We've come a long way, but are we truly free?

What is freedom if truth can’t move freely? What is democracy if storytellers live in fear, or worse, disappear without a trace?

- NAHMLA MONAKALI

As a journalist, I understand both the power and the price of truth. I've seen how communities open up when someone truly listens, and how quickly fear can shut that down.

With World Press Freedom Day commemorated on 3 May, I've been reflecting deeply on what media freedom really means in South Africa today. We've come a long way, but are we truly free?

In 1994, our country turned the page on a dark chapter of state controlled media and silenced voices. Our Constitution gave birth to a bold vision of freedom of expression, protected not just for journalists, but for every citizen. The press was meant to be a bridge between people and power, a watchdog for democracy. But rights on paper don’t always reflect the reality on the ground.

Today, threats to media freedom don’t always come dressed in uniform. They arrive masked, as crime, intimidation, digital manipulation, and economic pressure. Community journalists are particularly vulnerable. Often, the newsroom isn’t four walls, it’s a backpack, a microphone, and the courage to ask the hard questions others won't. Sometimes, that courage costs lives.