Bonang Matheba has had enough—and she’s not keeping quiet about it. The South African media mogul took to social media to vent her frustration over the relentless flood of calls from telemarketers, sparking a widespread conversation among South Africans who are equally fed up with the growing annoyance of unsolicited sales calls.
In a brief but pointed tweet, Bonang, known for her bold and unapologetic personality, shared her exasperation: “Another topic we need to tackle is the topic of telemarketers. Haikhona.” Her comment quickly resonated with many of her followers, who flooded the thread with their own experiences and shared their grievances about the invasive nature of these calls.
For Bonang, as it appears from her X post, it’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a full-on intrusion. Telemarketing calls, which have become a persistent part of everyday life, seem to be a growing irritant in South Africa, where many people feel their privacy is being trampled by companies trying to sell everything from insurance to gym memberships.
The reactions were swift and unanimous. Many South Africans voiced their irritation, with some even likening the practice of telemarketing to harassment. “That is not even a topic; that’s terrorism,” tweeted Tshego_Bane, echoing the sentiments of those who refuse to answer calls from unknown numbers anymore. “I don’t even answer unknown calls anymore,” they added.
LeboneMphahlele, another Twitter user, expressed frustration with the persistent nature of these calls. “Right now, even when you block the number, it still goes through,” they complained. “Whoever is selling our details, though.” It’s a sentiment shared by many who are concerned that their personal data is being sold or leaked without their consent, fueling a sense of violation and helplessness.
Perhaps the most concerning revelation came from Ladyormisstoyou, who shared that telemarketers had begun calling her 12-year-old. “Now they’re calling my 12-year-old; it doesn’t matter how many times you block them. It feels like harassment,” they said. This highlights the distressing trend of unsolicited calls reaching vulnerable members of society, further exacerbating the feeling of intrusion.
Despite the backlash, a few netizens did offer a more sympathetic view towards the telemarketers themselves. “Very annoying, but I understand they are doing their job,” wrote Vanessa_KN2, offering a more measured perspective. It’s a point that many others agreed with, acknowledging that telemarketers are simply trying to meet sales targets in a tough job market.
