Deputy speaker wants ‘better spin’ to counter EFF

PARLIAMENT’S presiding officers have instructed the institution’s officials to devise media plans to counter the negative publicity surrounding the legislature since the arrival of the Economic Freedom Fighters.

This is according to several officials who this week said the entire parliamentary communication service unit had been summoned to two meet- ings in the past six weeks by deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli.

But some of parliament’s communicators are angered by the move, saying this amounted to political interference in their operations.

Tsenoli expressed the unhappiness of National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete and National Council of Provinces chairwoman Thandi Modise about the unit’s failure to project a positive image of the institution while the EFF enjoyed favourable coverage.

Tsenoli ordered that an interim media strategy be crafted to “challenge unfair perceptions created through negative reporting of parliament”.

Some parliamentary communicators complained that the negative publicity stemmed from questionable rulings in the chamber and the conduct of MPs.

“Parliament is open to the public, its proceedings are beamed live, so if the ruling is biased, how do you spin it? It’s about political management, so now we are under immense pressure and they want propaganda,” said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Unit head Luzuko Jacobs on Friday confirmed the meetings with Tsenoli, saying they took place against the backdrop of “drawing up a blueprint for the new parliament”.

Tsenoli insisted he had issued no political instructions, saying at issue was “organisational performance”.