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Government warns against fake news

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Government has come out to say that anyone that creates or spreads fake news about the coronavirus (COVID-19) is liable for prosecution.

Earlier in the week Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula slammed what she calls the spreading of fake news on social media relating to the deployment of SANDF members across the country.

There is a lot of misinformation that has circulated about COVID-19 since the emergence of it.

Citizens are urged to verify the information before sharing it.

Earlier this week Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi announced that people who have circulated false news about the pandemic will be charged.

“I want to state here that this fake news tends to be more dangerous sometimes as much as the virus itself because it worries people. Because of this and because we are on possession of the original source of the pictures I’ve instructed my officials to go an lay a charge with the police. This is the first test case of whether fake news can be charged or not. We are going to charge these ones and we have identified at least 3 of them.”

Social analyst and managing director of the Black Box theory Yavi Madurai explains: 

Below are a few examples of fake news that have been circulating:

27 March: Loss of soldiers

26 March: Letter for closure of all learning institutions

25 March: Schools opening date might be carried to the 10th of September

24 March: List of critical services required during the imposition of restricted movement during COVID-19

23 March: Restrictions on movement

22 March: Landlords barred from collecting house rent for the next 90 days

21 March: Chinese nationals buying their way into the country

20 March – President Cyril Ramaphosa – helicopters spraying chemicals solutions

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