Freedom of expression not freedom from responsibility :: Mmegi Online

South Africa’s use of social media to expose crime and demand accountability stands in stark contrast to Botswana’s recent drift towards online hostility, misinformation and personal attacks. The divergence highlights a crisis in local citizen journalism and the urgent need to restore ethical, verified public discourse as the country enters 2026 - writes THOMAS THOS NKHOMA*

As South Africans wound down the year in December, an uncomfortable but revealing pattern emerged from their cities. A young man was caught on a cellphone camera snatching a phone from a young woman before darting into a getaway car.

In another incident, a group of unruly individuals were filmed assaulting a security guard whose only “crime” was asking them to move a poorly parked vehicle. These were not isolated events. Phone snatching, petty violence and everyday lawlessness have increasingly become part of urban life in South Africa.

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