Four claims on the Nigerian government’s revenue and debt payments.
Source: Dr Obadiah Mailafia, former deputy governor of the Central Bank Of Nigeria (June 2020)
Two correct, one misleading, one incorrect
Over 80% of all diseases in the world are transmitted by hand.
Source: Nigerian doctor and social media personality, Aproko Doctor (7 July 2020)
Experts say no evidence currently supports the claim that 80% of all diseases are transmitted “by hand”.
The World Health Organization “unequivocally” declared that South Africa was not ready to lift the national Covid-19 lockdown.
Source: Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Economic Freedom Fighters member of parliament (30 June 2020)
There is no evidence of the WHO making this statement. The organisation says it only provides guidance but governments have to make their own decisions.
The Covid-19 virus cannot survive on an inanimate object for more than nine days.
Source: The second-hand clothing lobby group, the Mitumba Association of Kenya (July 2020)
Scientific evidence relied on by the World Health Organization, drawn from studies and reviews, shows the virus which causes Covid-19 only survives on surfaces for at most nine days.
South Africa’s tourism industry employs 7.5 million people.
Source: Kevin Pietersen (July 2020)
Tourism directly employed 739,657 people in 2018.
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)
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.
Two claims about South Africa’s ability to manufacture and develop vaccines.
Source: South African president Cyril Ramaphosa (12 July 2020)
One correct, one mostly correct.
The standard for tax expenditures is about 2% of gross domestic product.
Source: Ukur Yatani, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for the treasury (June 2020)
Experts said there was no “standard” or even average for tax expenditures.
Three claims about sickle cell disease.
Source: TVC News (19 June 2020)
One correct, two incorrect
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)
51.4% of total tax revenue goes to public servant salaries, or 51.4 cents out of every R1 in tax.