Dentlinger's coverage not racially motivated - eNCA
Television news channel eNCA has denied claims of racial profiling during the budget speech coverage by reporter Lindsay Dentlinger.
In a statement, the news broadcaster says management met with Dentlinger on Thursday and concluded that her conduct was not racially motivated or with malicious intent.
Anger erupted on social media after videos emerged purporting to show Dentlinger asking black politicians to wear masks as part of Covid-19 protocols, while allowing her white interviewees to speak without masks.
The videos went viral on Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement eNCA said it analysed Dentlinger’s conduct and found it was not "racially motivated or with malicious intent".
The station's managing director Norman Munzhelele has described the alleged incident as 'unplanned occurrences.'
“After carefully analysing the situation, we understand that given the pressure of the live TV environment such unplanned occurrences can occur. Through our deliberations, we have found that there is no malicious intent on the part of the journalist. We further found that the way the journalist and eNCA has been perceived through this incident is unfair and not a true reflection of the journalist or our channel.
"We also appreciate the sensitivity of the matter and people’s concerns and reaffirm our commitment to encouraging compliance with regulations designed to inhibit transmission of Covid-19 across our population irrespective of race, colour or creed.".
The station's managing editor John Bailey has described the criticism aimed at Dentlinger as unfair.
“In an intense live broadcast environment like the Budget Speech coverage, our journalists are under pressure to remain compliant while delivering fair, accurate and balanced news. The journalist had to contend with being live on air and taking producer instructions via her earpiece and unfortunately failed to request that the interviewee wear a mask.
"Criticism to this extent levelled at a journalist under these circumstances is unfair and unfortunate. Comments and some video content that are currently being shared is maliciously misleading."
