If we can learn anything from the immediacy of social media it’s that hashtags can be thrown together and hysteria sown long before anyone is privy to information that actually matters.

Yesterday saw news break of a South African actress arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after returning from Abu Dhabi. The mystery woman was carrying 15,4 kilograms of ephedrine, enough to set Twitter ablaze as #guesstheactress and #drugbust led to some real name-calling.

Coming under fire was Stevie French, the actress eventually forced to tweet a picture of her poolside in Dubai to prove her innocence. 2oceansvibe Radio’s Bailey Schneider then managed to get hold of Stevie to find out what it was like to be on the other side of the witch-hunt, an interview you can listen to HERE.

Now finally all the rumour-mongering can be put to bed as the accused has appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court. And let’s be clear, calling Mmatjatji Malatji an actress is like calling Bismarck du Plessis a doctor because he grew up in the same house as Jannie. Here’s eNCA:

Her case was called first and lasted just a few minutes as the prosecutor read out details about her travel and arrest…

Initial reports suggested that the woman was a celebrity who’d appeared on local hit soapies. However, SAPS spokesperson, Vish Naidoo, put an end to that speculation when he told eNCA on Monday she was not a famous actress, but had merely played a part as an extra.

The case has been postponed to 7 October 2015 for a formal bail application.

Malatji remains in custody…

Actresses around the country breathe a sigh of relief.

[source:enca]