ANC Youth League promotes debunked steam and pH ‘cures’ for Covid-19
Claims
Two claims about how to combat Covid-19
Source: African National Congress Youth League, greater Tshwane region (January 2021)
checked
Verdict
Two incorrect
Reports: South Africa
‘Almost 100%’ of restaurant workers in South Africa are foreign? Official data disproves finance minister Mboweni’s claim
Claim
Almost 100% of restaurant workers in South Africa are foreign.
Source: Finance minister Tito Mboweni (April 2020)
incorrect
Verdict
Statistics South Africa put the share at 6.5% in 2017.
No full South African matric rewrite due to paper leaks, varsity acceptance unchanged
Claim
South African final-year high school students will have to rewrite their exams due to leaks.
Source: Facebook (November 2020)
incorrect
Verdict
Education officials said this claim was false, while universities confirmed they are still considering offers.
15 million ‘undocumented foreigners’ in South Africa? Herman Mashaba wrong again
Claim
There are 15 million undocumented foreigners in South Africa
Source: South African politician and businessman Herman Mashaba (November 2020)
incorrect
Verdict
Data from Statistics South Africa and the United Nations put the number of foreign-born migrants in the country at around 4 million.
48,000 potholes on Johannesburg’s roads? That’s not nearly the whole story
Claim
There are approximately 48,000 potholes across Johannesburg
Source: Moneyweb article (November 2020)
downplayed
Verdict
The city government estimates there are 100,000 potholes, and the roads agency planned to fix nearly 141,000 in 2019/20.
No evidence nearly 7,500 children die from ‘hunger’ each year in South Africa
Claim
Nearly 7,500 children under the age of five die annually in South Africa as a direct result of hunger.
Source: Daily Maverick (18 September 2020)
unproven
Verdict
According to the latest official figures, just over 800 children under the age of five die annually in South Africa from severe acute malnutrition. While the real number is likely to be higher, no available data shows by how much.
Have South Africa’s commercial farmers declined from 120,000 in 1994 to 38,000? DA MP’s claim is misleading
Claim
The number of commercial farmers in South Africa has fallen from 120,000 to 38,000.
Source: Dianne Kohler Barnard, Democratic Alliance member of parliament (1 September 2020)
misleading
Verdict
There is no data on the number of individual farmers in the country. Figures from Stats SA are of the number of commercial farming units, and the definition of a unit has changed since the early 1990s.
Yes, cardiovascular disease is second leading cause of death in South Africa
Claim
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in South Africa after HIV/Aids.
Source: The South African Heart Association (29 September 2020)
mostly-correct
Verdict
World Health Organization data shows that infectious and parasitic diseases were the leading cause of death. HIV/Aids accounted for the majority of those deaths. Cardiovascular diseases were ranked second.
Fact-checking influential TV presenter’s claims about child trafficking in South Africa
Claims
Two claims about human trafficking in South Africa.
Source: Lerato Kganyago, South African television presenter and DJ (14 September 2020)
checked
Verdict
One exaggerated, one incorrect
Police violence in South Africa: what do the numbers show?
Claims
Four claims about police violence in South Africa
Source: Online graphic (August 2020)
checked
Verdict
One mostly correct, two correct, one unproven