In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Are eight out of 10 people employed in the Democratic Alliance governed Western Cape? No, this is incorrect. https://bit.ly/western_cape There is no evidence to support the claim that a mixture of avocado seed and rubbing alcohol can cure joint pain. https://bit.ly/avocado_alcohol #ZOMBIECLAIM: Don’t believe this old warning about the ‘different and deadly’ coronavirus ‘XBB variant’. https://bit.ly/xbb_variant #SCAM: Voting for your favourite bank on social media won’t reward you with cash pr ..read more

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four election-related claims doing the rounds: Did the African National Congress (ANC) keep its promise to implement national health insurance in South Africa? No. https://bit.ly/anc_promise US president Joe Biden did not warn of South African sanctions if the ANC wins the 2024 elections. Ignore this AI-generated video. https://bit.ly/biden_anc Does this video show Mozambican migrants ‘imported’ to vote for South Africa’s ruling party? Of course not. https://bit.ly/mozambican_migrants This image of an unenclosed public to ..read more

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into election misinformation: Claims you are likely to see during election season. Emerging narratives on social media. What to watch out for on election day. Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you need fact-checked! Forward videos, pictures and links to this number ..read more

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Did load-shedding cost the economy R300 billion in 2022? This claim is mostly correct. https://bit.ly/loadshedding_economy No, you can’t ‘eliminate’ varicose veins with rosemary and laurel. There is no cure for the condition. https://bit.ly/varicoseveins_cure Yes, WhatsApp is still encrypted. Ignore this viral hoax doing the rounds since 2021. https://bit.ly/whatsapp_encrypted Can you get a South African ID online? No, ignore messages claiming they can help you obtain essential documents.&nbs ..read more

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Eminem did not endorse the EFF opposition party in South Africa, this video is a deepfake. https://bit.ly/eminem_eff Yes, the top three billionaires do own more wealth than the poorest 26 million citizens in South Africa. https://bit.ly/wealth_inequality If you don’t vote in South Africa’s elections, will your vote automatically go to the ruling party? No! https://bit.ly/southafrica_votes Does this video show a Nigerian citizen arrested in South Afric ..read more

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds:  Is South Africa the most unequal country in the world? Yes, but there are problems with cross-country comparisons. https://bit.ly/southafrica_unequal No, the South African Reserve Bank did not give a performance award to a bank in Orania. https://bit.ly/sarb_orania Did Microsoft announce plans to ‘disable’ computers used to post ‘non-mainstream content’? Nope! https://bit.ly/microsoft_computers  No, South Africans did not attack Nigerians after the 2024 Afcon semifinal. https ..read more

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: SCAM ALERT: A false message claims to offer prepaid electricity to the public through unverified WhatsApp numbers. https://bit.ly/prepaid_electricity Does this video show supporters of South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party? No, it shows a May Day rally in the Dominican Republic. https://bit.ly/crowd_southafrica This viral video shows a homophobic assault in Brazil, not a white farmer attacked in South Africa. https://bit.ly/southafrica_video Does a photo of a large rusted vehicle lying a ..read more

In this episode of *“What's Crap on WhatsApp?”*, we look at four claims doing the rounds: No, South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters party is not making fake identity documents for migrants. https://bit.ly/eff_fakeidentity Is aluminium in vaccines or aluminium foil bad for your health? No, these claims are false. https://bit.ly/aluminium_health Does this image show a mobile phone factory in Zambia? No, it was made using artificial intelligence. https://bit.ly/phone_factory This widely-shared photo shows the famous Hoover dam in the US, not the Nandoni dam in South Africa’s Lim ..read more

On this episode of *“What's Crap on WhatsApp?”* we take a deep dive into election misinformation: Investigating claims made by the ruling African National Congress during its annual January 8th statement. https://africacheck.info/ancstatement_southafrica Why it’s important to debunk misinformation ahead of the 2024 general elections in South Africa. Tips to help you spot and debunk election misinformation. Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (082 709 3527) and send us a WhatsApp message to confirm. You can send us any WhatsApp message that you ne ..read more

In our first episode of *“What's Crap on WhatsApp?”* for 2024, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Not all Oreo biscuits are halal but NONE of them are made with pig’s milk. https://bit.ly/oreo_milk Do some common South African foods contain graphene oxide? Nope. https://bit.ly/food_grapheneoxide No, CBD gummies won’t cure your tinnitus, and may make ringing in your ears worse. https://bit.ly/cbd_tinnitus Was South African president Cyril Ramaphosa rushed to hospital? No, ignore this ‘malicious rumour,’ says spokesperson. https://bit.ly/ramaphosa_hospital Your friends ..read more