- Credible information enables citizens to participate meaningfully in democratic life and make informed choices.
- Misinformation and disinformation undermine public trust, distort public understanding and threaten democratic stability.
- Citizens have a responsibility to verify information before sharing it and to rely on trusted sources.
Credible information is not just a public good; it is the core of a healthy and robust democracy.
A constitutional democracy depends on citizens being well-informed on matters that affect their lives and enables them to participate meaningfully in public discourse. When people have access to trustworthy information, they are equipped to engage government, claim their rights, fulfil their responsibilities and are empowered to make informed choices.
This matters profoundly in South Africa, given our hard-won democratic dispensation, which is built upon constitutional values of dignity, equality and freedom. In a society still working to overcome inequality and historical injustice, access to reliable and transparent information helps ensure that people are involved in decision-making and that public participation is based on fact rather than rumour, fear, distortion, or manipulation.
Through reliable information, citizens are empowered to be active participants in democratic life, able to question, deliberate, evaluate the actions of those in power and hold leaders and institutions to account. Furthermore, accurate information strengthens social trust and enables communities to respond to national challenges with greater clarity. Given the crucial value of accurate information in upholding a flourishing democracy, misinformation and disinformation pose a serious threat to democratic stability.
Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information shared without the intent to deceive, while disinformation is deliberately created or circulated to mislead, manipulate or cause harm. Both are dangerous because they distort public understanding, weaken confidence in democratic institutions and make it harder for citizens to distinguish fact from fabrication.
When false narratives are amplified, they can influence how people vote, shape how communities respond to crises and undermine confidence in the very institutions that are meant to protect the public interest.
False information diverts attention from core issues that require policy focus and ultimately weakens democratic participation. Citizens may disengage from public processes, lose confidence in institutions or make decisions based on manipulation rather than evidence.
South Africa is witnessing an increase in harmful false content, including employment and investment scams, fabricated political material and misleading claims on sensitive matters such as migration and foreign relations. Such content does not merely misinform; it heightens anxiety, inflames social tensions, fuels division and undermines public trust in institutions and processes that are essential to democratic stability.
The challenge of false information in the digital age
In the digital age, this has become commonplace and has made the spread of false information cheaper, easier to produce, and faster to disseminate.
A significant number of online discussions, blogs, and social media posts now originate from citizen journalism and unverified sources, which, while expanding freedom of expression and participation, can sometimes result in the circulation of inaccurate or misleading information.
Some social media content lacks editorial safeguards, rigorous checks and balances, and ethical standards that mainstream media platforms subscribe to. It is therefore important for citizens to be mindful of the information they consume on digital platforms.
Harmful false content, including disinformation, as well as hate speech or incitement, contradicts our constitutional values and may result in legal consequences.
For all these reasons and more, every citizen should assume a discerning role to protect the integrity of our information environment. Before accepting or sharing a post, message, video or article, it is our duty to pause and verify it.
When consuming information online, always check the source, the date and context of information, who it is from, where it is published, and if the information appears on recognised news platforms or verified public channels.
The public can also use official government websites to verify and/or access legitimate news, such as the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) website and social media platforms. The website for GCIS and social media platforms include the GCIS Facebook page (GCIS), X (GCISMedia), Instagram (gcismedia), TikTok (governmentza) and YouTube (GovernmentZA).
Building resilience against misinformation and disinformation
The government is also strengthening its policy and communication response to misinformation and disinformation. Recent proposals include the development of a public fact-checking interface, restrictions on false news broadcasts and measures requiring disclosure of AI-generated content on digital platforms. In this regard, the National AI Policy is being drafted, and the Cybersecurity Strategy is being finalised, both of which are expected to strengthen efforts aimed at enabling citizens to better identify manipulated online content.
GCIS is also expanding the government’s capacity to proactively debunk deepfakes and tactical misinformation by creating a dedicated website and digital platform to allow the public to verify suspicious content more easily, along with continuing to stamp fake news as such.
These efforts are reinforced by the work of partners across the media, policy and civil society environment. In line with UNESCO’s human-rights-based approach, the Social Media for Peace South Africa programme is helping to strengthen society’s resilience to harmful online content, such as disinformation, through research, policy tools, media and information literacy training, public engagement and multistakeholder collaboration.
SANEF, which forms part of this broader effort, continues to support journalists in adhering to verification standards and works with news partners, civil society, government, and fact-checking platforms to track and verify false information.
Citizens are encouraged to utilise trusted fact-checking and reporting platforms, including Moxii Africa (formerly Media Monitoring Africa) and Real411, to verify claims, report harmful online content and distinguish fact from fabrication.
Furthermore, as the elections approach, citizens can also consult the IEC for clarity on elections-related information and processes.
As part of responsible citizenship and digital behaviour, citizens should avoid posting or sharing any content that cannot be verified and instead make it a habit to consult official websites and sources before forming conclusions or forwarding information.
Our democracy is strongest when the public is informed, vigilant and responsible. We call upon all citizens to play their part by spotting the fake, pausing before reacting, verifying before believing, and sharing with care. In these simple, practical ways, we protect not only ourselves but also the public sphere and the integrity of our democracy.
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