Africa Check | Fact Checker | Sorting fact from fiction

The PDM has made its case for why voters should give them a chance come 27 November.

MFWA, Dubawa and Ghana Fact establish Ghana Fact-checking Coalition ahead of December elections

Ahead of Ghana’s 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, civil society organisations have formed the Ghana Fact-Checking Coalition.

Namibia

SWAPO

South West Africa People's Organisation

#NamibiaElections2024: Fact-checking ruling Swapo party manifesto

Ahead of Namibia's general elections on 27 November, the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation released its manifesto.

#OndoDecides2024: Fact-checking debate claims made by the two main candidates for the governor’s office

Ahead of the vote the two frontrunners faced off in Nigeria's debate. We checked their claims against the facts.

Namibia

Popular Democratic Movement

manifesto

food insecurity

Health

Education

Elections

#NamibiaElections2024: Fact-checking opposition Popular Democratic Movement manifesto

Ghana

fact-check

fact-checking

coalition

press release

Elections

MFWA, Dubawa and Ghana Fact establish Ghana Fact-checking Coalition ahead of December elections

Namibia

SWAPO

South West Africa People's Organisation

employment

Health

infrastructure

Elections

#NamibiaElections2024: Fact-checking ruling Swapo party manifesto

#OndoDecides2024

Lucky Aiyedatiwa

APC

Agboola Ajayi

PDP

Seun Okinbaloye

debate

#OndoDecides2024: Fact-checking debate claims made by the two main candidates for the governor’s office

Featured

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African Fact-Checking Awards

#AfricaFactsSummit2024

PRESS RELEASE: Fact-checks on presidential degree fraud, impact of climate crisis on women the winners of 2024 African Fact-Checking Awards

This year's awards attracted nearly 250 entries from 29 countries across the continent.

An electron microscope image of monkeypox particles (green) found in an infected cell (pink and purple)

EXPLAINER: Mpox is once again a ‘public health emergency’. What you need to know

In August 2024 two international health agencies made declarations about mpox, amping up concerns about the disease.

Shutterstock

south africa election blog

COMMENT: Casting doubts and casting votes - the real-world effects of false election fraud claims

During South Africa’s 2024 election, allegations of vote rigging circulated widely on social media. But what is the potential impact?

Google News Initiative

Africa Check

#RwandaDecides: Three things Africa Check is learning about facts, elections, and journalism in Rwanda

With the Google News Initiative, Africa Check has been working with Rwandan media organisations and journalists ahead of the elections.

Rwanda

Google

Google News Initiative

coalition

Elections

PRESS RELEASE: Rwandan media stakeholders join hands to promote credible information ahead of July 2024 election

PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP

FACTSHEET: Understanding Nigeria's new varsity admission rules

A recent amendment to Nigeria’s higher education admission policy has rekindled debate about access to tertiary institutions in the country.

Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

FACTSHEET: How deaths are recorded in South Africa

Covid has trained a spotlight on causes of death and how deaths are recorded across the world. We disentangle what paperwork has to be filed...

FACTSHEET: What you need to know about South Africa’s latest mpox outbreak

Monkeypox is back, bringing with it many false claims. Here’s what you need to know to avoid misinformation that degrades public discourse.

south africa election factsheet

sanitation

ELECTION FACTSHEET: Water in South Africa

Ahead of South Africa’s May 2024 elections, we look at access to water, a basic human right in the country.

south africa election factsheet

ELECTION FACTSHEET: Electricity in South Africa

As South Africa gears up for elections in May 2024, we look at access to electricity and how that has changed over the years.

Women's Month Quiz 2024

In honour of Women's Month, we're challenging you to see how much you know about the current status of women in South Africa. We cover criti...

Artificial Intelligence

South African election misinformation quiz

As the nation prepares to vote in the 2024 elections, South Africans have received their fair share of election misinformation. Do you know ...

Unverified health and diet advice

To help you get your 2024 off on the right start, make sure you have the facts about these popular ‘health advice’ and diets.

Info Finder

#YouAsked

Elections & political parties

How many democratic elections have been held in South Africa?
See answer Hide answer

Since its first democratic election on 27 April 1994, South Africa has held six other national elections: in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024. ...

Source

Stats SA: Mbalo brief February 2024

Verified Date

Thu, 08/01/2024 - 12:00

Elections & political parties

What was the voter turnout during South Africa’s last national election?
See answer Hide answer

During the 2019 national election, South Africa recorded a voter turnout of 66%, a decrease from 73.5% in 2014. More: South Africa’s 2019 election in numbers ...

Source

Electoral Commission of South Africa

Verified Date

Tue, 07/23/2019 - 12:00

#YouAsked

Covid-19

Does heat kill the new coronavirus?
See answer Hide answer

The World Health Organization has warned that neither taking a hot bath nor exposing yourself to sunshine or temperatures higher than 25°C will prevent Covid-19. Using a hand dryer also doesn’t kill the virus. More: Hot baths, hot hand dryers and other heat will NOT kill coronavirus ...

Source

World Health Organization

Verified Date

Wed, 04/01/2020 - 12:00

#YouAsked

Covid-19

Is the new coronavirus airborne?
See answer Hide answer

The new coronavirus spreads through droplets, which are produced when someone sneezes, coughs or talks. If you are close to someone when this happens, you could breathe in the virus. According to the World Health Organization, “studies to date suggest that the virus that causes Covid-19 is main...

Source

World Health Organization

Verified Date

Fri, 04/03/2020 - 12:00

African fact-checking

These are selected fact-checks by members of the Africa Facts network of fact-checkers who are fighting the spread of false information across the continent.

Please note: While we do curate these third party fact-checking articles, Africa Check is not responsible for the content of external sites.

How Telegram, TikTok aided Russian disinformation that led to incarceration of Nigerian minors

Donald Trump's second term presents fresh disinformation challenges

IFCN awards 2024 GROW grants to 20 organisations

View All

Featured Quick Reads

No evidence governor of Nigeria’s Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, plans to increase varsity fees after election

No, photo of Somali man with gun not taken in South Africa

No, you don’t need to worry about the health effects of wifi and mobile phones

Kenya’s anti-corruption commission has not summoned activist Hanifa Farsafi – viral letter is fake

Video shows looting during #EndSARS protest in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos, not recent robbery

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No evidence that 'Jinja Herbal Extracts' can cure various diseases and conditions, seek verified medical attention instead

No, US president-elect Donald Trump has not ordered Nigerian government to release Biafra separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu

No, Finnish authorities have not released Biafra separatist Simon Ekpa, arrested over terror activities in south-east Nigeria

No, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb has not pledged to support Biafra’s independence from Nigeria

Gave ‘a girl’ cash for transport and she didn’t show up? No, you can’t get her sent to prison

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No, South Africa’s late Zulu king Zwelithini didn’t get a R71.3 million salary

Still no evidence for #15MillionIllegalMigrants in South Africa

South Africa’s economy contracts by 51% in the second quarter of 2020? Not so fast

Did Nigeria’s education minister announce schools will open on 7 September 2020? No, video old and doctored

No jobs, learnerships or bursaries here – Facebook page a long-running scam

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Podcasts

Fighting misinformation during elections

Celebrating International Fact-Checking Day

Did WHO-recommended ratio of doctors to patients, as former Nigerian senator claimed?

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We need your help to fight misinformation

Donate

Raising informed media consumers starts at school

Media literacy helps voters make informed choices during elections

Expanding our Know the Facts Get the Vax campaign to five more African countries

UNDEF-funded project teaches tricks of the fact-checking trade

Harnessing the power of radio in Africa to fight Covid-19 misinformation

Find out about our media literacy work

Podcasts

The New LO: How To Handle The Internet (Part 4)

The New LO: How To Handle The Internet (Part 3)

The New LO: How To Handle The Internet (Part 2)

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Africa Check sorts fact from fiction

Featured

Info Finder

How many democratic elections have been held in South Africa? See answer Hide answer

What was the voter turnout during South Africa’s last national election? See answer Hide answer

Does heat kill the new coronavirus? See answer Hide answer

Is the new coronavirus airborne? See answer Hide answer

African fact-checking

How Telegram, TikTok aided Russian disinformation that led to incarceration of Nigerian minors

Donald Trump's second term presents fresh disinformation challenges

IFCN awards 2024 GROW grants to 20 organisations

Featured Quick Reads

Podcasts

Fighting misinformation during elections

Celebrating International Fact-Checking Day

Did WHO-recommended ratio of doctors to patients, as former Nigerian senator claimed?

We need your help to fight misinformation

Our media literacy work

Podcasts

The New LO: How To Handle The Internet (Part 4)

The New LO: How To Handle The Internet (Part 3)

The New LO: How To Handle The Internet (Part 2)

Use mapping tools to search for the exact location depicted in an image

Can't find what you are looking for ?

Don't be fooled - get your facts straight!

For reading our fact-checks!

How many democratic elections have been held in South Africa?
See answer Hide answer

What was the voter turnout during South Africa’s last national election?
See answer Hide answer

Does heat kill the new coronavirus?
See answer Hide answer

Is the new coronavirus airborne?
See answer Hide answer