Sticks and stones may break my bones …

After posting our April Fool’s joke article on our website, as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages, I received a startling phone call from a very angry reader.

This reader verbally assaulted me over the telephone about the article.

I remained calm while this man ripped me apart, calling me all sorts of names, swearing at me and ultimately telling me to check myself into a mental institution.

I was beyond shocked. I was deeply hurt and sick to my stomach.

The man did not give me a chance to respond or perhaps I was just too shocked to speak.

But, after thinking about it a lot over this past Easter weekend, I would like to say the following to him:

1. You do not have the right to speak to me the way you did.

2. I too can call you disgusting names, swear and curse at you and tell you to never procreate … but I am a Christian woman and all I can really do is pray for you, and

3. I feel very sorry for you since you are dwelling on the past and you will never receive the closure you need if you continue to attack people the way that you do

We as the Krugersdorp News team did nothing wrong and it has never crossed my mind that our April Fool’s joke article will hurt anyone … it was merely meant as a joke.

However, I need to thank my wonderful team for standing by me, for comforting me and helping me realise that my role as an editor not only comes with great responsibility, but also with tremendous joy.

Also, thank you to my community who also stood up for us after we posted an apology on Facebook. We really do value our readers and will always respect their wishes.

Thank you.

* The article was removed minutes after the caller ended his onslaught.