ANC to picket outside eNCA offices against ‘the scourge of racism’

The ANC says its members will march to the head office of eNCA on Tuesday, 2 March, in protest against “the scourge of racism”.

This is after eNCA faced a backlash from social media users who accused the channel of racism and unconscious bias after reporter Lindsay Dentlinger last week Wednesday asked UDM deputy president Nqabayomzi Kwankwa to wear a mask during an interview, while FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald was interviewed without a mask.

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There was a public outcry over eNCA’s statement, when the broadcaster said Dentlinger’s conduct “was not racially motivated or with malicious intent”.

The ANC confirmedits members would conduct a nationwide picket at the eNCA offices in Johannesburg and at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) offices or nearest police station in other provinces if there SAHRC no offices.

The protest also comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening that gatherings would be permitted under level 1 lockdown, subject to limitations on size, adherence to social distancing and other health protocols.

Dentlinger has since apologised, while acknowledging her “unconscious bias” after appearing on eNCA’s PowerToTruth with JJTabane.

Meanwhile, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said on Friday his party would lay a complaint against eNCA to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) and SAHRC.

Holomisa slammed the channel’s statement, saying it was a “slap in the face of any sober South African” who witnessed the incident.

Additional reporting from Thapelo Lekabe

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