Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has banned local media from interviewing party members, accusing South African news outlets of biased coverage.

The party leadership took the decision on Sunday 18 October, less than three weeks before the local government elections on 4 November.

During a campaign walkabout in Westbury, Johannesburg, on Monday 19 October, McKenzie spoke to photographer James Oatway from Our City News.

The video of McKenzie’s exchange with Oatway was posted on the PA’s Facebook group on Monday, captioned: “A interview request op die grondt for Prez, however Prez explained it nicely. Here’s a video for all other media houses who did not understand us to lekker.”

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Decision

“Our party took a conscious decision, we are not speaking to the media,” McKenzie told Oatway.

“Yesterday (Sunday) we put a ban on the media, we feel they are extremely biased. Whenever they write about us it’s bad news, we came together as leadership of the party.”

When Oatway asked whether it was okay to take photographs, McKenzie said: “It’s nothing personal. I’m not going to stop you from doing your job.” He assured Oatway that the PA supporters “are very peaceful” and if somebody was looking to take his camera they would “protect him”.

News24 reported that McKenzie told supporters no PA member or mayoral candidate would grant interviews to local media, attend mayoral debates or allow journalists at party events. International media would still be granted access.

McKenzie said he would continue to give interviews in his capacity as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, because “this post belongs to the state”, but party-specific political interactions were cut off.

According to News24, two PA bodyguards in T-shirts carrying assault rifles aggressively enforced the directive, however. Reportedly they shouted “no media” and ordered the media not to take pictures, despite the event taking place in a public area.

Ban coincides with cadre deployment allegations

The ban comes amid heightened media scrutiny of McKenzie’s department. A leaked dossier published by IOL on Sunday 18 October alleged an extensive network of PA-linked appointments across national cultural entities and Johannesburg municipal agencies.

The dossier claimed that PA members and associates occupied overlapping board seats on bodies including the National Arts Council (NAC), the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Metrobus and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

PA deputy president Kenny Kunene dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign by the DA.

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