To those who criticize the “mainstream media”—ironically, even those who do so in our letters section—we say again: You’ll miss us when we’re gone.
Once the trained gatekeepers of traditional journalism fade away, what will remain is a social media landscape overrun by misinformation, fake news, and hate speech—where the worst of human behavior rises to the surface.
That’s why, while we uphold the right to free speech and are uneasy when a government official appears to restrict it, we agree with Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Letsike. She has rightly called for podcaster MacG—real name Koteli Macgyver Mukwevho—to be summoned to parliament to account for his offensive remarks about TV host and actress Minnie Dlamini.
Letsike is correct in stating that such degrading commentary crosses the line of free speech and constitutes “online gender-based violence.”
Countless women endure verbal abuse from misogynistic figures like MacG on social media daily. These verbal attacks often escalate into physical harm, making it crucial to hold such individuals accountable and ensure consequences for their actions.