State of the Facts: Verifying Cyril Ramaphosa’s #SONA2019 claims
Claims
Various claims about South Africa's progress.
Source: 2019 State of the Nation address
checked
Verdict
Verdicts ranging from correct to understated and unproven.
Reports: South Africa
Has SA’s President Ramaphosa kept his 2018 State of the Nation promises?
Claims
Four promises from a 2018 national address.
Source: 2018 state of the nation address.
checked
Verdict
Two promises kept, one broken and one still in progress.
‘Millions’ of Zimbabweans living in South Africa? Data doesn’t back claim
Claim
We have got millions of Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
Source: Lindiwe Zulu (January 2019)
unproven
Verdict
No data backs claim, but still uncertainty on origin of migrants in South Africa
Fact-checked: The ANC’s 2014 election manifesto promises
Claims
Three promises made by the ruling party in 2014.
Source: ANC 2014 election manifesto.
checked
Verdict
One broken, two still in progress.
Have ‘hundreds’ of kids drowned in school pit latrines in South Africa?
Claim
Over the past few years, hundreds of children have drowned in pit latrines in South Africa
Source: Global Citizen (January 2019)
incorrect
Verdict
Records show four children have died in school pit latrines since 2014. Two drowned while two more died when walls fell on them.
Yes, teenagers account for 10% of deliveries in South Africa, but not half the maternal deaths
Claims
Two claims on teen pregnancy and childbirth in South Africa
Source: KwaZulu-Natal member of the executive committee for health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo
checked
Verdict
One correct, one incorrect
ANC at 107: Eight birthday claims by party leader Ramaphosa fact-checked
Claims
Eight claims from the ANC’s 2019 "January 8th statement"
Source: ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa
checked
Verdict
Three correct, two mostly correct, one incorrect, two misleading
ANC breaks promise of 1.5 million vocational college students by 2019
During its 2014 election campaign, the African National Congress promised to enrol a record number of students in TVET colleges. Five years later we check if they kept their word.
Are 60% of South Africa’s vocational colleges dysfunctional?
Claim
60% of South African TVET colleges remain dysfunctional
Source: Democratic Alliance MP Yusuf Cassim (October 2018)
misleading
Verdict
Claim based on old pass rate for one qualification
South African Airways has lost billions in seven unprofitable years
Claim
South African Airways has not made a profit since 2011
Source: South African news reports (2018)
correct
Verdict
SAA last made a profit in the 2010/11 financial year