Check a viral claim
Search claims by topic and see what evidence supports, contradicts or leaves a question unresolved.
Browse checks →For citizens. For evidence.Know what’s verified.
Know what’s verified.
Decide for yourself.
SA Truth Guardian helps people examine viral claims, distinguish evidence from rumours, and find clearly sourced public-interest information. We explain the evidence without telling citizens what political choice to make.
Our editorial rule: show the claim, evidence, sources, reasoning, review date and any meaningful uncertainty.
01Claim identified
02Evidence checked
03Review published
Evidence-ledPrimary sources wherever possible.
TransparentCorrections and review dates stay visible.
Non-partisanNo candidate or party endorsements.
Citizen-firstBuilt around the questions citizens ask.
Explore the desk
Three ways to get the facts
Read source-backed updates
Short public-interest explainers that identify their sources, dates, context and remaining uncertainty.
Open the news desk →Learn how we verify
See the six-step method behind every check, so you can inspect the reasoning and apply it to what you see online.
Read the method →Latest fact-checks
All 9 checks →Before you vote on 4 November
12 OctSpecial vote applications close, 17:00
2–3 NovSpecial voting days
4 NovElection day — bring your ID
32810SMS your ID number to check where you're registered
False
“If you don't vote, your vote automatically goes to the biggest party.”
No mechanism transfers an unused vote to any party.
Read the full check →False“On 4 November you can vote at any voting station in the country.”
In local elections you can only vote in the voting district where you are registered.
Read the full check →False“You need a smart ID card to vote — the green ID book is no longer accepted.”
The green bar-coded ID book, smart ID card and a valid temporary ID certificate are all accepted.
Read the full check →The process
Read methodologyFrom viral post to visible evidence
01
Identify
Capture the exact claim and preserve the original source.
02
Investigate
Trace primary documents, dates, context and independent corroboration.
03
Review
A second reviewer checks whether the evidence supports the wording.
04
Publish
Explain the finding clearly, with sources and corrections where needed.
Take part
See something suspicious?
Citizen claim submissions are opening soon. Until then, check our Myth Buster first — and for suspected election-related disinformation, use the official Real411 reporting channel.
Our boundaries
We show the evidence. You make the choice.
We don't tell citizens who to vote for. We don't treat disagreement as proof of falsehood. We don't publish accusations without evidence.
Political opinions, predictions and rhetoric are distinct from checkable factual claims.