Bid to discourage negative social media comments

The government of national unity (GNU) must deal harshly with leaders who use social media to make negative comments on issues of national interest, experts say.

- Masoka Dube

The communication gurus were commenting after the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the GNU would train Cabinet members on how to use social media platforms responsibly.

Ntshavheni stated that the initiative aimed at "training the officials is expected to start in the next few weeks".

The idea of training the leaders came after recent incidents whereby some GNU ministers, deputies and senior politicians went rampant on social media, airing their views on sensitive issues, without having had all the facts of the subjects or consulted with their colleagues.

Some of the leaders accused of misusing the platform include the ANC's Fikile Mbalula, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson, DA leader Helen Zille and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie.

The experts welcomed the initiative but said it was not enough to slow down the officials from misusing social media.