As the 4500 ANC delegates going to the party’s elective conference in Mangaung descend on the Free State this weekend to choose leaders for 51 million South Africans, the rest of us will tune in to all the action via television, radio and online mediums.
Here, we’ve compiled a user’s guide to Mangaung with what the SABC, e.tv and eNCA have to offer, as well as what’s happening online and on the radio.
eNCA, e.tv’s 24 hour news channel, has deployed reporters, Hajra Omarjee, Belinda Moses and Nkululeko Ncana to Mangaung. They will be on the ground to deliver firsthand accounts of the action as it unfolds. The station has also invited political analysts Aubrey Matshiqi and Ebrahim Fakir to give detailed analysis and evaluate what the implications of the decisions reached at Mangaung will have for South Africans beyond 2012.
Senior anchors Iman Rapetti, Justice Malala and Jeremy Maggs will facilitate discussions about the current political climate and the state of the ruling party. The talk shows will not be canned via mysterious phone calls from above.
Satirist Loyiso Gola will provide some light relief in a special edition of his Late Night News show . South Africa’s most famous puppet Chester Missing will interview top politicians.
eNCA will round off the Mangaung coverage by interviewing ordinary South Africans about the outcome of the conference.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has released its TV, radio and online broadcast schedule for the ANC’s elective conference, and will give viewers the chance to watch the action online. Live streaming of selected TV conference coverage will be on the SABC News YouTube channel www.youtube.com/sabcnews and on www.sabc.co.za/news.
The SABC has planned extensive coverage, with 18 radio stations involved, and its three television stations.
SABC2 Morning Live will include daily news coverage plus analysis from the previous day, previews, and newsmaker interviews. The programme will be extended until 09:00 from 17 – 21 December, for a special focus on the conference. On Friday 21 November the President of the ANC will participate in the Morning Live/TNA breakfast broadcast from 06:00 to 09:00.
SABC2 also features Dateline Mangaung, 22:00 – 23:00 , a special programme from the ANC conference, broadcast from 16 – 20 December.
Live coverage of selected open conference plenaries, including the opening by ANC President, sessions related to elections, closing address, selected news briefings and final conference wrap – mainly on SABC2. Live coverage will follow conference developments and may result in schedule changes on short notice.
Go to YouTube, and search ‘Mamgaung’ for a multimedia content, particularly by Mail&Guardian.
The Daily Maverick will have a team on the ground to provide in-depth analysis by writers such as Runjeni Munusamy, Greg Marinovich and Sipho Hlongwane. It has also announced a ‘soft’ launch of its new wire service, Newsfire. The BETA version of the service is being made available for free to all publishers and broadcasters, with coverage of the 53rd ANC elective conference in Mangaung. Newsfire will offer breaking news, reports, analysis opinions and multi-media to susbcribers, making it a vital platform for those media outlets and corporate publishers seeking a high quality news source. Free registration is now available at www.worldnewsfire.com.
City Press has redesigned its website, and is offering a series of special reports.
The New Age is hosting a special breakfast on 21 December at the President Hotel in Mangaung, which will be addressed by President Jacob Zuma. This will also be broadcast on SABC2 Morning Live.
Some media to follow via Twitter #Mangaung:
Stephen Grootes @stephengrootes
Eyewitness News @ewnupdates
Carien du Plessis @carienduplessis
Barney Mthombothi @mthombothi
Ranjeni Munusamy @RanjeniM
Sipho Hlongwane @comradesipho
The New Age @The_New_Age
City Pres @City_Press
Daily Maverick @DailyMaverick
Mail&Guardian @mailandguardian / @MG_reporter
Business Day / BDlive @BusinessDayDigi
Sam Mkokeli @msmkokeli
Daniel Silke @danielsilke
Zwelinzima Vavi @zwelinzima1
Channel Islam @channelislam
eNCA @eNCA
Hajra Omarjee @hajraomarjee
Belinda Moses @Belinda_eNCA
Nkululeko Ncana @NkululekoNcana
SABC News @SABCNewsOnline
Africa Cartoons @africartoons
Jacaranda News @jacanews
