September 23, 2022
South Africa: Beware of Jobs Advertised By Facebook Page Jobs Updates
IN SHORT: A Facebook page lists dozens of employment opportunities across South Africa. But it's not authorised to advertise the jobs and job seekers should be careful of job scams… Read more »
September 21, 2022
South Africa: No, Photos Don't Show Zimbabweans Smuggling Medication From South Africa
IN SHORT: Photos of medication have been shared widely on social media in South Africa, with the claims the drugs were obtained under false pretences for free in South Africa to be… Read more »
September 05, 2022
South Africa: Number of Police Is Declining, but Minister Gets Figures Wrong - And What They Represent
While briefing the press on 2022's first quarter crime statistics, police minister Bheki Cele exaggerated how many police officers had left the force in the past decade. What else… Read more »
August 25, 2022
South Africa: No Publicly Available Data Supports Claim That 80% of Women Who Give Birth At South African Hospital Are Undocumented Zimbabweans
In August 2022 Phophi Ramathuba, the government's head of health in South Africa's Limpopo province, caused a stir when she was recorded confronting a Zimbabwean national for… Read more »
August 23, 2022
South Africa: Viral Home Remedy Won't Cure Your Dog's 'Cat Flu' - and Could Be Toxic
With the rising cost of living and high vet costs, pet owners are responding to a home concoction shared on social media. But they are well-advised to steer clear. Read more »
August 15, 2022
South Africa: No, South African MPs Are Generally Not Paid Less Than Their International Counterparts
While the country faced rising fuel prices and power cuts, South African members of parliament prepared to accept a salary increase. But are they really not paid more than their… Read more »
August 04, 2022
South Africa: No, Women Wearing Hijabs Not Banned From Zara Stores in France - False Claim From 2015
The Zara chain of clothing stores "just made a decision in france not to let any woman wearing hijab to their stores," begins a screenshot of a Facebook post, itself circulating on… Read more »
August 03, 2022
South Africa: Yes, Poster On Social Media Is Real - South Africa's Ruling Party Marched Against Illegal Immigrants
What appears to be a poster from South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is doing the rounds on social media, calling for a march against illegal immigrants - as well… Read more »
South Africa: Jury Still Out On How Much South Africa Loses to Corruption Every Day
An opposition party claims that South Africa loses R800 million to corruption every day. But the number can't be verified, and appears based on an older rumour - itself… Read more »
August 01, 2022
South Africa: Adolescent Mental Health in South Africa - What Do the Numbers Say?
How many adolescents have mental illness? And how many get the care they need? A South African news article's statistics may be outdated and from another country, but its message… Read more »
July 27, 2022
South Africa: Video Does Show a Street in Paris, but in 2016 and Shortly After a Police Crackdown On Migrants
A video, published on Facebook with the caption "Paris, France", shows a wide street littered with mattresses and rubbish. Read more »
South Africa: Ten Thousand U.S. Troops Set to Invade? No, Around 50 Soldiers in Country for Joint Military Exercise
Has the United States sent 10,000 troops to invade South Africa? Read more »
July 29, 2022
Africa: Are 60 Percent of South Africa's R350 Social Relief Grant Applicants Youth With a Tertiary Qualification? Not So Fast
Lindiwe Zulu, South Africa's social development minister, published draft regulations for the R350 social relief of distress grant (SRD) on 14 July 2022. They include new rules on… Read more »
July 22, 2022
South Africa: No Evidence Three Attackers in Viral South African Hijacking Video Are 'Zimbabweans' - and Incident in Klerksdorp, Not Tembisa
A video posted on Twitter on 20 July 2022 and retweeted more than 1,600 times so far shows a man next to a vehicle fighting off what seem to be three hijackers. Read more »
July 11, 2022
South Africa: No, Dubai Police Haven't Denied Arrest of Gupta Brothers Wanted in South Africa - Statement Fake
"DUBAI POLICE DENIES THE STORY ABOUT THE ARREST OF THE GUPTA BROTHERS," reads the headline of a document circulating on Facebook and Twitter since early June 2022. Read more »
July 08, 2022
South Africa: Monkeypox Does Not Spread Faster in Men Who Have Sex With Men - Virus Spreads Through Contact
A number of South Africans have claimed on social media that monkeypox - first detected in the country on 23 June 2022 - disproportionally affects men who have sex with men. But… Read more »
July 06, 2022
South Africa: Widely Shared Video Not Recent but of 2019 Blaze At South Africa's Majuba Power Station
A concerned reader asked us in July 2022 to verify if a video showing thick plumes of black smoke from what looked like a burning power station was authentic. Read more »
June 29, 2022
South Africa: No, Heart Disease in Children Has Not 'Exploded' Because of the Covid-19 Vaccine
A Facebook post published on 7 June 2022 shows a photo of the front cover of a newspaper called the Irish Light with the headline: "Heart disease in children explodes since… Read more »
June 14, 2022
South Africa: South Africa 'Most Dangerous Country in the World to Drive In'? Testing Widely Reported Claim By Driver Education Company
"Staggering" and "frustrating" were just two of the words Zutobi used to describe the country's road safety. But did its evidence make the grade? Read more »
April 11, 2022
Africa: South Africa Not Africa's 'Most Obese Country' - but Comes Close
The head of a health consultancy claimed South Africa was "the most obese country in Africa". We took a closer look at his evidence. Read more »
March 30, 2022
South Africa: No Connection Between Major Disease Outbreaks and Us Election Years
A photo of a wall painting of a woman, a cartoon speech bubble next to her, was posted on Facebook in South Africa in February 2022. Read more »
South Africa: No Evidence of 'Pupula Duplex' or 'Medical Oddity' Causing Two Irises and Pupils
A weird-looking image of a human eye with two irises and pupils was originally posted on Facebook in South Africa in August 2013 but started circulating again in March 2022. Read more »
September 12, 2013
South Africa: A Guide to Crime Statistics in South Africa - What You Need to Know
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa will release South Africa's 2012/13 national crime statistics on 19 September 2013. This guide, produced by Africa Check in cooperation with the… Read more »