What's Crap on WhatsApp?

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into claims about South Africa’s roads: Are South Africa’s roads really the worst in the world to drive in? Fact-checking viral road safety hoaxes. Tips and tricks for spotting crime misinformation. 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 conf...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Beware: No smartphone app can test for HIV! Adverts making these claims are scams.  https://bit.ly/hiv_app Can drinking baking soda water after meals and consuming honey and cannabis oil cure late-stage pancreatic cancer? Of course not. Is the South African Police Service hiring, or is this just another job scam?&nbs...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: No, South Africa’s Department of Basic Education is not planning to introduce ‘grade 13’ in high schools.  https://bit.ly/sa_grade13 Does this video show a sinkhole at the ‘Harties tunnel’ in South Africa? Nope.  https://bit.ly/sa_sinkhole Can a mixture of turmeric and ginger ‘reduce the growth of fibroids’? Of...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Reports of more deaths of South African children from spaza shop poisonings are not true, ignore engagement bait.  https://bit.ly/sa_poisonings Can dried pawpaw seeds cure fibroids? Of course not.  https://bit.ly/fibroids_remedy ZOMBIE CLAIM: Drug dealers aren’t trying to lure kids with ‘strawberry meth’. ...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Ignore the widely shared claim that 100% of South Africa’s HIV/Aids funding comes from the United States, it’s mostly funded by the SA government. https://bit.ly/hiv_funding Has South Africa raised its retirement age to 70? Nope.  https://bit.ly/sa_retirement Don’t believe this old claim: South Africa hasn’t barred w...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: This widely shared video of a school child assaulted by a teacher is from Nigeria, not South Africa.  https://bit.ly/video_nigeria Does this video show South African firefighters travelling to the United States in January 2025 to assist with wildfire response? Nope!  https://bit.ly/southafrica_wildfires No, Chin...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into three top tools for verifying information in 2025:  Using Google's  About this  tool: How and why.  The Wayback Machine: An internet time capsule.  InVid and WeVerify’s verification plugin: Speedy video debunks. Your friends and family can sign up for our show! Tell them to save our number (+27 82 709 3...

In our last episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” for 2024, we look at 3 viral claims and share some tips for avoiding false information this festive season: Does this video show the pillars of a bridge cut near their bases by “illegal foreigners” in South Africa? No, they’re part of the original design!  https://bit.ly/sa_bridge The South African Police Service has rubbished a “special publi...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Was there a nationwide product recall issued for a batch of Yaz Plus, a hormonal birth control pill in South Africa? Surprisingly, yes!  https://bit.ly/yaz_southafrica Don’t try these home remedies for detoxifying heavy metals from the body.  https://bit.ly/metals_heavy Can this “herbal tea” cure glaucoma, catar...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Did US president-elect Donald Trump make a controversial speech about Africans, called “rise up Africans”? Nope.  https://bit.ly/trump_africans Beware: This child kidnapping warning is a variation on an old hoax.  https://bit.ly/child_kidnapping 🫚 Can basil leaf and ginger cure all infections? Of course not.&nb...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Folic acid is vital during pregnancy, ignore widely shared claims to throw the nutrient “in the trash”.  https://bit.ly/folicacid_folate Do these videos show the secretary general of South Africa’s largest political party, criticising president Cyril Ramaphosa? No!  https://bit.ly/fikile_mbalula Did South Africa...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Was this photo of a Somali man with a gun taken in South Africa? No!  https://bit.ly/somalia_southafrica No, the South African Social Security Agency is not giving grants to chronically ill South Africans aged over 70.  https://bit.ly/sassa_grant SCAM: ‘Phase 5’ of South Africa’s presidential youth employment in...

On this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?” we take a deep dive into the current health emergency, mpox: What is mpox? Revisiting what we know about the contagious virus. Quick debunks of common myths. Tips on fact-checking during disease outbreaks. 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...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four viral claims: Can a common type of grass reverse kidney failure? Nope. https://bit.ly/kidney_failure Should those with candidiasis avoid sugar, wheat and dairy? No! https://bit.ly/candidiasis_treatment SCAM: Be wary of ‘R6,000’ vacancies for Capitec advertised in unverified social media posts. https://bit.ly/capitec_scam SCAM: Ignore t...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: These old photos have been used to inflame tensions after a South African mayor’s controversial proposal to hire ‘foreigners’.  https://bit.ly/sa_protest Has the World Health Organization ordered countries to prepare for ‘mega lockdowns’ over the mpox outbreak? No!  https://bit.ly/mpox_lockdown ‘Delib...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: There’s no evidence that 'Jinja Herbal Extracts' can cure various diseases and conditions, seek verified medical attention instead.  https://bit.ly/jinja_herbalextracts Does the British monarch own all the land in England? Britain’s land laws are no model for expropriation in South Africa.  https://bi...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Does this screenshot show a post about “digital and medical IDs” by Western Cape premier Alan Winde? Nope, it’s a parody account.  https://bit.ly/winde_post There’s no proof that South Africa’s new home affairs minister Leon Schreiber is ‘a Zimbabwean foreigner’.  https://bit.ly/schreiber_foreigner Di...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: No, don’t use a mixture of salt, sugar and dry gin as a remedy for cholera. Seek medical attention instead.  https://bit.ly/mixture_cholera Has Bill Gates hasn’t launched maggot milk? Thankfully, this claim is false.  https://bit.ly/maggot_milk Do not use tomato leaf juice to treat cataracts. See a do...

On this episode of *“What's Crap on WhatsApp?”* we take a deep dive into post-election misinformation: Quick debunks of widely-shared myths. Harmful effects of election misinformation & tips to avoid it. What's next for South Africa? 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 Wh...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: FALSE: South Africa’s electoral commission has debunked claims around ‘changing’ vote numbers on the results dashboard.  https://bit.ly/sa_votes Does this video show boxes of ‘hidden’, ‘uncounted’ votes cast in South Africa’s 2024 elections? Of course not.  https://bit.ly/uncounted_ballotboxes Is a “m...

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four claims doing the rounds: Will the US security agency start a war in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province and frame the uMkhonto weSizwe party? Of course not!  https://bit.ly/cia_southafrica There’s no evidence that South Africa’s two biggest political parties bribed the electoral commission to rig the election.  https://bit....

In this episode of “What's Crap on WhatsApp?”, we look at four election-related claims doing the rounds: FALSE: South Africa’s electoral commission has dispelled claims of ‘destroyed’ ballot boxes in South Africa’s Limpopo province.  https://bit.ly/iec_ballotboxes Were ‘mystery’ ballot papers ‘discovered’ pre-filled with votes for South Africa’s ruling party? Nope!  https://bit.ly/anc_ie...

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’...

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://...

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 messag...