By Staff Reporter
"You need to be reined in a bit. For God's sake," wrote Hangwani Mutondwana in a letter addressed to the Limpopo Mirror and Zoutpansberger's news editors on Sunday. He appeared upset about the way the two newspapers have been covering the Musina Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) development.
Mutondwana did not include his designation or contact details in his email, but his email address is linked to his LinkedIn profile. According to the profile, he currently works as a mining manager at Vedanta Zinc International (VZI). He claims to have previously worked as the mining manager for Venetia Mine.
VZI, with its headquarters in Johannesburg, is a group of zinc assets located in South Africa, Namibia, and Ireland, owned by India-based Vedanta Limited. It is unclear how Mutondwana is connected to the MMSEZ. A letter addressed to VZI asking them to confirm that Mutondwana is indeed working for the company went unanswered.
"Every article you (Anton) write on the MMSEZ is antagonistic and disparaging. It's getting weird," Mutondwana wrote. He was referring to Limpopo Mirror's editor, Anton van Zyl (who ironically last wrote about the MMSEZ in May 2020).
Mutondwana did not respond to an invitation to explain why he would be aggrieved by any of the articles published. He also declined to expand on the exact measures he intends to take to "rein in" the reporters. "You've been writing so much negativity that you've become paranoid," he accused in a second letter received on Monday morning.
Two weeks ago, Limpopo Mirror and Zoutpansberger published an article on the public outcry that followed reports revealing that permission had been granted to the developers of the MMSEZ to destroy thousands of protected trees. The list of protected trees includes baobab, marula, Shepherd's, and leadwood trees. Similar articles appeared in the national media, and the issue was also raised in several television programmes.
"I am a civilian with an interest in the industrialisation of this country. The SEZs, many of which have been proposed across the country, are part of a plan to industrialise and create employment to address unemployment and poverty, and by extension, the rampant crime. I have never seen you write an article offering solutions—only stumbling blocks to development," wrote Mutondwana.
Anton van Zyl, who is also the manager of the media company, responded by saying that people like Mr Mutondwana had numerous ways to air their views, and it was unnecessary to resort to threats, such as claiming that journalists would be "reined in." "Given the history of our country, such statements are irresponsible and an attack on our Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech," he said.
Van Zyl invited readers to submit letters in which they express their opinions, even if these are controversial. "A free flow of ideas is extremely important, but it needs to be accompanied by respect. Personal attacks on journalists will not be tolerated. Address the issues," he said.