Sign up with GoogleLast night, SABC screened (during prime time television, 8pm Sunday night) a broadcast of a live election debate held at UWC...or at least, they called it a "debate".
The ANC speaker was appalling. He didn't argue a debate or answer any questions. Instead he used his opportunities to ignore direct questions and pump up the crowd with his political rally propaganda and constantly saying how "these sorts of questions come through inexperience" (referring to the young COPE party and DA who haven't been in power forever...).
The audience was disgusting and UWC aught to have exercised some measure of control. If that is how their students behave, then the future of South Africa's democracy is in grave hands. Booing and hissing when the non-ANC supporters posed questions after numerous requests to behave in a civilized manner. Placards and advertising boards were constantly thrown behind the speakers and audience questions were more like telling a sob story of their terrible lives than actually asking a brief question.
The Chair of the debate harassed audience questions from the ID and DA but allowed (and in fact encouraged) the representative from COSATU who used the microphone and podium to make a proclamation of how great the union was and how they backed the ANC...etc. THAT IS NOT DEBATING. That kind of behavior is representative of a political rally. If this is the case, the ANC should be logged for having 1 hour of "advertising airtime" in an election period.
The bias of the chair was shocking and his poor management of the debate was indicative of his bias. This is one of the few opportunities that the public has to truly see the politics being offered up by parties (with the smokescreen and exotic language that they use in their election manifestos and the likes). Ultimately, this was no better than screening 1 hour of footage from an ANC rally.
The SABC aught to be forced to take remedial action. If they cannot organise a valid debate, then they shouldn't air it. If they cannot ensure the audience behaves appropriately, then they shouldn't do a live broadcast. If the ANC representative is unable to answer straight questions, he shouldn't be at a DEBATE.
The fiasco last night was a poor sign for our democracy and bodes a dark future ahead of us all. If we cannot keep fairness and equality in national broadcasts, we are no better than Zimbabwe.
I'd like to put together a letter of complaint to DoC, ICASA, BCCSA, UWC's board, the press ombudsman, the IEC, the SABC, SAFM and all major newspapers as well as the presenter and producers/program directors of the "debate". If anyone has a better worded account of last night's joke debate, I'd love to include it in the complaint.
They call this democracy?
The ANC speaker was appalling. He didn't argue a debate or answer any questions. Instead he used his opportunities to ignore direct questions and pump up the crowd with his political rally propaganda and constantly saying how "these sorts of questions come through inexperience" (referring to the young COPE party and DA who haven't been in power forever...).
The audience was disgusting and UWC aught to have exercised some measure of control. If that is how their students behave, then the future of South Africa's democracy is in grave hands. Booing and hissing when the non-ANC supporters posed questions after numerous requests to behave in a civilized manner. Placards and advertising boards were constantly thrown behind the speakers and audience questions were more like telling a sob story of their terrible lives than actually asking a brief question.
The Chair of the debate harassed audience questions from the ID and DA but allowed (and in fact encouraged) the representative from COSATU who used the microphone and podium to make a proclamation of how great the union was and how they backed the ANC...etc. THAT IS NOT DEBATING. That kind of behavior is representative of a political rally. If this is the case, the ANC should be logged for having 1 hour of "advertising airtime" in an election period.
The bias of the chair was shocking and his poor management of the debate was indicative of his bias. This is one of the few opportunities that the public has to truly see the politics being offered up by parties (with the smokescreen and exotic language that they use in their election manifestos and the likes). Ultimately, this was no better than screening 1 hour of footage from an ANC rally.
The SABC aught to be forced to take remedial action. If they cannot organise a valid debate, then they shouldn't air it. If they cannot ensure the audience behaves appropriately, then they shouldn't do a live broadcast. If the ANC representative is unable to answer straight questions, he shouldn't be at a DEBATE.
The fiasco last night was a poor sign for our democracy and bodes a dark future ahead of us all. If we cannot keep fairness and equality in national broadcasts, we are no better than Zimbabwe.
I'd like to put together a letter of complaint to DoC, ICASA, BCCSA, UWC's board, the press ombudsman, the IEC, the SABC, SAFM and all major newspapers as well as the presenter and producers/program directors of the "debate". If anyone has a better worded account of last night's joke debate, I'd love to include it in the complaint.
They call this democracy?
