With movement restrictions in place due to Covid-19, unverified information still found a way of travelling, whether among family, colleagues or strangers – via WhatsApp.
Tag: development
Donald Trump’s ‘foreign policy’: Fact-checking US$166 bn China-Africa trade claim
Claim
Trade between Africa and China has grown rapidly, reaching US$166 billion in 2011.
Source: Mail & Guardian newspaper (19 October 2020)
Verdict
Available data confirms the trade figure quoted by the Mail & Guardian. Trade between Africa and China had grown by at least another US$20 billion by 2018, while US trade with the continent decreased.
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)
Verdict
51.4% of total tax revenue goes to public servant salaries, or 51.4 cents out of every R1 in tax.
It’s a crisis! Fact-checking top opposition leader’s claims about Kenya’s 2020 budget
Claims
Six claims criticising the administration, following the announcement of the budget for the 2020/21 financial year.
Source: Musalia Mudavadi, party leader, Amani National Congress (11 June 2020 in an interview on KTN News)
Verdict
One correct, one mostly correct, one misleading, three incorrect.