eNCA under fire for not asking FF Plus’ Groenewald to wear his mask

News channel eNCA has come under fire from social media users for interviewing Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) leader Pieter Groenewald without him wearing his face mask in public.

The outrage from some Twitter users has even sparked questions around white privilege and unconscious bias by the broadcaster.

This followed an interview by eNCA reporter Lindsay Dentlinger with Groenewald outside the steps of Parliament after Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivered his budget speech.

During the interview, the FF Plus leader was not wearing a face mask and he was physically distancing from Dentlinger who had her mask on.

When Dentlinger interviewed United Democratic Movement MP Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, tweeps realised that she asked him to keep his mask on, which led to some accusing eNCA and its reporter of racism and unconscious bias.

Watch the video below:

What is disappointing is that CLEVER BLACKS don’t see anything wrong with this clip. #eNCA pic.twitter.com/uem451LO0n

— Man’s NOT Barry Roux  (@AdvoBarryRoux) February 25, 2021

Some tweeps saw nothing wrong with Dentlinger asking Kwankwa to his mask, but other tweeps took advantage of the incident to bash the channel for unfair treatment and even posted Dentlinger’s pictures on Twitter, branding her a racist.

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UDM leader Bantu Holomisa called on eNCA to apologise for the incident, saying the broadcaster can’t have separate policies in enforcing Covid-19 regulations.

The ANC in Gauteng have since also called on eNCA to address the incident, saying it was “appalled of the reporter’s behavior”.

“It is against this background that the ANC Gauteng Province is calling for the eNCA to clarify South Africans if racial identity determines who is compelled to wear a mask as demonstrated by Ms. Lindsay Dentlinger when conducting interviews.”

Media personality Robert Marawa said he simply “switched to Cartoon Network” after he was disturbed by what happened.

I switched to Cartoon Network after this nonsense General…!! Watching it LIVE was disturbing!!

— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) February 24, 2021

Veteran TV host Felicia Mabuza-Suttle was also taken aback by the incident, saying she too was upset.

This subject about wearing masks hits home for me. Like many, I’ve lost siblings, relatives and friends. #WearADamnMask???? Let’s save lives.

— Felicia Mabuza-Suttle (@Feliciamabuza) February 25, 2021

Here’s what other tweeps had to say on the issue:

This is Lindsay Dentlinger, a racist reporter for #eNCA who due to her unconscious bias racially abused UDM’s deputy president Honorable Nqabayomzi Kwankwa on national television. She has for long been able to hide her racism behind working along side Black employees pic.twitter.com/Tx9HS5R8js

— #FreePalestine ???????? ???????? (@ntobengnkadimen) February 25, 2021

eNCA is racist with a mentality that only Black People have CoronaVirus! #eNCA

— Man’s NOT Barry Roux  (@AdvoBarryRoux) February 25, 2021

Its a different story to remove a mask and not having it. Peter didnt have a mask, on the 3rd frame the guys was asked to cover his nose. Akuna racism niks lana. Black people like becoming victims kungenasidingo. pic.twitter.com/Ox9EVwhD3w

— #PutSouthAfricansFirst (@okaMashaba) February 25, 2021

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