14 April 2024, IOL
While MMA director William Bird swiftly defended Maughan, questions arise regarding Bird’s selective advocacy, particularly in cases involving female journalists like Adri Senekal de Wet, who faced severe criticism without similar support from Bird or MMA.
Moreover, Bird’s silence on matters concerning Independent Media journalists, amid attacks from other outlets like News24 and Daily Maverick, raises further doubts about MMA’s impartiality.
The case of Thabo Makwakwa, an investigative journalist at Independent Media, adds to these concerns. Makwakwa’s efforts to shed light on sensitive government matters were met with silence from Bird, prompting speculation about MMA’s objectivity and potential affiliations with certain media funders.