Covid-19," he said.

"Those who are angry about this incident are justified," says Sbu Ngalwa. "The individuals who feel affronted have a right to be angry, they also have a right to be heard. This is a moment that calls for cool heads and for reflection."

"Where we have made mistakes we should admit our mistakes. We should not be defensive and cast those who criticise us as being malicious. Journalists are not above criticism. That is why I feel that the statement released by eNCA last night is quite unfortunate and it lacks the maturity that this moment demands."

"This is not the time for us to bury our heads in the sand and to be defensive," says Sbu Ngalwa.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South African president, says "When I saw what happened outside the doors of parliament I was quite disturbed". 

On Friday the #NotInMyNameInternational civil rights organisation picketed outside the eNCA headquarters in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) political party on Friday lodged an official complaint against eNCA with the BCCSA over what it says is the apparent double standards of the eMedia Investments TV news channel's interviewing techniques, and the conduct of the eNCA production team as well as reporter Lindsay Dentlinger.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party has now written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, requesting that an urgent inquiry be instituted against eNCA and Lindsay Dentlinger, accusing eNCA and the reporter of racism within the parliamentary precinct.

The EFF says that Lindsay Dentlinger violated Section 9.4 of South Africa's Constitution. The EFF wants parliament to fire or ban Lindsay Dentlinger from the parliamentary precinct and wants eNCA removed, fined or banned from parliament for defending her actions.

Mkhuleko Hlengwa, MP of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), said that he will not be giving any further interviews to either eNCA or e.tv's eNews until eMedia Investments revises its statement about the mask incident and the conduct of Lindsay Dentlinger.

ALSO READ: eNCA blames pressure of live TV for its Budget Speech 2021 interviews mask-scandal, says TV news channel's apparent double standard ‘was not racially motivated’.

eNCA blames pressure of live TV for its Budget Speech 2021 interviews mask-scandal, says TV news channel's apparent double standard ‘was not racially motivated’.

by Thinus Ferreira

eNCA (DStv 403) that has come under fire after viewers noticed how black politicians at parliament were asked to wear their Covid-19-masks but white, maskless politicians didn't get similar instructions blamed it on the pressures of "live television" that a reporter with 21 years of experience was under and says that its reporter isnt racist and that the apparent double standard is not because of "malicious intent".

The reporter Lindsay Dentlinger of the eMedia Investments TV news channel did a series of interviews on the steps of parliament during South Africa's 2021 Budget Speech where viewers noticed a pattern in which white politicians were seemingly treated differently from the rest during interactions with eNCA.

Pieter Groenewald, the Freedom Front Plus leader and a white man, wasn't wearing a mask but wasn't told anything, while Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, UDM deputy president, was told to please put his mask on. 

More examples followed of maskless white men followed by black men with masks and told to make sure their mask also cover their nose as well, which led to eNCA being accused of racial bias.

eNCA was asked multiple times for comment on Thursday and finally responded over the reporter's alleged inconsistent behaviour with a statement at 22:02 on Thursday night, saying "eNCA understands how an excerpt of Lindsay Dentlinger’s coverage could have created a space for general public conjecture".

"However, eNCA management, after meeting with Dentlinger to discuss the matter concluded that her conduct was not racially motivated or with malicious intent."

eNCA said that Lindsay Dentlinger "is a seasoned journalist with over 21 years of experience, 9 of which has been with eNCA. In her tenure with eNCA, she has primarily focused on political news".

"Having worked in print, radio and television, Dentlinger has interviewed many high-profile politicians from all sectors and parties without anyone calling her conduct into question. This incident represents an inaccurate and unfair image of her work."

John Bailey, eNCA managing editor, said that "In an intense live broadcast environment like the Budget Speech coverage, our journalists are under pressure to remain compliant while delivering fair, accurate and balanced news."

"When it comes to adherence to Covid-19 protocols, eNCA has broadcast extensive content to educate viewers while journalists are regularly urged to ensure that they and all interviewees remain compliant."

Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, in the statement said that "After carefully analyzing the situation, we understand that given the pressure of the live TV environment such unplanned occurrences can occur."

"Through our deliberations, we have found that there is no mal intent on the part of the journalist. We further found that the way the journalist and eNCA has been perceived through this incident is unfair and not a true reflection of the journalist or our channel."

"We also appreciate the sensitivity of the matter and people’s concerns and reaffirm our commitment to encouraging compliance with regulations designed to inhibit transmission of Covid-19 across our population irrespective of race, colour or creed."

The UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, in a strongly worded letter to eNCA's top execs on Thursday, slammed the channel and asked "Is eNCA serious about its message of non-racialism?"

"This appalling incident happened on a live eNCA broadcast for the world to see. The message wasn't lost: White South Africans are 'Covid-safe' and black South Africans are not".

"The UDM is perturbed by eNCA and Lindsay Dentlinger's blatant insult not only to the person of our deputy president but also by this culture of thoughtless racism."

"Like it or not, eNCA has in the past been criticised for showing a racial bias and this recent incident has cemented this perception. The mere fact that eNCA has been mum regarding this incident, since yesterday, seems to mean that eNCA is happy with its reputation."

"eNCA has the responsibility to uphold journalistic standards and integrity, as well as the code of conduct for broadcasters as it has fallen short in this instance. It should itself accountable." 

"Lindsay Dentlinger and eNCA owe Nqabayomzi Kwanka, the UDM and all past eNCA interviewees of colour an unequivocal and sincere apology, as well as an undertaking that this practice will stop effective immediately".

The EFF political party in a statement said that it "notes with disgust the racist news agency eNCA's racial profiling of members of parliament, which resulted in rude and racially motivated instructions of who must wear a mask".

The EFF said that "the actions of the journalist at eNCA vindicate the EFF's position that there is a culture of racism and factionalist at eNCA where the disrespect of black people thrives. The rot a eNCA is so deep that white individuals perpetuate a culture of hate and discrimination against black people boldly in the public domain".