The Democratic Alliance has called on the SA National Editors Forum to condemn ANC's media manipulation after President Cyril Ramaphosa was heard in a leaked recording addressing the NEC telling them that TV stations and the rest of the media have no business reporting negatively about the ANC.

DA member of Parliament ,Ashor Sarupen, alleges that the ANC has been manipulating the "public purse" to fund the party's election campaign. "This not only undermines the principles of democracy but also directly attacks media freedom. In the recording, President Ramaphosa can be clearly heard saying: "TV stations have no right to be negative towards us... We want more than fair treatment (from the media). There will be a team of comrades who will be watching this space all the time." Sarupen added that Ramaphosa's directive to control media narratives and suppress negative coverage of the ANC is deeply concerning and reminiscent of past attempts to capture institutions like the SABC. "This blatant manipulation seeks to sway public opinion and undermine the democratic process. In light of these revelations, the DA calls on SANEF to condemn this egregious manipulation of the media. SANEF, as a champion of media freedom and democracy, must not stay silent in the face of such flagrant abuse of power. We urge SANEF to uphold its constitutional objectives, particularly Section 4.1.1, which emphasises the promotion of a free, independent and pluralistic press. It is imperative that SANEF takes a firm stance against any attempts to coerce or control journalists in their reporting duties," Sarupen added.

Sarupen said the DA will not stand by while media freedom is under threat. "We will utilise parliamentary channels to fight against this manipulation and ensure that the voices of journalists are protected from such abuse. SANEF must act swiftly and decisively to safeguard the integrity of the media and protect journalists from undue influence and intimidation. Failure to do so would not only compromise the credibility of the press but also jeopardise the very foundation of our democracy. In a statement on Sunday, the ruling party said they will not be drawn on statements made by individual leaders during its meetings. "The ANC has noted the media's interest in the leaked recording of the ANC NEC meeting discussing the ANC's 2024 elections campaign. While the ANC's long-standing principle is not to comment on leaked information because we do not want to dignify the unethical behaviour with a response," the statement said.