Kim Kardashian’s done it. Snoop’s done it, now ladies & gentlemen, the ANC & DA are taking over our TV screens. Rejoice. Tell a friend. Start a parody twitter account. Yup, the top two parties have bigger budgets than we thought but unfortunately, there won’t be an MTV Cribs-style episode of Top Shayela on Nkandla. For now, you can only expect to see Helen or Jacob’s mug on your TV screen the next time you tune into your favourite stories. It’s another reason to turn ad breaks into pee breaks. We’re not #lookingforwardto that Helen. That’s NOT how you move South Africa Forward, Jacob.
In October 2008, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) allowed political advertising to be televised for the first time ever, prompting the DA, ANC & COPE to take advantage ahead of the 2009 elections. This year, the small group of political party TV advertisers is likely to remain small. Due to the considerable budgets required for TV advertising, the EFF – everyone’s favourite new kid – is unlikely to be able to release one while Agang SA’s multi-millionaire leader may be forced to break into her piggy bank to get her party some much-needed attention. On Tuesday morning in Bekkersdal, the DA released “Enough”, the latest in a series of TV ads the party has released for the 2014 elections. We feel the same way: when is campaigning based on Nkandla going to be, er, enough Mmusi? The ANC, always the first to get things going, released their own TV ad campaign earlier this year & because we love seeing local stories on SA television so much, the #LiveVIPZA team are excited to review THE DA & ANC’s elections 2014 TV ads for you. Enjoy.
The DA Tape
Rofhiwa Maneta – VIP VOICE Campaign Content Manager
Helen Zille is obsessed with black. At the beginning of this ad, she’s holding up a big ass book (guess what colour the book is). What follows is a series of shots featuring Zille either interacting with some black dudes or helping them solve some problem. The implicit message is that the DA is a party concerned with “black problems” (whatever that means). It’s kind of like the white dude who goes around the club ordering drinks for all the black people in a bid to remind them that he’s not racist. Someone tell Mam’ Helen to chill. We know you’re not racist. We get it!
Lee Molefi – VIP Campaign Content Editor
Thapelo Mosioua – VIP Campaign Social Media Manager
She dedicated her life to fighting apartheid as a teenager? When was that, 1890? She should’ve dedicated her life to maintaining her botox!
The ANC Tape
Lee Molefi – VIP Campaign Content Editor
Together we move South Africa to 2006. The ANC’s ad is largely retrospective, selective in its analysis of SA’s last twenty years & the best thing about it is that Jacob Zuma doesn’t feature. Great production value – well done to the production crew. Does COPE have an ad? I heard Lekgotla have a cool picture album.
Thapelo Mosioua – VIP Campaign Social Media Manager
The ANC leverage the past as much as they can. I’m surprised they didn’t pulled out the Mandela card ala Dr Mamphela Ramphele.
So there you have it, plenty of politicians on TV while we wait for The Real Housewives of Parliament & keep our fingers crossed for an MTV Cribs episode on Nkandla.
In the meantime, follow me like you follow your french girls @leemolefi
The story of #Elections2014 continues. Stick with #LiveVIPZA and we’ll give you analysis, debates, comments, polls and all you need to make it through the all-important task of VOTING during the 2014 elections.
Check out our latest content on our VIP mini-site livevip.co.za and YouTube channel, Like our dedicated Facebook page Facebook/LiveVIPZA, join the discussion on Twitter #livevipza or join our Twibbon campaign.
