A lot has been said about the late Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, but among the comments ? both positive and negative ? Gareth Cliff's Twitter post has received a huge chunk of media attention.

Facts on the table: I believe Manto contributed to the steady decline of the health care system in South Africa, despite what her former deputy minister had to say. And I firmly believe that Manto's backwards policies surrounding the roll-out of ARVs contributed to the deaths of thousands of South Africans. And don't even get me started on garlic.

So it may come as no surprise to most readers to see that I do not see what Cliff needs to apologise for.

For those of you that missed it, 5fm "shock-jock" Cliff posted a message on his Twitter page reading, "Manto is dead. Good. A selfish and wicked bungler of the lowest order. Rotten attitude and rancid livers -all three of them." And suddenly, people are calling for his head, saying we must "respect the dead" and "mourn" Manto.

That's utter tripe.

One must remember that Manto was a regular target for Cliff while she was alive. Not because of some inherently racist claptrap, but because, in his eyes, she really was incompetent, selfish and negligent. And because she finally turned up her toes and died, we're supposed to elevate her to the status of 'saint'? Pah.

As a popular South African personality, obviously the things that Cliff says will draw widespread attention. But honestly, he is saying what so many people are thinking anyway ? and isn't that part of his job? Saying the things that we're too scared to say in public? Goodness knows most of us have voiced similar sentiments to our partners, friends and pets.

I get that some of the things that are being said at the moment will be extremely hurtful to Manto's family at this stage of the grieving process. I should know. I've been in that place recently. And I really do feel for her family at this time.

But if you insist on living life in the public eye (as well as make some spectacularly bad decisions) ? as Manto did ? then you and your family must be prepared to take whatever criticisms come in your direction. Dying doesn't suddenly excuse all of your past errors ? especially when you're in government.

And Cliff, as one of the more intelligent personalities on radio, gets this. For all the negative things that people may say about him, he is exceptionally focused on his causes. You need a strong personality on radio, otherwise what distinguishes you from the simpering idiots on other stations across the country? Cliff doesn't back down, he sticks to his guns, and I respect him all the more for that.

The people that are calling for 5fm to "fire his ass" must bear in mind that his comment was posted on his private Twitter account. Obviously there will be a direct link back to 5fm because of who he is and what he does for a living, but Twitter is a personal avenue of communication, although it does blur the line between the private and the public. But if he had posted this on his Facebook page, it wouldn't have changed his sentiments.

I do not believe that 5fm has anything to do with this ? and in fact, they're probably smiling as more listeners tune in to hear what Gareth has to say in the mornings. So yes, they might publicly "disapprove", but they're probably high-fiving in the boardroom as they watch their ratings climb.