October 26, 2022
South Africa: No, Murder Suspect Dejywan Floyd Not the Younger Brother of Murder Victim George Floyd
IN SHORT: A false rumour about George Floyd, a black man murdered by a white police officer in the USA, has reached South Africa. As other fact-checkers have found, a man with the… Read more »
Africa: 'Download App, Sign Up and Get Rewarded'? No! Beware New Facebook Post Editing Scam
IN SHORT: An innocent but interesting message is posted on a Facebook community page. It's about a lost child or dog, or a serial killer, or a bear attack. But as soon as it's… Read more »
October 21, 2022
Africa: Ten Years of Africa Check - a Brief History
From two desks in a university department to four African country offices and a respected presence in a global network of fact-checkers, this is the story of Africa Check's first… Read more »
Kenya: No, Video Shows Indonesian Soldiers in Training, Not Kenyan Soldiers
IN SHORT: A video has shocked Kenyans, who are being told on social media it shows members of the Kenya Defence Forces in a harrowing training exercise. But these extreme sports… Read more »
Kenya: Yes, Kenyan Ministerial Nominee Davis Chirchir Is On Facebook, but Beware of Imposter Accounts and Fake Pages With Sensational Posts
IN SHORT: Kenyan politician Davis Chirchir is becoming more prominent since new president William Ruto nominated him as his energy minister. But fame and influence has also meant… Read more »
South Africa: No, Us Actor Sean Penn Didn't Film Fake Videos of the Invasion of Ukraine in March 2022 - No Proof Anyone Has
IN SHORT: We've seen plenty of outlandish claims about the war between Russia and Ukraine on social media. But one claiming actor Sean Penn was involved in faking the entire… Read more »
Africa: No, There's No Meaning Behind the First Tear Being Shed From One's Left or Right Eye
IN SHORT: According to a graphic posted on social media, what eye the first tear is shed from when you cry tells you the cause of the tears. But that doesn't hold water. Read more »
October 20, 2022
Nigeria: Men Arrested With Human Bones in Nigeria, Not Kenya
IN SHORT: A photo of two men holding what appear to be human skulls has spread like wildfire across Kenyan social media, with claims the two were arrested in Kenya. But that's only… Read more »
Kenya: Huge Clearance Sale for Water Tanks in Kenya? Beware of Fake Facebook Account
IN SHORT: A Facebook page is promising big discounts on water tanks and related products in Kenya. But it's a fraud and the offers aren't real. Read more »
Ghana: No, Ghana's Universities Will Not Be 'Closed Down for One Week in Honour of Queen Elizabeth'
IN SHORT: The death of the UK's queen in September 2022 led to a number of false claims circulating on social media. And that Ghanaian universities would close for a week to… Read more »
October 19, 2022
Nigeria: No, Nigeria Ruling Party's Presidential Candidate Bola Tinubu Has Not Pulled Out of Race
IN SHORT: We've already seen plenty of misinformation circulating on social media in Nigeria since presidential hopeful Bola Tinubu entered the race on the governing party ticket… Read more »
Nigeria: No, Ruling Party Campaign Spokesperson Did Not Give Nigerians the Middle Finger On National TV
IN SHORT: A screenshot shared on social media in Nigeria appears to show a prominent politician giving Nigerians "the finger". But Festus Keyamo wasn't deliberately being rude in… Read more »
October 17, 2022
Africa: Visa Sponsorships for Jobs in Australia? No, Website Just Another Scam
IN SHORT: A website shared across African social media promises an easy and quick road to visa sponsorship in the affluent country of Australia. But it's a scam and could be trying… Read more »
October 12, 2022
Nigeria: No Evidence Nigeria's Main Opposition Party Is Paying Voters to Support Its 2023 Presidential Candidate
IN SHORT: Text messages circulating in Nigeria promise cash in return for voting for the main opposition party's presidential candidate in the 2023 elections. But, like previous… Read more »
October 10, 2022
South Africa: Thousands of Migrants Have Jobs in Eskom, Vodacom and Govt? No, Viral Message Plain Wrong
Harmful rumours about migrants from other African countries get attention on social media in South Africa. One recent claim about the jobs they hold is wildly inflated. Read more »
October 07, 2022
South Africa: South Africa's Ruling Party Bigwig Kgalema Motlanthe Apologised for Slapping Provincial Party Structures On the Wrists? No, Viral Screenshot Fake
IN SHORT: A screenshot circulating online claims a top official from the African National Congress has apologised for comments made around the announcement of preferred candidates… Read more »
September 29, 2022
Nigeria: Factsheet - What You Need to Know About Nigeria's Pivotal 2023 General Elections
The country has tens of millions of voters. There's a possibility of a run-off. And victorious candidates will have a full in-tray. We bring you up to speed on one of Africa's most… Read more »
September 28, 2022
Nigeria: Beware of Scam! Nigeria's Central Bank Does Not Have an Investment Platform
IN SHORT: A number of Facebook pages claim to offer investment services under the name of the Central Bank of Nigeria. But beware! The central bank has distanced itself from all of… Read more »
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 »
Kenya: Beware of Facebook Account Impersonating Kenyan President William Ruto and Making False Promises
IN SHORT: A Facebook page using William Ruto's name and photos is promising cash handouts in return for personal details. But the page is impersonating the Kenyan president and the… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya's Former President Kenyatta Arriving in London for Queen Elizabeth's Funeral? No, Photo From 2020
IN SHORT: The photo actually shows Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya's president from 2013 to 2022, arriving at a reception for heads of state during the 2020 UK-Africa Investment Summit in… Read more »
September 21, 2022
Kenya: Yes, Quote Accurate, but Beware of Facebook Page Impersonating Kenya's Ramogi TV
IN SHORT: The 2022 electoral duel between Kenya's two largest parties went right down to the wire. A meeting between two of the presidential hopefuls was therefore newsworthy. But… Read more »
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 »
Kenya: No, Kenya's Isiolo MP Not Giving Away 500 Motorcycles - Beware of Imposter Facebook Account
IN SHORT: Hundreds of thousands of young people in Kenya are employed on motorcycles. This is why an alleged giveaway of motorcycles by a legislator, as claimed in a Facebook post,… Read more »
September 20, 2022
Uganda: No, Newspaper Didn't Report That First Family Hired Assassins to Kill Speaker of Parliament
IN SHORT: Uganda has recently been gripped by an alleged plot to assassinate the speaker of parliament. But a national newspaper did not report that the president's family was… Read more »