We must demand better. The fight for media freedom is not just Sekunjalo’s—it’s ours, says the writer.
Image: Independent Media
By Sipho Tshabalala
When will News24 stop lying to South Africans? When will its editors, its reporters, and its masters of manipulation come clean about their agenda to destroy black excellence under the guise of journalism? Let us be clear: the recent article about Sekunjalo, the Mpati Commission, and AYO is yet another calculated attempt to protect those who benefited from apartheid’s oppressive structures.
The Competition Commission’s findings are unequivocal—South Africa’s banks acted illegally and in collusion when they targeted Sekunjalo. Yet News24 shamelessly twists the narrative, blaming the closures of Sekunjalo’s accounts on the Mpati Commission. The truth is that even Nedbank admits that Sekunjalo has done nothing wrong. No corruption. No money laundering. The banks acted on lies spread by the media, led by News24 and the Daily Maverick.
This is not journalism; it is sabotage. It is propaganda meant to vilify a group that represents the hopes and dreams of black South Africans. And it’s not just Sekunjalo that suffers—this campaign against transformation affects every small business, every worker, and every family who relies on a truly inclusive economy.
Judge Lex Mpati himself has debunked the narrative that News24 continues to promote. In a sworn affidavit, he made it clear that his commission found no wrongdoing by Sekunjalo. It was never a court of law and its findings were mere observations, not facts. Yet News24 buries this truth, choosing instead to mislead South Africans with its apartheid-era tactics.
The PIC has completed its investigations, and what did they find? Nothing. No corruption. No misuse of funds. Even more telling, the PIC and AYO have resolved their issues amicably, with a court settlement that validated AYO’s position. Witnesses from the PIC itself have testified in court that the AYO transaction was a sound investment at the time. These are facts that News24 will never print.
This campaign is not only unfair—it’s deeply harmful. The media should be a pillar of truth and accountability, not a weapon wielded to protect apartheid’s legacy. News24 and Daily Maverick are relics of a system that sought to exclude, oppress, and silence black voices. They continue to thrive on division, using their platform to push false narratives and stoke fears.
Sekunjalo is not just a victim in this battle—it is a symbol of resistance against the systems that apartheid left behind. Its fight is not just for its survival but for every South African who believes in fairness, justice, and transformation.
News24’s refusal to grant Sekunjalo a right of reply shows its true agenda. This is not about journalism—it’s about control. South Africans deserve a media that speaks truth to power, not one that serves as a mouthpiece for the oppressive systems of the past.
We must demand better. The fight for media freedom is not just Sekunjalo’s—it’s ours. It’s a fight for a future where our stories are told with integrity, where our voices are heard, and where our democracy is truly inclusive.
The truth will prevail. And when it does, News24 will be exposed—not as a defender of democracy but as a relic of apartheid’s toxic past.
* Sipho Tshabalala is an independent writer, commentator and political analyst.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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