Africa Check | Sorting fact from fiction

South African media widely reported a claim by World Vision that pandemic measures had led to a surge in teenage pregnancies. But the stat i...

malaria

children

disease

Yes, malaria kills more kids under five than in any other age group. Here’s why

Drug-resistant malaria could be a concern for Africa, an online report said, due to its outsized toll on children.

health

Coronavirus

covid-19

Fact-checking 5 claims about Nigeria’s ‘second cervical cancer wave’

Africa’s most populous nation is experiencing an increase in cervical cancer cases because of the Covid-19 pandemic, said a prominent oncolo...

SONA

Cyril Ramaphosa

Chickens and the economy: fact-checking Ramaphosa's #SONA2021

Devoid of the usual pomp and ceremony, and addressing a mostly empty parliament, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted his gov...

pregnancy

teen pregnancy

teenage pregnancy

Global charity patches together stat about African teen lockdown pregnancies

malaria

children

disease

Yes, malaria kills more kids under five than in any other age group. Here’s why

health

Coronavirus

covid-19

Fact-checking 5 claims about Nigeria’s ‘second cervical cancer wave’

SONA

Cyril Ramaphosa

Chickens and the economy: fact-checking Ramaphosa's #SONA2021

Featured

YOU ASKED: Does South Africa have 1.2 million healthcare workers?

South Africa’s plan for Covid-19 vaccination is to give the first shots to 1.2 million healthcare workers, president Cyril Ramaphosa has sai...

technology

What’s up with your data on WhatsApp? Explaining the app’s new privacy terms

Experts have described the changes as cosmetic, but that did not stop a pushback by users, many who sought options.

ANALYSIS: Fact-checking claims about service delivery in South Africa since 1994

With South African municipal elections set to take place in 2021, we can expect a lot of service delivery comparisons. They may not all add ...

journalists

science journalism

COMMENT: We need science journalists not press release cheerleaders

Science journalism, unlike science communication, exists to serve the reader. Getting it wrong can only undermine the public's trust in scie...

account

Duduzane

Twitter

ANALYSIS: No, that's not Duduzane Zuma’s Twitter account. Here’s why

Is the @Duduzane__Zuma Twitter account really run by former South African president Jacob Zuma’s son? Some online sleuthing reveals the acco...

ANALYSIS: What we know about Covid-19 and smoking so far

The data currently available points to a bizarre trend. It is contrary to everything we know about the expected disease outcomes for smokers...

pregnancy

teen pregnancy

teenage pregnancy

Global charity patches together stat about African teen lockdown pregnancies

South African media widely reported a claim by World Vision that pandemic measures had led to a surge in teenage pregnancies. But the stat i...

malaria

children

disease

Yes, malaria kills more kids under five than in any other age group. Here’s why

Drug-resistant malaria could be a concern for Africa, an online report said, due to its outsized toll on children.

health

Coronavirus

covid-19

Fact-checking 5 claims about Nigeria’s ‘second cervical cancer wave’

Africa’s most populous nation is experiencing an increase in cervical cancer cases because of the Covid-19 pandemic, said a prominent oncolo...

SONA

Cyril Ramaphosa

Chickens and the economy: fact-checking Ramaphosa's #SONA2021

Devoid of the usual pomp and ceremony, and addressing a mostly empty parliament, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted his gov...

health

county

healthcare

Highest health spending in Kenya? Baringo county governor makes misleading claims

While health workers were on strike across Kenya, Stanley Kiptis gave several reasons why counties cannot pay more. But not all of his claim...

radioactive

Johannesburg

mining

Is Johannesburg the most radioactive city in the world?

South African advocacy groups have claimed Johannesburg is the most radioactive city on Earth, because of the mining of uranium-rich gold fi...

FACTSHEET: What you need to know about vaccine approval in Nigeria

As the world counts down the weeks to a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine, we look at the steps that would have to be followed before the...

FACTSHEET: South African service delivery in 1994 – what we do and don’t know

South African politicians often make claims about how access to water, electricity and sanitation has improved – or worsened – since 1994. T...

FACTSHEET: Child malnutrition in South Africa

Malnutrition in children can lead to wasting, stunting, underweight and obesity, putting the child at risk of illness – and difficulties lat...

FACTSHEET: How to talk about migration in South Africa

The words used to describe migration can be confusing, but definitions are important when we discuss the movements of people. We look at the...

FACTSHEET: Five questions about 5G technology answered

We unpack key aspects of this wireless technology, which has in recent months found itself at the fore of public health debate.

Ms Anna Jacobs fills her bucket with water from a tap placed by the government next to her house in this April 1999 file picture. As the world marks World Water Day on 22 March, for many in Africa, water access remains a key challenge. Photo: ODD AND

Info Finder quiz: environment

Do you consider yourself environmentally conscious? Take our quiz and find out how much you know about the environment, natural resources an...

Info Finder quiz: African economies

Do you keep up with the continent’s economies? Take our quiz and find out how much you know about African economies.

Unicef health consultant Hadiza Waya immunises a child during a vaccination campaign against polio at Hotoro-Kudu, Nassarawa district of Kano in northwest Nigeria on April 22, 2017. PHOTO: AFP/ Pius Utomi Ekpei

Info Finder quiz: health in Africa

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, we should be more health-conscious. Take our quiz and find out how much you know about health in Africa....

Info Finder

Featured Spot Checks

How do Nigeria and Saudi Arabia compare for poverty and unemployment?

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

Disregard viral red circle eye test on WhatsApp, visit an eye doctor

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

View All

No, quokkas don’t throw babies at predators, but won’t win ‘Best Mom’ award

No, elephants don’t think people are ‘cute’ – in the wild they see us as a threat

Viral ‘Jeyes fluid’ chain message resurfaces in South Africa

Yes, Nigerian-Americans do well, but aren’t ‘most successful’ ethnic group in US

N20,000 Covid-19 relief fund for one million Nigeria youth? Beware of scam

View All

How do Nigeria and Saudi Arabia compare for poverty and unemployment?

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

Disregard viral red circle eye test on WhatsApp, visit an eye doctor

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

View All

Podcasts

Episode 15 #KeepTheFactsGoing: Depo-Provera and HIV

How to verify breaking news during crisis (Radio One 103.5FM Lagos)

Episode 14 #KeepTheFactsGoing: Myths about 5G technology

View All

We need your help to fight misinformation

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Promise Tracker

They campaigned and promised to change your life for the better. You voted for them. But have they kept their word? We have picked out 10 key promises made by governments in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya and are tracking progress on them.

ANC Tracker
APC Tracker
Jubilee Party Tracker

ANC Tracker

The African National Congress (ANC) has been in power since 1994. In 2019, it faced South African voters for the sixth time. But what is the status of promises it has made to voters in the last 10 years?

APC Tracker

Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress is up for re-election in 2019. As it makes its case to voters, how has it performed on some of the main promises it made ahead of its 2015 win? EDITOR'S NOTE: These pledges are collated from the party’s manifesto and its covenant with Nigerians. The latter document was subject to much debate after the party sought to disavow it. The APC did walk back promises for its first 100 days in office. Other publications have collated more promises. Also, the president’s first term in office ends officially on 29 May 2019 when he’d have spent four years in office.

Jubilee Party Tracker

Kenya’s Jubilee Party has been in office since 2013, and last year won re-election. But has it delivered on the promises it made ahead of those two elections? We tracked key ones.

Try Our Promise Tracker

Africa Check sorts fact from fiction

Global charity patches together stat about African teen lockdown pregnancies

Yes, malaria kills more kids under five than in any other age group. Here’s why

Fact-checking 5 claims about Nigeria’s ‘second cervical cancer wave’

Chickens and the economy: fact-checking Ramaphosa's #SONA2021

Featured

Info Finder

Popular topics

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

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Ghana’s projected population for 2020 stood at 30.96 million.

Featured Spot Checks

Podcasts

Episode 15 #KeepTheFactsGoing: Depo-Provera and HIV

How to verify breaking news during crisis (Radio One 103.5FM Lagos)

Episode 14 #KeepTheFactsGoing: Myths about 5G technology

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Promise Tracker

ANC Tracker

APC Tracker

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