‘Building better communities together’ – Fact-checking the African National Congress election manifesto

We look at claims about service delivery, the economy and more in the election manifesto of the ruling African National Congress.

Democratic Alliance

manifesto

Elections

‘A promise of more’ – Fact-checking claims made in the Democratic Alliance’s 2021 election manifesto

We take a look at claims made in the Democratic Alliance’s election manifesto about the party’s achievements and challenges faced elsewhere.

Michele Spatari / AFP

manifesto

Elections

EFF

’Land and jobs manje!’ Fact-checking promises in the Economic Freedom Fighters’ 2021 election manifesto

The Economic Freedom Fighters have made a significant mark on national politics. We examined what they’ve promised if they win control.

LOCAL ELECTION FACTSHEET: Sanitation in South Africa

We answer these and other sanitation questions in the run-up to the 2021 municipal elections.

manifesto

Elections

ANC

‘Building better communities together’ – Fact-checking the African National Congress election manifesto

Democratic Alliance

manifesto

Elections

‘A promise of more’ – Fact-checking claims made in the Democratic Alliance’s 2021 election manifesto

manifesto

Elections

EFF

’Land and jobs manje!’ Fact-checking promises in the Economic Freedom Fighters’ 2021 election manifesto

sanitation

manifesto

Elections

LOCAL ELECTION FACTSHEET: Sanitation in South Africa

Featured

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[PRESS RELEASE] Continent’s top fact-checkers awarded at eighth annual African Fact-Checking Awards

Fact-checkers from Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Senegal took the top honours in the 2021 African Fact-Checking Awards.

CONSERVATION CHECK: Yes, more elephants being born tuskless because of poaching

African elephants' contact with poachers is causing dramatic changes to their physiology.

EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Nigeria’s resident doctors and why they strike so frequently

What are Nigerian doctors' grievances? And why do they leave the country in such high numbers?

Misinformation

health misinformation

Covid-19

PRESS RELEASE: New international study shows fact-checks significantly reduce belief in misinformation

The comparative study is among the first to examine fact-checking effectiveness from a cross-country perspective.

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan gets vaccinated.

STRINGER / AFP

Covid-19

Covid-19 vaccine

health misinformation

ANALYSIS: As Tanzania changes tack on Covid-19, leaders have role to play in pushing accurate information

Tanzanians have struggled to keep up with policy changes as the country goes from no plans for Covid vaccines to pushing mass vaccination.

ANALYSIS: South African minority party right to be worried over North West crime stats, but lockdown skewed numbers

A Freedom Front Plus leader in North West said the murder rate for the province nearly doubled from 2020 to 2021. Is he right?

fact-check

facts

fact ambassador

Africa Check launches Fact Ambassador programme

We’ve launched a new programme to spread accurate information to a wider audience across our continent – welcome to our Fact Ambassadors!

lockdown

Covid-19

protest

ANALYSIS: Snappy anti-lockdown poster misrepresents Covid-19 and vaccination death rates

“If one death out of 10k Covid cases shut down the country shouldn’t one death out of 10k vaccines shut down the program?” This slogan from ...

Cyril Ramaphosa

money

conspiracy

Buckle up! We fell down the White Spiritual Boy Trust rabbit hole

Charges were laid at a Johannesburg police station in April, accusing South African president Cyril Ramaphosa of serious crimes from rackete...

Fact-checked: 9 claims about South African schools from Ernst Roets

A member of management for the Afrikaner-rights group AfriForum rubbished the state of South African education. We sorted the wheat from the...

Did journalists’ TV ‘hangout’ get facts about healthcare in Nigeria right?

Discussing the state of healthcare amid a crippling doctors’ strike, a TV panel made several claims. We checked them out.

MICHELE SPATARI / AFP

World Health Organisation

alcohol

ban

women

World Health Organization not proposing an alcohol ban for ‘women of childbearing age’

A draft action plan from the international health agency had many raising their eyebrows in surprise. It’s likely a case of muddled messagin...

MICHELE SPATARI / AFP

No, your life insurance is not ‘null and void’ if you get a Covid-19 vaccine

Experts say recent claims that getting the Covid vaccine will render your life insurance policy invalid are false and scaremongering.

South African Police Service

Murder, VIPs and theft: Fact-checking five claims by Gun Owners South Africa

A proposal to amend South Africa’s gun laws could remove self-defence as a valid reason to own a firearm. Gun Owners South Africa made a num...

PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP

Is Nigeria’s central bank governor on the money about health insurance and out-of-pocket payments?

Godwin Emefiele made claims about the low access to healthcare in Africa’s most populous country. Do his claims check out?

FACTSHEET: Excess deaths in South Africa explained

The number of excess deaths may be a more accurate and concerning measure of the Covid pandemic than the daily death toll. But how are exces...

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: Understanding Nigeria’s teenage pregnancy burden

As in many parts of the world, adolescent pregnancy is a major concern in Nigeria. We take a look at the causes and the many consequences of...

Nigerians wait for petrol products during a past shortage in the country.

refineries

petroleum

FACTSHEET: What you need to know about Nigeria’s ailing refineries and their perennial repairs

Nigeria’s beleaguered oil refineries have again dominated the headlines after hundreds of billions of naira were allocated to repair one. Bu...

china

debt

Economy

FACTSHEET: Unravelling Nigeria’s debt to China

There are concerns about Nigeria’s rising debt and especially that owed to China. In this factsheet, we look at the numbers.

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...

#WeekendWrap | Quiz | 8 October 2021

How much do you know about women’s health in Africa? We look at maternal mortality, female genital mutilation, c-sections and whether women ...

#WeekendWrap | Quiz | 24 September 2021

Do you know how to sort fact from fiction when it comes to edible Covid-19 ‘cures’? Test your knowledge in this week’s #WeekendWrap quiz! Sh...

#WeekendWrap | Quiz | 17 September 2021

Nigeria’s doctors have been in the news a lot lately, having gone on strike for the 4th time in a year. But do you know the facts about this...

Info Finder

Featured Spot Checks

Are 20,000 Nigerian doctors practising in the US, compared to 50,000 in the country?

No WHO-recommended ratio of doctors to patients, as former Nigerian senator claimed

No, Nairobi does not generate over 50% of Kenya’s GDP – president Kenyatta repeats wrong stat

Reddington hospital didn’t send WhatsApp message warning of third Covid wave in Nigeria

Headlines saying 96% of Nigerians have received Covid-19 jabs are misleading

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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

No, cassava doesn’t cure cancer – and could make it worse

HOAX-ALERT: Eating eggs & bananas together won’t kill you

Beware false cancer cures from ‘Dr Gupta’ on Facebook

View All

Reddington hospital didn’t send WhatsApp message warning of third Covid wave in Nigeria

Headlines saying 96% of Nigerians have received Covid-19 jabs are misleading

Johannesburg's mayor shares debunked and flawed statistics about rape in South Africa

Old, recycled rape statistic continues to be shared in South Africa – and it’s still incorrect

No, bracelet will not relieve diabetes symptoms – stick to prescribed medicine

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Podcasts

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

Does Nigeria rank number one in open defecation worldwide? (Radio One 103.5 FM Lagos)

Claims about education in Nigeria checked (Radio One 103.5 FM Lagos)

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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 was re-elected in 2019. As it made its case to voters, how did it perform 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 ended officially on 29 May 2019 when he had 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

‘Building better communities together’ – Fact-checking the African National Congress election manifesto

‘A promise of more’ – Fact-checking claims made in the Democratic Alliance’s 2021 election manifesto

’Land and jobs manje!’ Fact-checking promises in the Economic Freedom Fighters’ 2021 election manifesto

LOCAL ELECTION FACTSHEET: Sanitation in South Africa

Featured

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Featured Spot Checks

Podcasts

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

Does Nigeria rank number one in open defecation worldwide? (Radio One 103.5 FM Lagos)

Claims about education in Nigeria checked (Radio One 103.5 FM Lagos)

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