What's Crap on WhatsApp?

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims stoking xenophobic tensions in South Africa: Did Joburg metro police arrest foreigners with stolen traffic lights? https://bit.ly/traffic_lights_stolen Does this video show Democratic Alliance politician Michael Sun complaining about immigrants to South Africa? https://bit.ly/sun_da No, these images and videos of a Shoprit...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Is Cape Town ‘officially’ a US province? https://bit.ly/capetown_da Are photos of this ‘no South Africans allowed’ protest in Kraaifontein real? https://bit.ly/kraaifontein_protest Can pomegranate prevent or treat cancer? https://bit.ly/pomegranate_cancer Does this viral videos show a giraffe being injured on a highway? h...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Is the South African government implementing a R1,200 ‘HIV grant’? https://bit.ly/hiv_grant Is South Africa sending troops to help US president Donald Trump wage war in Iran? https://bit.ly/sa_troops Is the South African government removing English from public schools? https://bit.ly/sa_schools Is an ‘illegal immigrant’ c...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we’re looking at three viral health claims: Will a ‘miracle seed’ treat diabetes, hypertension or gastritis? https://bit.ly/seed_cure Will neem tea kill intestinal parasites and cure a host of other ailments? https://bit.ly/neem_tea Is cancer a parasitic infection that can be cured using herbs? https://bit.ly/cancer_parasite Bonus: Tips for busting fa...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Will helping strangers use their smartphones expose you to ‘AI biometric identity fraud’? https://bit.ly/biometric_identity_fraud Is Zambia’s electoral commission hiring through this link? https://bit.ly/zambia_electoralcommission There is no evidence that a Nigerian scammer was arrested by a retired FBI agent in South Af...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Is something called Gammora really a ‘cure’ for HIV? https://bit.ly/gammora_hiv Is this article about South African poaching arrests in Kruger National Park real? https://bit.ly/poaching_arrests No, this viral photo does not show a South African city turning red in support of the EFF. https://bit.ly/eff_support Don’t trus...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Has South African tourist hotspot Jeffreys Bay been declared a refuge for tens of thousands of refugees? https://bit.ly/sa_refugees Can a mixture of Jameson whiskey and garlic cure HIV/Aids? https://bit.ly/whiskey_garlic No, the nhundurwa fruit cannot reduce toothache and pain. https://bit.ly/nhundurwa_fruit South Africa,...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Is there a new R1,682 family support grant in South Africa? https://bit.ly/support_grant Don’t trust these deceptive medical care ads, ‘Affordable Care South Africa’ raises many red flags. https://bit.ly/medical_care_ads Will a mixture of onion, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon cure hypertension? https://bit.ly/hypertensio...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Is this video of South Africa’s anti-migrant group leader saying her parents are Zimbabwean real?  https://bit.ly/dabula_deepfake Is South Africa introducing R1,000 banknotes or discontinuing the R200 note?  https://bit.ly/sa_banknote Yes, the founder of NGO Gift of the Givers, Imtiaz Sooliman, did say, ‘I follo...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Are these photos proof of xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg in November 2025?  https://bit.ly/xenophobic_attacks Does this video show post-election protests in Tanzania?  https://bit.ly/protests_tanzania No, clove water cannot ‘destroy cancer cells in 48 hours’.  https://bit.ly/clove_cancer These viral ATM...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Did South Africa’s departing prosecuting authority head Shamila Batohi call her tenure a ‘horror movie’?  https://bit.ly/shamila_batohi ‍Does this picture show a transformed Johannesburg street after a market was shut down in October 2025?  https://bit.ly/joburg_street No, this viral photo doesn’t show a Mozambi...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Does this ‘viral video’ show late South African ambassador Nathi Mthethwa’s fall from a Paris hotel?  https://bit.ly/mthethwa_video Has Mthethwa’s ‘killer’ been arrested in Paris?  https://bit.ly/mthethwa_sa Ignore posts claiming a homemade drink can ‘flush out’ kidney stones; see a doctor instead.  https:/...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Does Cape Town have “one of the lowest wastages of water in the world”?  https://bit.ly/sa_watercrisis Does Johannesburg lose almost 50% of its water?  https://bit.ly/sa_watercrisis This viral image of South African politician Kenny Kunene with a gang-style tattoo is manipulated.  https://bit.ly/kenny_kunen...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: No, South Africa’s Department of Health is not helping migrants with ‘medical treatment’ at their homes.  https://bit.ly/medical_treatment Does this video show South African health workers celebrating after migrants were denied access to their hospital? Nope.  https://bit.ly/health_workers No, South African radi...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: No, this old trespassing claim is still false. South Africa hasn’t scrapped your right to self-defence.  https://bit.ly/trespassing_law This video of a uniformed man calling for the removal of politicians is not from the South African army.  https://bit.ly/sandf_politicians Will drinking garlic, ginger, cloves a...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into AI videos and Google’s Veo 3 model, looking at: The potential for misinformation. Examples of fake content. Tips on debunking AI-generated videos, including by Veo. 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 What...

In this special episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at three viral claims: You may have seen a widely-shared claim on WhatsApp’s ‘advanced chat privacy’, but the viral warning is wrong and we’ll dive deep into the facts. https://bit.ly/advanced_privacy Fake news alert: Namibia’s presidency debunks claims of a ‘rejected proposal’ of a contraceptive trial in the country. https://bit.ly/na...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: No, mining company Sibanye-Stillwater is not offering learnerships or training via a dodgy link.  https://bit.ly/stillwater_sibanye Is South African billionaire Johann Rupert giving out cash grants? Of course not.  https://bit.ly/rupert_scam Scam alert: Ignore fake social media ads for ambulance assistants train...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: No, mixture of guava leaves, ginseng root, ginger and lemons can’t cure blocked fallopian tubes or endometriosis!   https://bit.ly/fibroids_endo Deepfake alert: This AI-generated video falsely portrays well-known health expert criticising Covid-19 vaccines.  https://bit.ly/ai_covid_video Did a South African...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we take a deep dive into artificial intelligence, by: Bringing you facts on artificial intelligence. Helping you sort fact from fiction with AI-generated content. Sharing tips on debunking this content online. 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...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Were South African ‘refugees’ to the US ‘just a bunch of car guards’?  https://bit.ly/car_guards Do black farmers own “millions of hectares of land” and “approximately 50% of all the land area” in South Africa?  https://bit.ly/sa_land Can mango seeds really cure fibroids? No, see a doctor instead.  https://...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: No, a diabetes cure is not ‘just a drop of inbox message’ away – ignore social media posts claiming otherwise.  https://bit.ly/diabetes_inbox No, a ‘lemon, garlic drink’ won't treat high blood pressure – ignore this claim.  https://bit.ly/garlic_lemon Should you eat MORE salt, going against common health advice?...

In this episode of *“What's Crap on WhatsApp?”*, we look at four viral claims: Ignore this harmful claim - pap smears do not damage the cervix or have the potential to cause abnormal cell growth.  https://bit.ly/papsmear_sa Can drinking rosemary, cinnamon and turmeric tea lower blood sugar? Of course not, see a doctor instead. https://bit.ly/bloodsugar_low Can eating a salted apple offer ‘ins...

In this episode of *“What's Crap on WhatsApp?”*, we look at four viral claims: No, South African soldiers in the DRC are not pawning their weapons in ‘Guns-for-Busfare Initiative’.  https://bit.ly/southafrica_weapons Have smartwatches been found to emit ‘dangerous levels’ of radiation? No!  https://bit.ly/smartwatches_radiation Should you avoid biopsies, because they can cause cancer to...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Will ginger and lemon cure diabetes? Of course not - this home remedy is nothing new and not effective.  https://bit.ly/3Y38cn6 No, there’s still no evidence for ‘seismic waves cards’ that will ‘hack your phone in 10 seconds’.  https://bit.ly/4cAYP47 Beware of job scams! South African retailer Woolworths only re...