Reports: South Africa

No, EFF: Death of 10 South African children doesn’t ‘completely disprove’ low risk of young people contracting Covid-19

Claim

The deaths of at least 10 South African children between the ages of 10 and 19 from Covid-19 “completely disproves the notion that young people and children are less susceptible to contracting the virus”.
Source: Political party the Economic Freedom Fighters (2 July 2020)

incorrect

Verdict

The number of deaths from the disease within a population group does not prove whether or not children are susceptible to Covid-19. Experts recommend using the infection incidence rate.

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In South Africa’s post-coronavirus budget, more than half of tax revenue goes to public servant salaries

Claim

Out of every R1 paid in taxes, 58 cents goes towards paying the salaries of public servants
Source: Leon Schreiber, Democratic Alliance shadow minister for public service and administration (June 2020)

mostly-correct

Verdict

51.4% of total tax revenue goes to public servant salaries, or 51.4 cents out of every R1 in tax.

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Fact-checking president Ramaphosa: Have 51% of South African women experienced intimate partner violence?

Claim

As many as “51% of South African women have experienced violence at the hands of someone with whom they are in a relationship”.
Source: South African president Cyril Ramaphosa (13 June 2020)

incorrect

Verdict

The most recent, nationally representative data, from 2016, shows 26% of South African women reported intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

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Minister Zulu wrong. South Africa ranks high, but not ‘number one in the killing of women’

Claim

South Africa is “number one in the killing of women” internationally.
Source: Lindiwe Zulu, South Africa’s minister of social development (25 June 2020)

incorrect

Verdict

The most recent numbers indicate that while the rate that South African women are killed is nearly five times the global average, three other countries are ahead in this grisly ranking.

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Up in smoke: Roughly R35m in tobacco tax revenues lost daily during South Africa’s lockdown

Claim

South Africa is losing R35 million every day in tax revenue because of the ban on cigarettes.
Source: Yusuf Abramjee, founder of Tax Justice South Africa (29 April 2020)

mostly-correct

Verdict

Excise tax revenues for tobacco sales in April 2020, the first full month of the Covid-19 lockdown, were down more than R36 million daily compared to April 2019.

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More than an inconvenience: Alcohol ban could help South Africans fight Covid-19 infection

Claim

Alcohol weakens the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight infections such as Covid-19.
Source: South African government on Twitter (2 April 2020)

correct

Verdict

Several studies have shown that alcohol use, particularly the binge drinking common in South Africa, reduces the body’s ability to fight infection.

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