Fact-Check – Did Helen Zille tweet unconditional support for Israel in 2010?

Isn't the spreading of fake news punishable by law?

I have developed a really bad taste in my mouth when hearing the term "Journalism or Journalists" over the last few years. It is possible that the type of news casts by CN and Fox developed that, but it has spread much wider. From the days that news meant reporting the facts and the back ground to more often, these days, and opinion piece. The statement in the above "Fact Check"about the colonialism remark and African Leftist media frenzy that brought on is case in point. It seems it is only in Africa that it is a "fact" that colonialism only brought misery and negative outcomes. I come from a family that lost numerous ancestors in the concentration camps, had a father that lost his career due to Jan Smuths' love affair with the royals. An interesting contrast was an interview with Indians in India. There was a rickshaw driver that answered to the question about the British rule or the colonial times - "It does not effect me - go and ask people who lived through it". The message was, colonialism cannot be blamed ton 202x conditions any longer. Only in Africa is it still an issue, and so is slavery. The African kings/chiefs/traders had nothing to do with slavery???? But both are reported as a fact. Wonder how long the "ANC Miracle" is going to be sold as the best of times!!!!

This, as mentioned is a very old story line in the soap opera that is SA politics. I can't be the only waiting for more of this weeks hot story arc in this week's episode of the Gaza Sag. My prediction: The Ghaleb Cacchalia saga is going to cause eye-rolling similar to the reaction to Little John's turnip of an election video. Who can forget him speeching, flanked by random older Black folks waving SA flags as he extolled the virtues of his saviouring capabilities for SA. To be fair, he never said anything too unfortunate - but the visuals were cringeworthy enough to feel like a prequel to the old lady who wanted to teach Black people how to wash their hands.

Fact-Check - Stop with the "Fact-Check" BS. You are not fact checkers, stop pretending that what you say is gospel. Write your story and check your facts. Trust me, I'm a doctor.

I haven't been a fan of Mrs Zille for a while but I am a fan of facts if they are available and appreciate that the misinformation has been pointed out. Whatever her position on this and other issues, what she did well can't be ignored and her current performance should be measured by current standards. In South African politics she's far from the worst. These days, we should not rule out the "least-worst" when it comes to our politicians as they may the "best-worst" for which we can hope.

So what if the real Helen Zille tweeted that? She is entitled to a view, and supporting the only democratic state in the Middle East is a pretty sensible view. I find it amazing that SA can support Russia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Iran and China amongst the other human rights abusers in the world, protect Putin and Al Bashir, refuse the Dalai Lama a VISA and basically go against everything the free world stands for and then think it knows something about foreign affairs? Whether or not you agree with Zille, at least her positions are based on facts.

I do not like "political exploitation of the press." It happens too often around the world and usually it is the cause of miss-representation according to party lines. It is a fact that politicians will miss use the press whenever they can grab the opportunity. I appreciate Daily Maverik for reporting without trying to push an opinion on it's readers. This is worth a million bucks! The fact that DM does not exclude anyone from reading the news is commendable, if you appreciate this reporting, consider a contribution, nothing is too small. (I do not work for DM. I have only come to enjoy reporting without a hidden agenda! Johan

Once again, DM, you are not fact-checkers. People believe tweets like that because media put out "Fact-checked" ( ie, trust me, I am a jorno). There are actual fact-checking professional organisations that have to fact check you. Stop pretending to be fact-checkers.