Alleged anti-Ramaphosa plot a piece of ‘mischievous fiction’

INDEPENDENT Media has dismissed allegations made in a News24 article that its editors and senior political staff have hatched a plan to topple President Cyril Ramaphosa, come the ANC’s elective conference later this year.

On Thursday, News24 reported the Independent Media group’s editors and political staff had met earlier in the week to discuss “Operation Hlanza”, an apparent media strategy for the group to cover the elections. “Hlanza” means “to clean” or “cleanse”.

News24 alleged that the plan was authored by The Star editor Sifiso Mahlangu and is anti-Ramaphosa in its stance, giving preference of coverage to Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Dlamini Zuma is expected to run against Ramaphosa for the position of ANC president.

Independent Media editor-in-chief Aziz Hartley said the facts contained in the leaked plan had been ignored in favour of assumptions.

“We refute it (the article) in its entirety. News24’s so-called exclusive report on a leaked document detailing Independent Media’s plan on how the organisation is going to cover the upcoming ANC elections, is a sensational piece of misdirection and clearly shows your political bent,” he said.

“Knowing which side your bread is buttered, News24 has presented to the public and to the country’s executive, a piece of mischievous fiction.”

He said the leaked document did not state or imply Independent Media was looking to “topple President Ramaphosa”, as News24 reported.

“To suggest otherwise, as you have done with this headline and article, is gross misrepresentation.

“Further, this is not a ‘secret’ plan, since it has been shared widely within the Independent Media Group as a proposal inviting input.”

He said Independent Media would not be a delegate at the conference, has no voting rights and that the assertion that a proposed media coverage plan could be used to depose Ramaphosa was absurd.

Independent Media and Sekunjalo owner Dr Iqbal Survé said the alleged “secret” document was simply a detailed election coverage plan for the ANC conference.

“The document deals with the upcoming ANC elective conference, just as every other media house in this country should also have a plan as to how they are going to cover this seminal event, given the importance of the future for all of us that is riding on the outcome.”

Survé said while the document references Ramaphosa’s presidency over the past five years as a disaster, he did not think anyone who had lived through this period could argue with that comment.

“What we do know, is the last five years have been a complete catastrophe for South Africa and the media.”