An article from a satirical website, which claimed that a Limpopo farming community braaied 30 cows awarded to them for a farming project, has gone viral on social media.
The article, likely intended as humour, has been mistaken by many as factual, highlighting the challenges of misinformation in the digital age.
The article described a community in Mokopane hosting a massive braai with donated cattle meant for farming, complete with fictional quotes and exaggerated scenarios. Despite its satirical nature, the story has been widely shared, with some readers believing it to be true.
The Limpopo Agriculture Department has subsequently confirmed that no such handover of cows took place, and that the article was indeed not factual.
A spokesperson for the department said while they have little control over what information is being disseminated, the correct information about their events and programmes are shared on their official social media platforms.
“While there is not much that can be done when things like this happen, we do take time to educate our communities.”
William Baloyi, chief director for media engagement at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), emphasised in a statement the importance of verifying information, and cautioned against the spread of false narratives that could harm public perception and policy implementation.
“The instantaneous nature of social media makes it possible for people to have access to an abundance of information at their fingertips. However, the information available online is not always reliable,” he said in the statement.
“Inaccurate information has the potential to create unnecessary panic, threaten public safety and erode trust in our institutions. It also hampers people’s ability to make informed decisions.”
He advised social media users to use various fact-checking websites and online tools to determine what information was credible.
“These assist in discerning factual information from fake content. This includes fact-checking platforms such as Africa Check, which is an independent resource. Africa Check classifies certain messages as false, partly false [or] scams to help people identify misleading information.”
