Opinion | How Selective Media Narratives Undermine Black Excellence and Good Governance

In recent years, the South African media landscape has witnessed a growing trend of selective storytelling — where achievements are downplayed, and headlines are shaped to provoke outrage rather than inform the public with balance. The recent piece by journalist Peter Myburgh is a textbook example of this — one that calls for honest reflection on what journalism should be.

Constructive journalism has always played a crucial role in strengthening democracy. Journalists are meant to hold leaders accountable, uncover truths, and empower citizens with credible information. However, when reporting becomes selective, it ceases to serve the public interest and instead deepens division.

Myburgh’s focus on Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s uninterrupted water and electricity during the G20 summit is a clear case of narrative imbalance. It’s not only misleading — it mocks the genuine progress being made in addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges across Gauteng. By amplifying optics over outcomes, this form of reporting feeds frustration rather than truth.

While critics seize on symbolic events to score quick points, the real story lies in the consistent work happening behind the scenes. Gauteng’s leadership has been actively implementing long-term strategies to stabilize power supply, rehabilitate water systems, and modernize service delivery frameworks.

These efforts may not yield overnight transformation, but they represent tangible progress that deserves acknowledgment. Balanced journalism would highlight both the challenges and the strides being made — giving citizens the full picture instead of one framed through bias.

It’s also important to remember that service delivery is not an event; it’s a process. Measuring governance by one week of optics during an international summit disregards years of foundational work done to build resilient systems and secure resources for sustainable solutions.

The Gauteng Provincial Government, under Premier Lesufi’s leadership, remains steadfastly committed to restoring public trust and improving lives. From township infrastructure upgrades to youth empowerment initiatives, from expanding access to reliable utilities to improving safety and education — the focus has been on people-centered governance.

Accountability remains essential. Constructive criticism is always welcome — when it is rooted in facts, not agendas. But when journalism becomes a tool to diminish “Black Excellence” or paint capable leadership as inherently flawed, it damages the collective hope South Africans need to rebuild faith in both politics and public service.

South Africa’s democracy thrives when journalists, citizens, and leaders engage with mutual respect and integrity. We need media that questions power, but also recognizes progress; that challenges leaders, but also uplifts truth.

Balanced journalism doesn’t protect politicians — it protects the public’s right to full, fair information. It’s time to move beyond sensationalism and toward a culture of context, evidence, and fairness.

Premier Lesufi’s administration continues to work tirelessly toward permanent solutions for water, electricity, and service delivery — not for praise, but for progress. And while selective voices may choose to overlook these efforts, history will record both the challenges and the courage it took to overcome them.

Democracy demands accountability — but accountability must rest on truth, not bias. When we tell the full story, we build trust; when we tell half, we breed despair. It’s time to choose truth over sensation, balance over bias, and progress over pessimism.

Opinion By:  Masibulele Gcilitshana