When Journalism Becomes a Target for Harassment: A Doxxing Case in South Africa.

In October 2026, an incident took place in South Africa that clearly demonstrated how personal information can be turned into a weapon against someone simply for doing their job.
Khaya Koko, a journalist with the investigative news outlet News24, was preparing a story about the activities of the March and March movement and its leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma. The investigation focused on questions surrounding government contracts linked to her and her husband. In accordance with journalistic standards, Koko contacted the movement's leader for comment, giving her an opportunity to respond to the questions raised.
However, instead of providing a conventional response, Ngobese-Zuma posted a screenshot of her correspondence with the journalist on her Facebook page. His personal phone number was visible in the image. The post included accusations against the journalist and sparked a strong reaction among her followers.
The consequences were serious. According to News24 and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Koko received more than a hundred phone calls and numerous abusive messages, including death threats. Some users even suggested creating a group chat to unite against the journalist and "teach him a lesson."
News24's editorial team sent the movement's leader a formal legal demand to remove the post, issue an apology, and stop distributing the journalist's and his family's personal information. The phone number was subsequently obscured in the screenshot, but the post itself remained accessible. At the time CPJ published its statement, the journalist had not received an apology.
The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the incident. They emphasized that exposing a journalist's personal information for carrying out professional duties is not simply a social media dispute, but a form of intimidation that threatens press freedom.
This case shows how thin the line can be between public criticism and organized harassment. A person asking uncomfortable questions should not become a target for hundreds of strangers. It is particularly dangerous when an influential user effectively hands personal information to their audience while accompanying it with emotionally charged accusations. In such circumstances, a post becomes a kind of signal to take action.
If you have experienced doxxing and are unsure what to do, you can seek free informational support from StopDox Foundation. The foundation helps people understand their situation, identify possible next steps, and find appropriate ways to report the publication of personal information and request its removal. The website also provides practical guides and advice for victims.
And perhaps the most disturbing part of this story is not even the number of calls, but how easily people can mistake someone else's phone number for an invitation to take revenge. The internet gives everyone the freedom to express an opinion, but it does not give anyone the right to harass another person.