I believe sharing information can assist in preventing crime and can even lead to arrests.
However, caution should be applied when we share information on the numerous social media platforms available.
Most people today are part of online communities, where residents discuss crime and service delivery concerns.
The main benefit of these platforms need no explanation. It is simple – knowledge is power.
Wednesday night’s shooting in Bedfordview, where a 39-year-old father and husband was shot and killed, resulted in an irresponsible person sharing detailed information about the deceased in a post on the Basically Bedfordview Facebook page.
Any relative or acquaintance of the deceased would have been able to identify the deceased through the information posted by this person. Fortunately, this was quickly deleted by the page administrators.
But why is this a problem?
The deceased’s family, including his wife who was still phoning his cellular phone while his body was lying on the side of the road at the corner of Concorde and Arbroath roads, had not yet been informed about his death.
Would you like to be informed of your spouse’s death on Facebook?
I was shocked and appalled. I asked myself why this online behaviour seems to increase by the day?
Speculation, rumour and unconfirmed information shared on social media is also a concern.
A Facebook page for Edenvale residents recently announced, in a post, that suspects were arrested for the murder of the Sandringham police officers gunned down on the N3 South highway at the Modderfontein off-ramp on March 29.
The Bedfordview and Edenvale News (www.bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za) confirmed this information to be false on the same day the incorrect information was posted publically.
The suspects were only arrested about three or four days later. In other words, at the time of the public post which gave incorrect information, SAPS members were probably at a crucial point of investigations and planning the arrests.
Who is to say police officers were not forced to carry out these arrests earlier than intended due to the public post giving false information?
Who is to say this public post did not jeopardise the arrest of more suspects?
But we will never know, as we, the civilians do not sit in on joint crime intelligence meetings.
This behaviour also reared its ugly head with the xenophobia attacks, when SMS messages, announcing that orchestrated attacks will be carried out by people who will arrive by bus and train in Johannesburg, were circulated throughout South Africa.
The SAPS quickly expressed its aggravation with this.
I have sympathy for those who wish to be responsible, online community managers. These people have to monitor and manage an online audience consisting of members who seem to only aim for “shares”, “likes” and retweets.
Fortunately for me, I manage qualified journalists who follow and adhere to a code of ethics.
For responsible reporting of current local issues, stay on this website, visit the Joburg East EXPRESS website and like our Facebook pages.
You can also follow the news team on Twitter at these accounts:
Bedfordview and Edenvale News @BedfordEdenvale
Joburg East Express @JoziReporter
Charmaine Slater @EdenvaleJourno
Duenna Mambana @Duenna_M
Buli Sonqishe @JoburgJourno
Marietta Lombard @ABinJozi
