Was news of Manto’s death the Hudson plane crash of South Africa? Did the passing of the controversial former minister of health mark a coming of age of Twitter in this country? While comparisons aren’t entirely neat — the landing of the plane in the river was first reported by eye witnesses, which was not the case here — the role that Twitter played in spreading the news is significant.
For one thing, it revealed, in a public forum, what usually happens behind closed doors in newsrooms: rumours of a big story, frantic efforts to check sources, conflicting reports.
I happened to log on at about 2.30 in the afternoon, to see the following tweet from Toby Shapshak, the editor of Stuff magazine: “just heard that Manto has died”.
Wow. Credible source, I thought, since he’s an employee of Avusa and presumably hangs around the newsroom at The Times from time to time. I immediately directed a question at him: how did he know? Then I went onto Facebook and made the announcement in a status update, as one does these days. Then to the news sites to search for the story. Nothing. I asked Nic Dawes, the editor the Mail & Guardian, whether he knew anything. (That’s the amazing thing about Twitter: you have direct access to so many journalists and other public figures in one forum.) “Trying to find out about Manto before saying anything rash,” he tweeted. “She was said to be stable yesterday.”
Then a journalist at Sapa reported that no, Manto was alive; her doctor had said so. Lots of confusion in the Twittersphere. Was she or wasn’t she? Or was this some strange case of Schrodinger’s Former Minister of Health?
It was The Times that scored the scoop, with a brief report noting that sources close to Tshabala-Msimang’s family reported that she had died. A few minutes later Dawes confirmed it on Twitter: “ANC confirms the death of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.”
Reaction was swift, hardly surprising when the figure in question is a woman accused in some quarters of genocide. “RIP” declared many tweets, offering condolences to the family. Others were, shall we say, less conciliatory. I was surprised by my own reaction, something akin to sadness. Perhaps it was because she featured in all three of my insult books, including the cover of the second. Nonetheless, I found myself unable to sympathise with Gareth Cliff’s reaction:
“Manto is dead,” he declared to his 23 686 followers. “Good. A selfish and wicked bungler of the lowest order. Rotten attitude and rancid livers — all 3 of them … ”
Ouch.
This story has so many dimensions. I don’t have the space or the time to address all of them in full, but one must surely comment on the role of Twitter in spreading the news and facilitating discussion. Ah, discussion. As Dawes observed of the participants some two hours after we had received the news: “You’re waging culture war. Ding dong the witch is dead — white. RIP — african.”
Some of the responses (all of them by white men — it was hard not to notice this) to Tshabalala-Msimang’s death were quite brutal. “I’m really sad, but you can’t tell because my sackcloth is at the drycleaner,” noted one tweet. “RIP Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. And in other news, Johnnie Walker sales plummet 34%” quipped another.
Ivo Vegter was especially vicious: “Joyful tidings for those on the liver transplant waiting list: maybe your government won’t murder you after all.”
One discussion in particular, between a well-known figure in the communications industry (who happens to be white) and the creative director of an ad agency (who happens to be black), got quite nasty, with suggestions of libellous and inaccurate re-tweeting. The comedian Loyiso Gola implored people to get some perspective. “People are overreacting … let us all take a step back,” he argued. “Think what day it is today.”
I believe my fellow blogger Sipho Hlongwane is addressing what appeared on Twitter this afternoon in more depth, but what stood out for me was the way African identity was conflated with respect for the dead, and a desire not to criticise. Responding to Cliff’s comment, shakasisulu declared: “He must grow up. Or grow African … I am disgusted @GarethClif to rejoice because Manto is dead.”
It was perhaps to his credit that Cliff — who has landed in hot water for being controversial before; on Twitter, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission can’t touch him — refused to back down: “Getting a lot of heat about my Manto comment earlier: It’s what I said while she was alive, and I’m not going to lie just because she’s dead.”
So, what can we make of all of this? Yes, there will be the angst over the cultural divide and the vast difference in reaction to the death of an offensively incompetent political figure; one side arguing about respect for the dead, the other retorting that truth is more important. (And yes, there are quite a few in the middle, me among them.)
But what really stands out about the news of Manto’s death is the potential of Twitter to transform the way we communicate in this country. It will not replace traditional media, because news of this nature can only be considered credible once traditional media have confirmed it (and indeed, Twitter could help to drive readers hungry for information to news sites). Twitter is not entirely user-friendly, and all too often the discussions it hosts are wrist-slittingly banal. But it’s the only forum of its kind we have: where South Africans of influence are able to debate and discuss, and ordinary citizens may also participate. Today, I was very aware as I watch my Twitter feed, of a nation in intense conversation with itself, 140 words at a time.
That all of this should happen on Reconciliation Day is strangely apt.
Interesting observations. But I’m still wondering exactly what and how Twitter adds to these debates other than speeding up dissemination of information and rumour. Did it add depth and diversity to the discussion or amplify the vitriol coming from the usual suspects? Will the 140 chars encourage restraint or do the opposite (Gareth Cliff a case in point)? And as you correctly pointed out (on Twitter!) yesterday, people will still wait for the traditional media to pronounce with the voice of authority on matters like Manto’s death.
As for ‘ordinary citizens’ having access to new media technologies, in a country like SA, a bit more realism is needed I would think.
I’m all for Twitter’s potential to create networks etc, but there is also to romanticize it at the expense of alternative public spheres elsewhere. How did tabloids report on her death, for instance? Community radio? ‘Sidewalk radio’? Or how does Twitter interact and overlap with these other media platforms (including blogs like this one)? Its strength may lie in these intersections and amplifications rather than as an isolated platform for venting.
I don’t think the cultural divide is between black and white, in this case. Not speaking ill of the dead is a superstition that is as English as tea and toast.
However, there are two issues here. One is that Twitter is more like casual conversation, and less like publishing. Even journalists tend to say things on Twitter that they probably wouldn’t publish. All the more so for the majority of users, who don’t make that distinction at all. The comments you hear on Twitter are no different from comments you would have heard in the pub or at the taxi rank.
The more important issue is that some people, because of their public profiles (or the nature of their crimes) do not evoke much sympathy. Often, they do not deserve it, either. The grave-dancing I’ve seen was mostly a response not to her person, but to her public policy positions, which many believe contributed to the unnecessary deaths of thousands and a tarnished image for South Africa. Her reported drinking even after a liver transplant at the unusually high age of 66, while 10 children also needed new livers, did nothing to make people more sympathetic towards her.
Some people will consider insensitivity when such a person dies justifiable, in this context. Others will not. Both sides have good arguments. It is unfortunate that this kind of dispute gets cast along racial lines, however. This perpetuates racial friction while obscuring the real underlying issues.
I just don’t see a point of mourning and groaning when she is gone whilst they have been quite when she was alive.
So does that mean all our rediculous MP’s will be left untouched until the day they die and we cannot tell it straight to their face shame on Cliff scumbag
Still not rid of the facebook addiction Sarah??
140 *characters* at a time.
Did you hear how another @5fm DJ, @Rob_Vemba, stuck his foot in it on air at about 15h35 yesterday? I unfollowed all the 5fm DJs I was following after yesterday. They’re insensitive and have huge egos. Even bigger than mine. That’s big.
I had it off Reuters by 15:10, She only died after 10:00.
Sorry, she only died after 15:00
@Herman: You make valid points. Twitter is a useful addition to other media rather than a replacement. Nonetheless, what marks it out as different is a) the fact that those participating in the debate are from a variety of media sources (how often do you get 5FM DJs and newspaper editors in the same forum?). This is rare in SA, where other fora are hosted by a particular media owner. Also, participants do reflect a fairly broad variety of backgrounds. Importantly, Twitter is very easy to use on a cellphone, which gives it huge potential in a country where access to PCs is limited.
Ivo Vegter:
“I don’t think the cultural divide is between black and white, in this case. Not speaking ill of the dead is a superstition that is as English as tea and toast”
It is not about a cultural divide at all. (English culture also seems entirely irrelevant to the debate, surely? And if it were relevant, then my conclusion about this would be quite different from yours. The milk of human kindness does not run deep in the UK media.)
Most cultures have death taboos. Yet the deaths of Mussolini, Ceaucescu and Verwoerd could be celebrated.
This outrage is entirely about race and “people like us”, not about taboos. The deaths of 300,000 people pale into insignificance against the wrong person saying the wrong thing about someone he isn’t entitled to criticise.
Nobody walked around with a sad face when Hitler died and tried to say nice things about him. And I’ll not be wearing a gloomy face when Mugabe goes.
Nothing in her life became her like her leaving it.
(A bit of “English culture”.)
The former Minister of Health and the Former President both saved the Country from Colonisation through AIDS Drugs. It helped Africa and the poor countries as the Sellers tried to make us feel guilty about not procuring at their inflated prices.Mbeki was bold in that he took both groups for and against AIDS and said they must do their arguments for and against HIV causing AIDS then come and presnt their cases. That was a first.
Manto and the Fruits/Herbs/Vegetables I supported a lot as we grew using those for a number of treatments for ailments. People are not even aware of the Herbal Research Labs in our Country by Dr Matsabisa (MRC) that infact provided Mantos basis for her arguments.I salute her. That was a lot.