Twitter War About SARS - Rogue Or Right?

It all began with two tweets that Noseweek Editor Martin Welz posted to announce the arrival of the magazine's December issue.

Then Jacques Pauw, one of the journalists mentioned in the punted Noseweek article, immediately responded on Twitter, launching a twitter war (twar) that had thousands of tweeps on the edge of their seats:

Welz: “As top #SARS officials face charges, #Noseweek takes another look at the secret world of Johann van Loggerenberg (JvL) and his friends in the media – a world of intrigue and subterfuge that is generally, but not always, in a good cause http://bit.ly/ SpooksGalore” and “When Muzi Sikhakhane SC was appointed to investigate allegations involving top SARS investigator Johann van Loggerenberg, he soon realised he was dealing with veteran spooks not slow to trot out testimony that was ‘selfserving, false and irrelevant’.”

Pauw: Why does one journalist try to expose the sources of another? Jealousy? Another Noseweek story riddled with mistakes. No, I didn’t expose [Julius] Malema’s trust with Adriaan Basson. It was Piet Rampedi. And no, he didn’t win the CNN award. And no, [Pravin] Gordhan did not write my book. And no....

“Lucy Lastic” : Well, Marty lad? How plead you?

Welz: Not guilty on all counts, Milady. Read the Noseweek story then check Jacques’s criticisms. None stand up. The real question is: why the hysteria? Am I to be damned a heretic if I say Van Loggerenberg was no saint – although I do thank him and Gordhan for finally nailing Zuma?

Pauw: Just to make it clear: the [earlier] Ratanang story was written by Adriaan Basson and Piet Rampedi. I am dumbfounded by Noseweek’s continuous attack on Van Loggerenberg. They didn’t bother to ask either JvL nor me or Basson for comment.