Let's set the cat amongst the pigeons once and for all.
Iqbal Surve's intentions with the euphemistically named Independent News & Media Plc (Independent Group) are so transparent that he may as well rename his media company, the "Royal Air Force" - in memory of former Premier Rasool's propaganda campaign against his political opponents during his term of office 2004 to 2008.
In similar mode, Surve has started the great purge, ridding his media company of its senior editorial team. Bringing in the once respected Karima Brown from Gauteng, she has to replace the ‘purged' with politically- and ethnically-connected crony journalists (see here).
There are enough sycophants waiting in the wings to do their bidding and who will stop at nothing to promote the ruling party. It therefore comes as no surprise (Mail & Guardian 24-30 January) to witness the resurrection of the notorious Joseph Aranes in another guise, determined to wreak havoc with his campaign of vengeance, against his former bosses. This man is not to be trusted given his past reputation of under-cover work for the ANC. The ubiquitous Marius Fransman just knows which puppet strings to pull to safeguard his senior position in the party. Desperate times, indeed, lead to desperate measures!
The embittered Aranes and his ill-named Media Transformation Movement in SA are ready bait for Desperate Dan's bidding. Building on their "brown envelope" experience, the same names that were involved with Rasool and his ‘air force' in the ANC's ‘Information Scandal' seem to reappear from the shadows.
Operating covertly with ludicrous names such as Africa-China People's Friendship Association, Uhuru Media, and the Progressive Professionals Forum, the M&G's journalists Raymond Joseph and Sam Sole have done a splendid job in joining the dots between these nefarious organisations, to expose Fransman, and his connection with these groups. By now he has become the master of dirty tricks, not least for all his attempts to unseat Premier Helen Zille.