MEDIA SUPPRESSION IN SOUTH AFRICA ON THE EVE OF 2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) expresses serious concern over what increasingly appears to be a concerted effort by the media, particularly the SABC and now NewzroomAfrika, to suppress public engagement on the matter of the corrupt appointment and irregular salary adjustment of the Secretary to Parliament.
There is a troubling and consistent pattern where media interviews involving the EFF on the matter of the appointment and salary adjustment of the Secretary to Parliament are cancelled at the last minute, often immediately after public communication or the issuing of a media alert by the organisation.
On 10 March, 12 March and 15 March 2026, scheduled interviews with the SABC were abruptly cancelled under the pretext of Ad Hoc Committee proceedings, which were used as an excuse.
Yesterday, a scheduled interview with Newzroom Afrika at 19:30 suffered the same fate, the excuse for the cancellation was that they need to research more on the matter. This is despite the fact that it was NewzRoom Afrika that scheduled an interview with the EFF, with an attached statement of the EFF.
This pattern cannot be dismissed as coincidence. It points to undue influence and political interference in editorial decisions, aimed at limiting public discourse and shielding serious issues of governance and possible corruption from scrutiny.
The timing of these cancellations, particularly following the publication of EFF posters and announcements, raises serious concerns about how editorial independence is being compromised in the coverage of this matter.
What is even more disturbing is that sections of the media are allowing themselves to be used in this process. In a constitutional democracy, the media has a duty to inform, interrogate and to hold those in positions of power accountable.
When media institutions withdraw platforms at critical moments under questionable circumstances, they risk becoming instruments of suppression rather than vehicles of transparency and accountability.
The situation at the SABC is particularly concerning. There are growing indications of a broader effort to politicise the public broadcaster as the country approaches the 2026 Local Government Elections. This is not without precedent.
There was a period where the SABC effectively imposed a blackout on the EFF and its activities, limiting coverage of its programmes and political interventions during the elections. The current pattern suggests a return to such practices.
The EFF rejects any attempt to silence its voice or suppress matters of public interest. South Africans have a right to know the truth about governance failures and the use of public resources.
We call on all media institutions to act independently, resist any form of interference, and uphold their constitutional duty to ensure transparency, accountability and freedom of expression.
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