Independent Media exposes News24’s bullying tactics

By Thys Khiba – Independent Media has responded to allegations made by News24 that its editors and The Star editor, Sifiso Mahlangu had a meeting earlier in the week to plan President Cyril Ramaphosa’s removal from government.

“Nowhere in the leaked document does it state or even infer that Independent Media is looking to ‘topple President Ramaphosa’. To suggest otherwise, as you have done with this headline and article, is gross misrepresentation,” said Independent Media Editor-in-Chief, Aziz Hartley.

According to allegations made by the publication the Independent Media senior political staff held a meeting to discuss ‘Operation Hlanza’ and have been given a plan to topple Ramaphosa, come the ANC’s elective conference set for later this year.

In what they call ‘Exclusive – Inside Operation Hlanza,’ News24 alleges that Independent Media’s plan to remove Ramaphosa presented Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the best candidate to be the next president of the governing.

Hartley rejected claims made by News24 and indicated the facts contained in the leaked plan, seem to have been ignored in favour of assumptions on the part of News24.

“And we all know what happens when things are assumed. We refute it [the article] in its entirety. News24’s so-called exclusive report on a leaked document detailing Independent Media’s plan on how the organisation is going to cover the upcoming ANC elections, is a sensational piece of misdirection and clearly shows your political bent,” Hartley said.

Hartley indicated that the article was published to mislead the South African public and the country’s executive. He confirmed their detailed election coverage plan is not a “secret” plan.

The document has been shared widely within the Independent Media Group as a proposal inviting input.

“I am sure News24 and every other media house in the country has done likewise. We would like to remind News24 that Indy is not a delegate at the conference, it has no voting rights and therefore your assertion that a simple proposed media coverage plan could be used to depose President Ramaphosa, is absurd,” Hartley said.

Independent Media and Sekunjalo owner Dr Iqbal Surve told media that the discussed document is an election coverage plan and deals with the upcoming ANC elective conference.

This follows his enquiry and discussion with Hartley about the document.

“After reading this ridiculous article I contacted the Editor-in-Chief of Independent Media, Aziz Hartley, and he informed me that indeed there is such a document. Firstly, this document is not secretive. Secondly, the proposed editorial plan was distributed to all editors – across the Group,” said Surve.

CENTRAL NEWS

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