By Sipho Tshabalala
Naspers, initially named Die Nasionale Pers Beperk was founded in 1915 by wealthy Afrikaners to promote Afrikaner nationalism, criticise British imperialism, and scapegoat black workers for the economic woes of white South Africans.
Naspers’ first newspaper, Die Burger, was edited by D.F. Malan, who later became the Prime Minister of South Africa. In 1948, the National Party (NP) won the general election and officially instituted apartheid, a system of racial segregation and discrimination. Malan played a pivotal role in this victory, using Naspers’ newspapers to promote apartheid policies that further marginalized and oppressed black South Africans.
To oversee the apartheid project, Malan appointed Hendrik Verwoerd, a former editor of Naspers’ Die Transvaler, as Minister of Native Affairs. Verwoerd, known as the “architect of apartheid”, devised policies that institutionalized racial segregation and economic exclusion of black South Africans. For example, the Population Registration Act of 1950 classified all South Africans into racial categories, leading to forced removals for black, coloured, and Indian people from areas designated for whites. Verwoerd also ensured that black children received the poorest education through the Bantu Education Act of 1954, which governed their schooling and limited their opportunities.
Verwoerd became Prime Minister in 1958 and continued to enforce and expand apartheid policies until his assassination in 1966.
Naspers’ newspapers were mouthpieces for the apartheid regime, justifying its brutal policies and covering up atrocities. One notable example is the death of Steve Biko, founder of the Black Consciousness Movement. In 1977, Biko was murdered by apartheid police while in detention. Naspers’ Die Burger falsely reported his death as a suicide and defended the police against accusations of torture and murder. This was not an isolated incident; numerous political prisoners were tortured, killed, and had their deaths covered up by Naspers publications.
Naspers’ media coined the term “Swart Gevaar” (Black Danger) to instil fear and portray black South Africans as a threat to social order. On June 16, 1976, approximately 20,000 black students protested the government’s decision to enforce Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools. The police responded with lethal force, killing an estimated 176 students, including 12-year-old Hector Pieterson. Naspers’ newspapers downplayed the massacre, focusing instead on the deaths of two white people and painting the students as violent mobs.
Naspers’ relationship with the NP was symbiotic. The company funded NP election campaigns, with managing director Ton Vosloo donating significant amounts in the 1987 and 1989 elections. Vosloo assured NP leader F.W. de Klerk that their newspaper Beeld was an ally in maintaining political dominance. The NP, in turn, granted Naspers lucrative contracts, including textbook publishing for the racially segregated education system. White children received a high-quality education, while black children were subjected to Bantu Education, designed to prepare them for menial jobs. Naspers also benefited from exclusive advertising contracts, ensuring the continued growth of their propaganda machine.
In the late 1980s, Naspers ventured into pay television, lobbying the apartheid government for exclusive licenses. This led to the establishment of M-Net, then Multichoice, a highly successful commercial TV service in which Naspers held a significant stake. Koos Bekker’s journey with Naspers began through its partnership with M-Net. Bekker’s wealth is marred by the historical context of Naspers, which served as a propaganda machine during the apartheid era.
Bekker has gone on to become one of the richest men in the world, with his wealth built on the backs of millions of South Africans who suffered during apartheid.
Bekker’s father, Cornelius Jansen Bekker, was one of the first civilians recruited by the Bureau of State Security (BOSS), which organized assassinations and torture. Koos Bekker, an apartheid prosecutor and Chairman of Naspers (News24), is part of this legacy of oppression.
In the modern era, Naspers’ legacy continues through its digital media arm, Media24, which includes the popular news platform News24. Despite the end of apartheid, News24 has faced criticism for perpetuating negative stereotypes about black people. Instances of bias reporting and sensationalism often frame black individuals in a negative light, echoing the harmful narratives propagated during the apartheid era. News24 has had to close responses to their articles because their supporters are openly racist, which shows that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
News24 has been accused of overemphasising crime stories involving black suspects while downplaying or ignoring similar stories involving white individuals. This skewed reporting perpetuates stereotypes and contributes to ongoing racial tensions. Additionally, the platform has been criticized for its portrayal of black communities as inherently violent and troubled, reinforcing long-standing prejudices.
Naspers’ history is a stark reminder of the power of media in shaping public perception and policy. Through its newspapers and editors-turned-politicians, Naspers played a pivotal role in promoting and sustaining apartheid. Naspers’ eventual apology in 2015 does little to erase the pain and suffering inflicted on black South Africans because the legacy of biased reporting continues. There is a need for reform in media representation.
* Sipho Tshabalala is an independent writer and contributor.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.