There is always an obligation to cover all parties that contest the election. But the media has been obsessed with the utterances of charlatans and divisive vigilantes with questionable morals, writes Redi Tlhabi.
Election 2019 is behind us now. We will continue to see and feel its impact on our political landscape and our lives. Hopefully the impact will be positive. We can only hope that the parties that have suffered considerable losses – almost all of them, except the EFF, FF+ and the IFP – have gone into deep and urgent self-reflection.
One can only hope that with every vote lost, a layer of their arrogance and detachment is shed. And for the victors, a modicum of humility and knowing that their euphoria could very well end with the next election.
It is not only politicians who have some work to do. South Africa’s media has much to reflect on, much to discard. There is always an obligation to cover all parties that contest the election. However, long before the election season began, long before the election date was announced, the media was obsessed with the utterances of charlatans, caricatures, divisive vigilantes and generally unsavory characters whose morals are always on sale to the highest bidder…..more