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Elections and TV News in South Africa Elections and TV News in South Africa “Those interested in either political journalism or South African politics will fnd this book a valuable read. It eloquently unpacks how the media constructed their stories of South Africa’s frst six post-apartheid elections. Importantly the book also helps build our theoretical understanding of political journalism by critiquing the journalistic practices it uncovers and by suggesting ways that political journal- ism can be improved.” Professor P. Eric Louw, University of Queensland “This book chronicles the television coverage of the birth and growth of South African democracy. By contrasting local and international perspectives on one of the most tumultuous and exciting periods in the country’s history, Jones asks questions about how the global mediatization of politics has played out in this young African democracy. Covering more than two decades of history in an engag- ing and accessible way, the book will appeal to scholarly and general audiences interested in the intersection of politics, media and visual discourse.” Professor Herman Wasserman, University of Cape Town “South Africa’s struggle for freedom was one of the defning events in modern history. It was important not only for South Africans, but globally. In the eyes of the world, its future was our future. South Africa was a beacon of hope that democracy would always eventually triumph. We now live in a different world. Almost 30 years on from the election that brought Nelson Mandela to power, Bernadine Jones explores the legacy of that election, the interplay of politics and the media, and the way the ‘foundation story’ of South Africa has been mytholo- gised by the ANC. Incisive, and ofttimes chilling, it is a wake-up call for those who hoped to see South Africa take its place as a role model for democracy in a world where tyranny thrives, and where nations—once thought to be stalwarts of demo- cratic politics—are falling prey to conspiracists and populists.” Mr Tom Collins, OBE, Journalist Bernadine Jones Elections and TV News in South Africa Desperately Seeking Depth Bernadine Jones University of Stirling Stirling, UK ISBN 978-3-030-71791-9 ISBN 978-3-030-71792-6 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71792-6 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifcally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microflms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifc statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the pub- lisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institu- tional affliations. Cover design: eStudioCalamar This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG. The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland To ELJ TIMELINE BEGINNINGS OF THE UNION 1910—Formation of the Union of South Africa. The Union incorporated former British colonies of the Cape and Natal and the Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State. 1912—South African Native National Congress (SANNC), later renamed African National Congress (ANC), founded by John Langalibalele Dube in Bloemfontein on 8 January. SANNC was in direct response to injustice against black people by those in power. 1913—The Natives Land Act introduced to prevent black people, except those living in the Cape Province, from buying land from white people outside dedicated reserves. The Act was fnally rescinded in 1991. 1914—Afrikaner nationalists founded the National Party (NP) in Bloemfontein after disagreement with Prime Minister Louis Botha. The NP held Afrikaner ethnic protection at its heart and came to power in coalition with the Labour Party in 1924. 1915—De Nasionale Pers Beperkt (National Press Ltd., or Naspers) founded as a publisher and printer of newspapers and magazines. Cape lawyer and National Party organiser W.A. Hofmeyr launched Naspers and published Die Burger newspaper in June. 1918—Secret society, the Broederbond (literally “band of brothers” or Brotherhood), established to advance the Afrikaner cause. It was originally named Jong Zuid Afrika (“Young South Africa”) until 1920. All leaders of the government and many prominent apartheid fgures were members. 1918—Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela born in Mvezo. vii viii TIMELINE 1921—Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA; later renamed South African Communist Party or SACP) formed by William H. Andrews. 1923—Radio broadcasting began in the country with the support of South African Railways. 1923—J.L. Dube renames SANNC to the African National Congress (ANC). 1923—Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe born in Graaff-Reinet. 1927—Radio services merged into the African Broadcasting Company, owned by wealthy American businessman Isidore Williem Schlesinger. 1928—Mangosuthu Buthelezi born in Mahlabathini. 1934—Union of South Africa parliament enacts the Status of the Union Act, which declares the country to be a sovereign and indepen- dent state. 1936—F.W. de Klerk born in Johannesburg. 1936—Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela, otherwise known as Winnie Mandela, born in Mbongweni, Pondoland (Eastern Cape). 1936—Government founds the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), taking over the assets of the African Broadcasting Company. 1942—Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki born in Mbewuleni, eSigangeni. 1942—Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma born in Nkandla. 1942—Martin Thembisile Hani (also known as Chris Hani) born in Cofmvaba, Transkei. 1948—National Party wins the general election. APARTHEID 1948—Policy of apartheid (literally “aparthood” or “separateness”) adopted. 1950—Population classifed by race (white, black, Coloured, and Indian) as one of the frst acts of apartheid legislation. It paved the way for “grand apartheid” that separated races on a large scale. These racial clas- sifcations continue to be normalised in South African society today. 1950—Group Areas Act passed to segregate blacks and whites. Resulting destruction of mixed race and black areas included Sophiatown in Johannesburg and District 6 in Cape Town. 1950—The Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) banned. ANC starts a campaign of civil disobedience, led by Nelson Mandela. 1951—Helen Zille born in Johannesburg. TIMELINE ix 1952—Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa born in Soweto. 1953—J. Arthur Rank Organisation petitions government to introduce television into the country. Government dismisses the suggestion, arguing television was a threat to the system of apartheid and Afrikaner ethic. 1955—The Congress of the People, an event organised by the ANC, formally adopted the Freedom Charter on 26 June. These core principles are driven by the opening line, “The People Shall Govern”. 1959—Pan African Congress (later, Pan African Congress of Azania) launched at Orlando Community Hall in Soweto, in opposition to the ANC’s non-racial Freedom Charter. Robert Sobukwe becomes leader of PAC. 1960—Residents in Sharpeville, Vereeniging, in conjunction with the Pan African Congress, organise a protest against passbooks—the govern- ment required all black people to carry passes to enter white areas. Resulting police action led to at least 70 demonstrators killed and the event labelled the “Sharpeville massacre”. Sobukwe was arrested and jailed for three years. Anti-apartheid groups (including the PAC and ANC) sub- sequently banned. 1961—South Africa declared a republic, and offcially leaves the Commonwealth. 1961—In the wake of the Sharpeville massacre, ANC launches its armed wing, uMkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation” or shortened to MK), with Mandela as frst commander. MK launches widespread sabo- tage campaign with frst attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961. United States and South African governments class MK as a terrorist organisation, and Mandela remained on the terror watchlist in America until 2008. 1963–1964—Rivonia trials of 12 ANC members take place in Johannesburg, charged under the 1962 Sabotage Act to violently over- throw the government. Co-accused included Nelson Mandela, Denis Goldberg, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki (Thabo’s father), Walter Sisulu, and Elias Motsoaledi. 1964—Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island. 1966—Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd assassinated by Dimitri Tsafendas on 6 September at the House of Assembly in Cape Town. Verwoerd was replaced by B.J. Foster in September. 1967—Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo becomes acting president of the ANC after Chief Albert Luthuli died in 1967. OR Tambo led the ANC while in exile until 1990. x TIMELINE 1971—Television fnally allowed in the country but took fve years to roll out across the country. 1976—Television introduced in South Africa. First television broadcast (in Afrikaans) on 5 January. 1976—Youth uprising in South West Township (Soweto) on 16 June. Many young people killed by police and security forces, most shot in the back. Offcial fgures state 176 people died, but estimates are well over 600. Hector Pieterson is the second child to be killed, and the image spreads around the world quickly. 1978—PAC president Robert Sobukwe dies of lung cancer in Kimberly, aged 53. 1980—Mmusi Aloysias Maimane born in Krugersdorp. 1981—Julius Sello Malema born in Seshego-B, Polokwane.
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