Article by Lindiwe Karosa
As the country attempts to combat the spread of Covid-19, law enforcement officials have been working hard to combat the spread of fake news. Minister of Police Bheki Cele announced that 8 people have been arrested for sharing false information regarding the pandemic.
South Africans are urged to verify the information that they share as they too could face charges, even if they are not the authors of the fake news. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do before sharing news:
Officials have pleaded with citizens to refrain from disseminating fake news as this causes unnecessary fear and panic across the country.
Here are some of the people facing charges:
● A 55-year old man from the Western Cape was arrested for spreading news that the Covid-19 test kits were contaminated. His video went viral on social media and has now been charged with contravening the National Disaster Management Act.
- A councillor from Plumstead, Cape Town has been arrested for spreading news that homeless people would be removed from the streets and quarantined at Pollsmoor Prison. His WhatsApp voice note did the rounds and he has now been charged with contravening the National Disaster Management Act.
To report fake news:
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