Despite widespread concern leading up to voting day, there wasn’t as much false information powered by artificial intelligence as Africa Check expected. Why was this?

A video has been posted on social media with the claim it shows sealed and hidden ballot boxes full of uncounted votes from South Africa’s May 2024 elections. But according to the country’s electoral commission, the video shows resealed ballot boxes that have been stored at the commission’s warehouse.

With unemployment in South Africa at 32.1%, most political parties have been keen to talk up their ability to create jobs ahead of the May 2024 elections. But do the ruling ANC’s triumphant claims about a flagship programme stand up to scrutiny?

South African citizens are anxious, excited, and uncertain about the outcome of the upcoming May 29 elections which mark thirty years of democracy. There is undisputable consensus among the citizens that this election will mark a critical turning point in South Africa's democratic and political history. However, the anxiety and uncertainty within the political and electoral landscape have become a breeding ground for propaganda and disinformation. Propaganda and disinformation are seen to be posing dangers to SA’s democratic process. Both polarise communities, mislead voters, and erode trust in public institutions, responsible for election administration. To confirm these dangers, a recent UNESCO study notes that: "In today's rapidly evolving digital environment, opportunities for communication between citizens, politicians, and political parties are unprecedented –– with information related to elections flowing faster and easier than ever, […]with billions of human beings connected, ‘propaganda’ and disinformation circulating unhinged around the networks, democratic processes and access to reliable information are at risk.”[1] This risk is what South Africa is experiencing in its 2024 elections. Considering this, there is a need to shield democracy in the republic by countering propaganda and disinformation. The article's purpose is to discuss recent trends of propaganda and disinformation in South Africa's 2024 elections. The paper will also suggest possible measures to mitigate their impact.

Did South Africa’s main opposition party get its facts right when it outlined how it would tackle several problem areas if it were voted into power?

South Africa’s ruling party made several commitments in its 2019 manifesto. How many were kept and how many made it back to the 2024 version?

In April 2021, a coordinated campaign targeting two South African banks surfaced on Twitter. While superficially taking aim at systemic racism in South Africa’s banking sector, beneath the #RacistBanksMustFall hashtag’s altruistic veneer were the vested interests of Sekunjalo Independent Media, owners of South Africa’s third largest news organization.

The Electoral Integrity Dialogue explores the significant role of electoral integrity in South Africa and the various measures to guarantee a fair, just, and transparent electoral process. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) plays a crucial role in ensuring electoral integrity and preventing any fraudulent activities, manipulations, coercion, or other irregularities that could potentially undermine the legitimacy of the election results. Izak Minnaar highlighted that the IEC is an independent body with the responsibility of ensuring that the electoral process is conducted in a transparent and impartial manner. This includes overseeing the voter registration process, the voting process, and the announcement of election results, among other things.

Twitter account linked to a member of South Africa’s third largest political party baited racial tensions to monetize traffic to his website

Africa Check’s editors in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa look back on a decade-long effort to improve voters’ decisions.

Ensuring election integrity is crucial for a thriving democracy. Let's discuss ways to strengthen our local electoral system.

With much of the world adapting to a new normal, it is more important than ever that the public is aware of the dangers of false or misleading information on the coronavirus pandemic.

There are few topics that people know not to mention in my presence. Telling me that science communication and science journalism are the same thing is one of them.

A new study argues for an expanded definition of media literacy.

Cyril Ramaphosa has been sounding the drums about the adverse effects of climate change. We took a closer look at a key claim he made.

As our experience in Kenya shows, Africa Check’s Fact Ambassador programme has boosted our multi-tentacular approach to fighting false information online and offline.

South Africans have the right to access government information, so it’s important that agency and department websites work well. Africa Check’s researchers review these sites – from the excellent (looking at you, Stats SA) to the poorly organised and the downright ugly.

As nearly a dozen countries in the region prepare to hold presidential elections, the spread of disinformation is inflaming the continent's political landscape. Will facts prevail and calm the situation?

As nearly a dozen countries in the region prepare to hold presidential elections, the spread of disinformation is inflaming the continent's political landscape. Will facts prevail and calm the situation?

Well-worn untruths about HIV/Aids took a backseat during the Covid-19 pandemic. But vigilance against Aids denialism is important, particularly in Africa where access to accurate information and inclusive healthcare is still patchy.

Despite the hype around artificial intelligence, the bigger threat in Africa remains “cheap fakes” and other low-effort forms of information deception.

We are faced with many challenges that require organisations to be resilient, characterized by an overwhelming amount of information on various digital platforms, fact-checking organisations have emerged as vital entities in ensuring the accuracy, credibility, and reliability of the information. These organisations help to verify the authenticity of news and information, preventing the spread of false data and disinformation. Fact-checking organisations employ various techniques, including investigative journalism, data analysis, and expert opinions, to scrutinize claims and verify facts. Through their efforts, they help to foster trust between the public and the media while upholding the values of truth and transparency. These organisations play a pivotal role in scrutinizing and debunking false claims, thereby contributing to the preservation of reliable information. While they have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of numerous challenges, the digital landscape presents a dynamic and evolving battlefield for fact-checkers. This blog explores the challenges faced by fact-checking organisations and the strategies they employ to maintain their resilience in the relentless fight against disinformation.

The 2023 media freedom festival organized by Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) was dominated by how we can collectively fight against the proliferation of disinformation.

The internet has become a powerful tool for social advocacy. Campaigners are increasingly relying on Digital Storytelling (DST) to get their message across and garner support for their cause. The power shift from powerful institutions into the hands of grassroots communities has given activists a larger platform to organise engagements and build momentum for movements. However, it is important to note that online media consumers exist in the era of what has been duped by the attention economy and information overload. Your campaign runs the risk of getting lost in the plethora of available digital content, if you do not portray a compelling story.

As we draw nearer to the end of 2023, South Africans, with both glee and uncertainty, are gearing up for the national and provincial elections scheduled for May/Jun 2024. This will be the seventh democratic general election held democratically in South Africa since 1994, with many pronouncing that these upcoming elections are to be a watershed moment. Similar to the previous six democratically held elections in South Africa since 1994, the 2024 general elections also come with their own set of challenges that have the potential to undermine the credibility of the elections. To mitigate these challenges, we shall first define and explore them and their nature, look at how they could possibly undermine elections and infringe on human rights, and then contemplate adequate, effective responses to these challenges to ensure the credibility and integrity of our elections.

The panel discussion explored how disinformation can influence elections and democratic processes, evaluate propaganda and fake news, how communities can strengthen digital resilience in response to future trends, how to strike a balance between freedom of expression and disinformation, and various strategies that can be employed in South Africa to rebuild trust in media and institutions. It showcased various countries where disinformation campaigns aimed to manipulate voter perceptions and sway election outcomes. Participants gained valuable insights from subject matter experts Azola Dayile and Tshepiso Hadebe into effective countermeasures employed by activists, journalists, and electoral bodies. The COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed an infodemic and a proliferation of misinformation and disinformation. Participants learned how scientific experts, health organisations, and fact-checkers have debunked falsehoods, ensuring accurate information reaches the public.

The purpose of this community-building event was to provide and promote truth, and accuracy in information dissemination to form a collaborative network, equip the community with tools, and knowledge to combat disinformation, and share best practices to enable participants to learn from the subject matter experts to maintain informed citizenry.

When navigating through today’s heavily saturated media landscape it is crucial to have the discerning ability to differentiate between fact and fiction. Media literacy empowers people to be critical thinkers and creators, effective communicators, and active citizens. Media literacy starts with education and the sooner we equip ourselves and our children with the critical thinking skills needed to be discerning in their consumption of media instead of passive, the better. But where does one begin? Whether you’re an educator, a parent or simply wanting to gain a deeper understanding of the concept of media literacy and what it entails there are several online resources available to help with the learning journey.

Disinformation spreads rapidly and effortlessly, and the rise of disinformation has become an alarming global phenomenon. Misleading narratives, fake news, and conspiracy theories have the power to manipulate public opinion, polarize societies, and undermine democratic processes. To combat this growing threat, Phambano Technology Development Centre NPC, DFRLab, and TechSoup Global Network have come together to organize Countering Disinformation Masterclass webinar to empower individuals with the tools to recognize, debunk, and counter disinformation.

ln recent years, there has been a growing recognition that poor governance can have profound and negative impacts on local communities. When governments fail to provide basic services, ensure social justice, or protect the environment, it can lead to frustration, anger, and even social unrest. However, civil society organisations have stepped up to fill the gap left by ineffective or corrupt governments, taking local actions to improve the lives of people in their communities.

The globe is constantly spinning with information right at our fingertips. However, interpreting that information can be a lot more complicated than it seems.

Disinformation and online manipulation is a widespread issue, targeting a number of minority groups based on gender, sexual expression, race, age, and more. In light of the rise in politically driven attacks on the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, it's critical to counter disinformation in order for them to receive treatment for physical and mental health, sex reassignment procedures, and have safer spaces in schools and communities.

The internet has taken the globe by storm for the past 30 years, and it’s almost impossible to imagine the world without it. Digital privacy can be at risk without the proper online precautions in place.

As the world grapples with the increasingly pressing need to address climate change and environmental issues, online disinformation campaigns have emerged as a powerful tool in the manipulation of public perspective, inspiring scepticism, and spreading false information.

How do CSOs remain strong while fighting for equality and justice? What is the importance of mental resistance to civil society? Learn from resilient leaders and cultivate a growth mindset. Throughout history, there have been many world leaders who were once civic society activists and demonstrated exceptional mental resilience in the face of adversity.

The Hive Mind launch in South Africa was a success. We are thankful to all our speakers who gave incredible presentations and supported the need for Hive Mind to help civil society and build digital resilience.

South Africa a nation that suffered through discrimination and segregation, even after years of freedom, has become a place where foreign nationals feel unsafe and discriminated against. The continuous rise of xenophobic attacks in the country have resulted in the loss of lives, homes and businesses.

How eye witnessing and capturing the spur of the moment prevents disinformation

Information can come from various sources. Most often than not, you would pick up your smartphone or open your laptop and start scrolling through content; clicking on and sharing whatever looks interesting. However, it is good to know what is going on behind the scenes…

Social media platforms allow users to interact in a faster and easier manner. On one hand, this phenomenon helps establishing relationships and bonds beyond physical boundaries, leading to the exchange of information and content of all kinds. It is also not a secret that these platforms offer users tools for commercializing goods, products and services.