On Monday, we published a story about the passing of Traditional Leader Vuyisile Elliot Nelani, known as the Chief of the abeNguni in the Tlokoeng and Matatiele areas. As The Informer, it is our responsibility to report on local events and developments that matter to our communities — and this was one such story.
Unfortunately, the article attracted an unexpected and, quite frankly, disturbing level of backlash — not in the form of constructive criticism, which we welcome, but in the form of direct insults, vulgar language, and personal attacks against our media house.
Let us be clear: we respect our audience, and we appreciate being held accountable through constructive criticism. However, we will never accept being verbally abused or insulted. No one — no matter how passionate — has the right to hurl vulgarities at our team for doing our job.
Secondly, it’s important to clarify that The Informer does not appoint or recognize traditional leaders. We have neither the authority nor the mandate to do so. That responsibility lies with government institutions and the subjects of the traditional community involved.
It was surprising — and disappointing — to see some individuals, whom we believed to be mature and educated, join in on the attacks. Instead of helping to steer the conversation towards the appropriate channels, they defended the hostility by calling it “constructive criticism.” Whether or not one agrees with the article, attacking the messenger instead of addressing the actual source of their concern is both misguided and unfair.
To be specific, the issue of chieftainship was handled by Premier Oscar Mabuyane, who issued the certificate to the late Chief Nelani. According to our interview with the Premier, he was compelled by the courts to do so. Those who oppose the decision should direct their concerns to the Premier or the judicial system — not to us for reporting on the matter.
In this case, it’s clear: you are barking up the wrong tree.
Finally, we want to make one thing absolutely clear — we are not desperate for followers. If anyone believes that following us gives them the right to insult others and behave in a barbaric manner, we urge them to unfollow us. We would rather have five respectful, engaged followers than thousands who cannot engage in civil discourse.
We remain committed to reporting local news with integrity, fairness, and respect. That includes telling the stories that matter — even when they’re controversial.
Thank you to those who continue to support us and value responsible journalism.
— The Informer
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