The Dangerous Dance of Media and Politics: Why Naspers’ R2 Million Donation to the ANC is a Threat to Democracy
(The Post News)- The revelation that Naspers Limited donated R2 million to the African National Congress (ANC) during the fourth quarter of the 2024 political funding cycle has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the ethical boundaries between media and political power in South Africa.
Naspers, the parent company of Media24, owns influential news platforms like News24, which is expected to provide impartial coverage of all political entities, including the ANC. However, the company’s financial support for the ANC creates a clear conflict of interest, challenging the media’s role as a watchdog and its ability to hold power accountable.
The history of Naspers is deeply intertwined with the apartheid regime, with figures like Hendrik Verwoerd and DF Malan serving as editors of its newspapers. Koos Bekker, a former CEO of Naspers, has ties to the old regime, with his father holding a senior position in the Bureau of State Security.The connection between Naspers and the ANC is not coincidental.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s rise to power was fuelled by a massive financial campaign, backed by influential business leaders, including those with ties to Naspers. This web of connections suggests a deliberate attempt to shape the country’s future, with big business pulling the strings.The implication is clear: Naspers, like many other corporate giants, has a vested interest in ensuring that the ANC, under Ramaphosa’s leadership, remains in power.
This isn’t about supporting a political party for ideological reasons; it’s about securing influence and shaping the country’s future in a way that benefits big business.The ultimate goal is a coalition between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA), a party that, on its own, would struggle to secure a majority but could govern through a partnership with a Ramaphosa-led ANC.
South Africans must demand transparency and accountability from their media outlets and political leaders. The Naspers-ANC alliance is a stark reminder that the confluence of media and politics can have devastating consequences for democracy.
The Naspers-ANC donation is a troubling development that undermines the ethical core of journalism. By funding political parties, media houses jeopardise their reputation as unbiased truth-tellers, blurring the essential line between reporting and politicking.
About the Author
