News Channels Unprepared As Zuma Unexpectedly Appoints a New, New Minister of Finance

With the extremely unexpected news this past Sunday of Pravin Gordhan replacing the new Minister of Finance, South African news channels showed their lack of staff on a Sunday to cover the breaking news.

When the news broke, eNCA did what they do with all their major breaking news stories: move the anchor over to the side of the studio used for News Night. eNCA had Thulasizwe Similane Skypping live from the highly unexpected presser and displaying eNCA's depth of talent at a time when news channels are understaffed at the weekend. However, soon they were back to their standard format, sports news and all.
Instead of going to a taped show at 10:30pm, eNCA added another live news bulletin to the schedule which included the first interview with DA leader Mmusi Maimane.

SABC news Channel had a reporter live from the event. However, not too long after the announcement, the channel was back to doing what they seem to do most days, showing social events, this time the NAFCOC dinner.

ANN7 has all sort of weird characters anchoring on the channel on the weekends, like prospective actors and celebrities and reality stars. So, at 10:20pm, ANN7 did something I have never seen before in all of my years of watching live news: they had a show anchored BY TELEPHONE when ANN7 Assignment's Editor,Cecilia Russel, replaced the highly inexperienced weekend anchor to anchor the channel's coverage of the breaking news. Her first guest was ANN7's new business editor, Stevie B, who was also on the phone, mind you. I do not like the sound of one person on a news broadcast speaking on the telephone, but to have both people on the screen doing a call in just does not sound nice.

Though the news channels showed strain with their lack of staff on a Sunday night for this kind of news, the business news channels were even worse. In fact, Business Day TV remained offline whilst CNBC Africa continued with their taped content, not even putting an on screen advisory on the screen.

Mid Term Budget Coverage Amid Student Protests

The SABC News Channel,  which has dedicated much less airtime to the student protests compared to the other news channels, covered the middterm budget from parliament as if there was no other big news happening in the country at the same time. Business anchor, Francis Herd, anchored coverage from the SABC's studio at parliament. Having a business news anchor and not a general news anchor at parliament also indicates the channel had no intention of shifting away from budget coverage to protest coverage. However, Francis did briefly mention the protests.  The SABC's budget buildup and coverage was simulcast on SABC3 from the 1pm hour, then SABC2 for the next 2 hours.

When it became clear that the happenings outside parliament would be affecting what goes on inside, the SABC decided to add a bit more focus to what was going on outside.

ANN7 showed scenes of student protesters outside parliament

On ANN7, it was as if the Midterm Budget speech was just another location of protests, i.e. only covering parliament from perspective of protesting students and not Minister Nene's speech. They continued with wall to wall coverage of the protests throughout the day. Kevin Brandt was situated outside parliament. The channel went live to parliament at 2pm, with no actual buildup to the speech. They added a video box with scenes outside parliament at about 2:20pm.

eNCA tried to find a common ground, covering the budget speech as normal as possible, with Andrew Barnes at parliament as usual, but not in the usual glass studio they have. He was instead among the protestors getting an on the ground feeling among the protestors. Throughout coverage of the proceedings, eNCA had a video box on screen showing live pictures from outside parliament.

CNBC Africa's prebudget panel

CNBC Africa covered the budget speech live, hosting both a preview and review panel on each side of the speech.

Like last year, Business Day TV did not provide any live coverage of the Mid Term Budget Speech.

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At 2:43pm, Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, finally [tried to] started speaking on the budget, but this was followed by a "fees must fall" chant.

2:47pm: The EFF's Ministers in Parliament were escorted out of the National Assembly

2:47pm Students have broken through the entrance of parliament. eNCA's Lester Kiewit is only reporter live on the scene covering this

2:49 Minister Nene continues speech. eNCA shows Minister in small block while allowing the scenes  outside parliament to play out with full audio.

SABC News split screen of Minister Nene and student protestors

2:53 Stun grenades go off outside parliament as Minister continues to speak
SABC News goes split screen with Minister in parliament. ANN7 completely removes small video box from happenings outside parliament


3:07pm Not one local news channel (except CNBC Africa) is providing major coverage of the midterm budget speech anymore

2:55 ANN7 Cut away from budget speech completely, covering protests outside instead. Kevin Brandt is calling in

3:02pm Andrew barnes notes he has never seen this big of a crowd attracted to a midterm budget speech.

3:10pm Gates of parliament are closed with students now locked out

Business anchor, Francis Herd, has been taken off the air of the SABC News Channel with their coverage being shifted to their studio in Johannesburg, anchored by Anita
Nomawethu Solwandle is reporting live via phone on SABC News Channel

3:31pm eNCA becomes first major news channel to return to proceedings in parliament
3:34pm Minister Nene finishes his speech, which was barely seen by viewers other than those wathcing on CNBC Africa. MP's are advised to go to their offices after parliament session ends until they advised to 'leave safely'

3:35pm MMusi Maimane requests the President and Minister Nzimande go address the people outside

3:36pm House adjurns fo the day (I have no idea what was said in the budget speech)

After budget speech, SABC News Channel tries to do classical post budget tradition of getting reaction from Ministers in Parliament, and CNBC Africa is analysing the budget.
eNCA and ANN7 focusing solely on the riots.

News Channels Cover Mid Term Budget Speech

All South African news channels, with the exception of Business Day TV, carried Nhlanhla Nene's first Mid Term Budget Speech live.

eNCA had business anchor Arabile Gumede stationed in a studio at parliament from where he had a panel breaking down and analysing the budget speech while reporter Paula Chowles provided on the ground reaction from various oposition party members and also ANC members. Notably absent from coverage is senior anchor Andrew Barnes, who is based in Cape Town and usually anchors News Day during those hours. eNCA was the first channel to dip out of rolling cverage at 3:30pm, with analysis to follow during news bulletins throughout the rest of the day. Arabile is also slated to talk to the Minister of Finance during the 4pm hour.

ANN7 Mid Term Budget Panel

ANN7 had breakfast anchor Peter van Onselen co-anchoring with the new primetime business anchor from the Johannesburg studios with one analst in studio. Peter did most of the anchoring despite it being an anchoring duo. They provided mainly analysis of the budget and had the minimum amount of live on the ground coverage from parliament.

SABC News Mid Term Budget Panel

On SABC News, the lunchtime news team (which is a business-centric news bulletin in any case) provided live on the ground coverage from parliament in what I must say is the best studio at parliament: there is decent lighting, decent space and a decent view. They were joined by various in studio analysts and also had a few reporters on the ground getting reaction from MP's as they leave parliament (and look for reports as some of them appeared on all three news channels). Their coverage was also simulcast on SABC2.

CNBC Africa also hosted a budget panel from their studio in Johannesburg.