December 08, 2022
Africa: The Fact-Checker's Guide to Great Holiday Reads
Here's how to make better sense of the world, on the beach. We share our top picks of books and podcasts. Read more »
Kenya: No, Photo of Crude Outdoor Classroom From Malawi - Not Constituency of Controversial New Kenyan MP
IN SHORT: A recently elected MP sparked outrage with his proposal that Kenya's two-term limit on a president's service be done away with. But a photo of students in a makeshift log… Read more »
Kenya: No, All Kenyans Can Borrow From 'Hustler Fund' - Not Only Those Who Voted for President Ruto
IN SHORT: Is Kenya's "hustler fund" meant to provide cheap loans only for supporters of newly elected president William Ruto? No, the claims on social media are false. Read more »
South Africa: Jabbed Germans Banned From Buying Cars? No. Tired Old Covid Disinformation Gets Weirder
IN SHORT: Almost three years after the Covid pandemic began, conspiracy theorists are still trying to sell their ideas online. This time, it's not true that the 75% of Germans… Read more »
December 07, 2022
Africa: Viral Website Advertising Australian Visas and Jobs Just Another Scam
IN SHORT: The scam website asks for detailed personal information. This is known as phishing, and could give the fraudsters access to your bank and other accounts. Read more »
December 05, 2022
South Africa: No, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa Has Not Resigned
IN SHORT: A scandal over stolen money at the private farm of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has raised the spectre of his resignation. But he has not left office, as a… Read more »
November 29, 2022
Africa: No, Monkeypox Hasn't Disappeared - It's Still a Global Public Health Emergency
IN SHORT: Posts on Facebook claim that the disease monkeypox - much in the headlines in mid-2022 - has "disappeared", hinting that there is something sinister about the virus or… Read more »
November 25, 2022
Nigeria: Piles of Money? Facebook Video Shows Sculpture - Not Evidence of Nigerian Senator's Corruption
A video of a Spanish artist's sculpture - what seem to be massive stashes of cash, but are in fact hand-painted resin - has been used in allegations of corruption against… Read more »
November 22, 2022
Nigeria: No, Presidential Candidate Tinubu Hasn't Dumped the APC for the PDP
IN SHORT: At the launch of his presidential campaign, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress almost said "God bless PDP" - before correcting himself. But it was just a slip… Read more »
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 »
November 02, 2022
Nigeria: Nigeria's Ruling Party Not Solely Responsible for Rail Development, As Its Presidential Candidate Claims
All Progressives Congress presidential candidate Bola Tinubu says the opposition Peoples Democratic Party didn't pay a dime on railways, despite being in power for 16 years. But is… Read more »
October 31, 2022
Nigeria: No, Nigerian Presidential Candidate Omoyele Sowore Didn't Say He Would Legalise 'Weed Smoking'
IN SHORT: A quote attributed to Nigerian opposition politician Omoyele Sowore has him saying he would legalise "weed smoking" if elected president. But while he supports the… Read more »
October 28, 2022
Nigeria: No, China Not Building Police Stations in Nigeria, and Hasn't Taken Over Its Customs Service
IN SHORT: Debate about Nigeria's financial debt to China continues. But a claim that the Asian giant is building police stations in Africa's most populous country, and has even… Read more »
October 27, 2022
Nigeria: Poisonous Snake Bites Cured By Bark of a Cashew Tree? No, Seek Medical Attention!
IN SHORT: A Facebook post circulating in Nigeria claims that you can treat poisonous snakesbites by chewing the bark of a cashew tree. But this is false and snakebite victims… Read more »
October 26, 2022
Kenya: Beware Imposter Account - Margaret Kenyatta, Wife of Former Kenyan President, Not Offering Money As Part of Social Media Promotions
IN SHORT: Africa Check has previously debunked Facebook pages and posts making promises in the name of Kenya's former first lady, Margaret Kenyatta. And she's still not giving out… Read more »
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 »