Petrie Jansen van Vuuren

Latest fact-checks

FACTSHEET: The leading causes of death in Africa in 2019

The latest data from the World Health Organization is likely to be the last major update not to feature Covid-19 statistics.

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. How conclusive is it?

ANALYSIS: Not all cloth masks are equal, but better than no protection from coronavirus

In the coronavirus pandemic, medical masks should only be used by high-risk health workers. Authorities have advised the public to rather use cloth masks. But how well do these masks protect us, and our communities?

Coronavirus

Covid-19

masks

ANALYSIS: Coronavirus in Africa - to mask or not to mask, that is the question

With face masks flying off global shelves due to panic buying, should you also strain every sinew to get one? We take a look at what the science says.

Latest facts

Welfare & population

How many people in South Africa are younger than 15?

Source

StatsSA – Birth and Death: 60,6 million people in South Africa

Short answer

How many people in South Africa are younger than 15?

In 2022, the mid-year population estimates indicate that about 28% of the population (17 million) is aged younger than 15 years. ...

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Economy

What is South Africa’s youth unemployment rate?

Source

StatsSA: Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) – Q1 2023

Short answer

What is South Africa’s youth unemployment rate?

In the first quarter of 2023, young people aged 15-24 and 25-34 had the highest unemployment rates, at 62.1% and 40.7% respectively. Around 3.7 million (36,1%) out of 10.2 million young people aged 15-24 were not in employment, education or training (NEET). ...

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Crime & justice

Sex & gender

How does South Africa’s femicide rate compare?

Source

South African Police Service Annual Report 2021/2022

Short answer

How does South Africa’s femicide rate compare?

The South African Police Service's annual report recorded 25,204 murders in 2021/22, an increase of 26.6% from the 19,904 recorded in 2020/21. Of these, 3,198 were women. That’s an average of about nine women murdered every day. Compared to other countries for which statistics are availab...

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#YouAsked

Crime & justice

How many women and children are murdered in South Africa in a year?

Source

South African Police Service Annual Report 2021/2022

Short answer

How many women and children are murdered in South Africa in a year?

The South African Police Service's annual report recorded 25,204 murders in 2021/22, an increase of 26.6% on the 19,904 recorded in 2020/21. Of the victims, 3,198 were women and 1,082 were children. Crimes committed against women increased, by 15.6% from 155,062, in 2020/21 to 179,208, in 2021/...

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