Sexualised, Silenced and Labelled Satan’ — horrific levels of online violence targeting women journalists

Prolific gendered disinformation, homophobic abuse, racist hate speech, and threats of extreme sexual violence characterise the online violence experienced by veteran South African journalists Ferial Haffajee, Pauli van Wyk, and Rebecca Davis, also Rebecca Davis, a prominent journalist, has expressed concerns about the insufficient response of law enforcement and social media platforms to the abuse female journalists endure online. This harassment is prevalent during politically charged events, with perpetrators exploiting social media platforms like Twitter/X to intimidate and threaten women in the industry. Such hostility reflects the broader context of high rates of gender-based violence in South Africa, making the situation particularly dangerous​