August 23, 2023
South Africa: Is Poverty On the Decline in South Africa? We Fact-Checked Cyril Ramaphosa's ANC Claims
A number of sceptical readers asked us to take a closer look at pronouncements made by the president at the ANC's review of its manifesto. As we found, nuance also matters. Read more »
August 11, 2023
South Africa: Old Claims About Rape in South Africa Still Being Shared Online
Scarce data is just one obstacle to combatting sexual violence. An expert said we should also address harmful social attitudes about gender, the lack of access to comprehensive sex… Read more »
July 20, 2023
South Africa: Still No Evidence for Ghost Stat About Schoolchildren's Access to Menstrual Products in South Africa
Menstrual products brand StayFree makes two big claims in its ads on social media, but there's very little research to back them up. Read more »
June 20, 2023
Africa: Is HIV/Aids Misinformation and Denialism On the Rise Again? How to Counter Persistent Myths
Well-worn untruths about HIV/Aids took a backseat during the Covid-19 pandemic. But vigilance against Aids denialism is important, particularly in Africa where access to accurate… Read more »
March 29, 2023
South Africa: Gauteng's Water Use Above World Average? Water Minister Rehashes Flawed Statistics About South Africa's Most Populous Province
In March 2023, the South African department of water and sanitation celebrated national water month with advocacy and awareness campaigns to conserve and use water in a sustainable… Read more »
March 07, 2023
South Africa: Debating the State of the Nation - South African MPs' Claims About Crime, Education, Service Delivery and More Scrutinised
Are only 4% of rapes reported in South Africa? Is 54% of water lost to leaks and poor infrastructure? We checked these and other claims made during the 2023 state of the nation… Read more »
January 09, 2023
Kenya: KTN News Reports Kenyan Doctor 'In Danger' for Inventing Hypertension Cure? No, Clumsy Video Fake
IN SHORT: A video claims that a Kenyan doctor has invented a cure for high blood pressure and is so, for an unexplained reason, in danger. The video includes the logo of KTN News… Read more »
Uganda: Ignore Fake Tweet, Uganda National Exams Board Executive Didn't Say Form 4 Candidates Had Failed 2022 Exam
IN SHORT: Form 4 students in Uganda are awaiting their 2022 exam results with bated breath. A quote attributed to the examination board that they had all failed is mercifully a… Read more »
December 19, 2022
Africa: No Emergency? Interview With 'Dissident Climatologist' On South African Website Misleads On Climate Change
IN SHORT: There is plenty of evidence presented by countless scientists that global heating and climate change is destroying species, habitats, industries and, with extreme weather… Read more »
December 09, 2022
Kenya: No, Photo Doesn't Show Kenya's Health Minister 'Flagging Off' Surgical Procedure - Simulation Lab Uses Dummies, Not Patients
IN SHORT: A photo of Kenya's top health officials supposedly in a surgical theatre drew criticism for the failure to observe patient safety rules. But the photo was actually… Read more »
November 22, 2022
South Africa: No Unusual Typhoid Fever 'Outbreak' in South Africa in November - or February - 2022
IN SHORT: A message going viral in November 2022 claims that high numbers of typhoid fever cases have been reported in eight of South Africa's nine provinces. But the message is an… 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 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 »
June 20, 2022
Africa: Vaping 95 Percent Less Harmful Than Smoking and the Most Effective Way for Smokers to Quit? Here's What the Research Says About Popular Claims
E-cigarettes continue to be a source of heated debate. We looked at two claims about vaping carried by a South African media outlet. Read more »
June 14, 2022
Africa: Yes, More Than 7 Bee Species Are Endangered, but Extinction Wouldn't Mean an End to Strawberries, Avocados or Coffee
A graphic circulating on social media claims that seven species of bee are "on the endangered species list". It adds that if all bees disappeared, strawberries, avocados, and… Read more »
June 15, 2022
Africa: No, Don't Use a Sock in Place of a Menstrual Pad or Tampon - Could Cause Infection
A video by a popular "life hack" YouTube channel features several "period tips for girls". The tips include items that can be used during menstruation, when regular sanitary… Read more »