SA’s news channels and their versions of news

THERE are three primary television news channels, on DStv, in South Africa: eNCA (channel 403), SABC (channel 404), and ANN7 (channel 405).

These three channels focus on broadcasting mainly South African-related news.

I wonder how many South Africans have observed the stark contrast between eNCA and ANN7 when it comes to South African politics. eNCA seems to be determined to expose wrongdoings such as corruption and state capture and tells it as it is. On the other hand, we have ANN7 which appears to be determined to protect the so-called state capturers and corruptors.

This channel has very strategically appointed its own political analysts who seem to be instructed what to say. It understandably will barely broadcast news regarding corruption such as state capture, the leaked Gupta emails or the Bell Pottinger, McKinsey, KPMG and SAP debacles.

It is a case of “we do not bite the hands that feed us”.

The ANN7 channel has also roped in political organisations such as Black Land First (BLF) and Professional Peoples Forum (PPF) to support the collapse of white monopoly capital and make land grabs without compensation.

South Africans were also exposed to The New Age (TNA) breakfast presentations that mainly featured state-owned-entities and government ministers to paint a rosy picture of how well government was performing amid the looting of state coffers.

These presentations came to an abrupt end when state capture surfaced and became a reality. Then we have the SABC channel in the centre.

The question is which channel can the gullible South African believe in?

Interestingly, presidential hopeful Cyril Ramaphosa is openly calling for those found guilty of state capture and corruption to be convicted. We still have to get an opinion of this critical issue that is crippling the country from presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

The question is, which channel can the gullible South Africa public believe in or do we keep switching channels?