The article discusses the evolving scientific consensus on alcohol consumption, highlighting that even moderate drinking may pose health risks, including cancer and heart disease. It references various studies and expert opinions, including those from the World Health Organisation, American Cancer Society, and other health organizations, which now suggest that no amount of alcohol is safe. The article also touches on the historical context of alcohol consumption guidelines and the recent changes in recommendations from health authorities in different countries. Overall, it emphasizes that drinking less is better for health and advises individuals to consider their personal health history when deciding on alcohol consumption.

The article explores the evolving scientific consensus on alcohol consumption, highlighting that even moderate drinking may pose health risks, including cancer and heart disease. It references various studies and expert opinions, including those from the World Health Organisation, American Cancer Society, and other health organizations, which now suggest that no amount of alcohol is safe. The article also discusses updated drinking guidelines from countries like Canada and the implications for public health. Experts advise considering personal health history and risks before deciding to drink, emphasizing that overall, drinking less is better for health.

The African National Congress (ANC) has fulfilled only one out of seven key promises made in its 2014 election manifesto, according to Africa Check. The promises assessed include expanding public works programs, eliminating the backlog of title deeds, connecting homes to the electricity grid, installing solar water heaters, establishing a National Health Insurance Fund, and doubling the number of people on antiretrovirals. The ANC met its commitment to open two new universities but fell short on the other six promises, with significant shortfalls in work opportunities, title deed transfers, electricity connections, solar water heater installations, and antiretroviral treatments. The National Health Insurance Fund has also not been established, with delays attributed to the legislative process.

The article by Liesl Pretorius covers the tragic story of Sinoxolo Mafevuka, a young woman from Khayelitsha who was raped and murdered on her way to a communal toilet. The piece delves into the personal aspects of Sinoxolo's life, her aspirations, and the impact of her death on her family and boyfriend. It also highlights the broader issues of gender-based violence and the inadequate sanitation facilities in informal settlements. The communal toilets, a necessity for many residents, pose significant safety risks, especially for women. The article discusses the social and infrastructural challenges faced by the community, such as the lack of proper toilets and the dangers associated with using them. The City of Cape Town's efforts and the shortcomings in addressing these issues are also examined. The piece is a collaboration with Code4SA's Data Journalism Academy and ends with a call for public opinion on government solutions to the sanitation problem.

The claim that there are 600,000 homeless people living on the streets of Johannesburg and Pretoria is critically examined and found to be flawed. The figure, attributed to Sechaba Potse of Homeless Solutions, lacks verifiable evidence and is significantly higher than other estimates. Experts and officials, including those from the City of Tshwane and the University of Pretoria, provide data suggesting much lower numbers. Accurate homelessness data is crucial for informed government budgeting and effective distribution of services.

The 12th ministerial council of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was postponed due to the Omicron variant, delaying discussions on a proposed waiver for Covid-related intellectual property (IP) rights. The waiver, supported by over 130 civil society groups and co-proposed by South Africa and India, aims to allow less-developed countries to manufacture Covid vaccines and treatments. High-income countries, including the EU, UK, Switzerland, and Norway, oppose the waiver, arguing it could hinder future innovation. The US supports a partial waiver. The article explores the complexities of text-based negotiations and the potential impact of the waiver on global vaccine distribution.

The World Trade Organization's 12th ministerial council meeting, set to discuss the right to manufacture Covid-related health products, was postponed due to the Omicron variant. The meeting aimed to negotiate a waiver for Covid-related intellectual property rights, proposed by South Africa and India, to allow less developed countries to manufacture Covid products. The proposal faces resistance from powerful governments, including some in the EU, UK, Switzerland, and Norway. The article highlights the urgency of the waiver to improve vaccine access in poorer countries, where vaccination rates are significantly lower. It also discusses the complexities and slow pace of WTO negotiations, the potential impact of the waiver, and the challenges posed by existing local IP laws.

Disinformation campaigns continue to exploit divisions in South Africa, despite the demise of Bell Pottinger. Experts like Whitney Phillips and Claire Wardle emphasize the importance of strategic engagement on social media to combat disinformation without amplifying it. Herman Wasserman's research highlights the prevalence of sharing unverified information in Africa, while Mandy Jenkins notes the overestimation of individuals' ability to discern fake news. Solutions include education, strategic amplification, and careful verification of sources. Collaborative efforts by organizations like Africa Check and the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab aim to address these challenges.

The article examines the anatomy of disinformation campaigns on Twitter, focusing on the actors, behaviors, and content involved. It highlights the role of social media algorithms in spreading falsehoods and the impact of both foreign and domestic disinformation. The piece discusses various tactics used by disinformation actors, including the creation of fake accounts and the use of emotional content to manipulate public opinion. It also explores the motivations behind disinformation, such as financial gain and political influence, and provides examples from South Africa and other countries. The article emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in combating disinformation.

The article discusses strategies to combat disinformation on Twitter, emphasizing the importance of being strategic about what and who to amplify. It highlights the risks of engaging with or spreading disinformation, even when attempting to correct it. Experts suggest focusing on sharing verified information, developing skills for identifying false content, and being cautious about unintentionally contributing to disinformation campaigns. The piece also touches on the psychological reasons why people fall for disinformation and the role of social media in performance for 'tribes' of followers. Education and investments in the information space are suggested as part of the solution to empower society against disinformation.

Disinformation campaigns on Twitter in South Africa exploit social media algorithms that prioritize popularity over truth, causing widespread harm. Political conversations on platforms built for viral advertising contribute to the problem, with both foreign and domestic actors involved. The Oxford Internet Institute identified 77 countries, including 12 in Africa, where disinformation is used to manipulate public opinion. In South Africa, government agencies, political parties, and private contractors engage in social media manipulation, exemplified by the ANC's pre-election 'boiler room' and the EFF's 'troll army.' Disinformation damages democracy by undermining trust in institutions. The article breaks down disinformation into manipulative actors, deceptive behavior, and harmful content, highlighting the tactics used to deceive and manipulate public opinion.

Disinformation campaigns exploit social media algorithms to spread falsehoods and manipulate public opinion. Political conversations on platforms designed for viral advertising, such as Twitter, contribute to problems like radicalization. The 2020 Oxford Internet Institute report identified 77 countries with government or political party actors using social media for disinformation, including 12 African countries. South Africa has seen political parties and private contractors engage in such activities. Disinformation campaigns are broken down into manipulative actors, deceptive behavior, and harmful content, often intertwining these elements. They aim to hide identities and intentions, using tactics like sock-puppet accounts and trolls. The campaigns can influence public opinion and undermine democratic institutions, as seen in South Africa's Radical Economic Transformation network. Disinformation spans multiple platforms and evolves, posing challenges to detection and authenticity.

The article discusses strategies to avoid spreading disinformation on Twitter, emphasizing the importance of being strategic about what and who to amplify. It highlights the role of biases, the need for belonging, and the performance aspect of sharing news on social media. The piece includes advice from experts on verifying information before sharing and reporting suspected disinformation. It also touches on the shift from automated bots to real people spreading ideologically aligned content on Twitter and the importance of education and engagement in society to combat disinformation.

Africa Check's Info Finder, a tool providing trusted data on key topics in Africa, has won a nearly US$50,000 innovation grant from the International Fact-Checking Network and the Facebook Journalism Project. The grant will be used to expand Info Finder into a repository of African facts and develop a helpdesk for journalists in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa. The expansion aims to improve public debate and media reporting by making reliable information accessible in a Q&A format.

Shamila Batohi, head of the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), has been impersonated on Twitter since August 2019. The fake account, @ShamilaBatohi, has misled journalists, diplomats, and activists. Despite efforts by NPA's head of communications, Bulelwa Makeke, to report the account, Twitter has not taken action. The article provides tips to identify fake Twitter accounts and mentions other instances of impersonation involving South African judges. Readers are encouraged to report any prominent impersonators they encounter.

The article examines the impact of the VBS Mutual Bank collapse on poor depositors, highlighting differing views on whether poor people lost money. While some argue that retail depositors with savings up to R100,000 were reimbursed, others point out that some depositors could not access their funds due to documentation issues. The liquidation process is ongoing, and it remains unclear how many poor people were affected. The article also discusses the broader implications of the government guarantee funded by taxpayers and provides data on savings among poor households in South Africa.

Data costs in South Africa are high, with significant differences between in-bundle and out-of-bundle (OOB) rates. Telcos like Telkom, Cell C, Vodacom, and MTN justify these differences as necessary for network planning and profitability. Regulatory pressure from the Independent Communications Authority (Icasa) has led to some reductions in OOB rates, but discrepancies remain. Newer providers like Rain offer more consumer-friendly pricing without high OOB rates. The article highlights the ongoing debate over data pricing and the impact of regulatory actions on the telecommunications market.

The article explores the high cost of data in South Africa, examining the role of radio frequency spectrum in data pricing. It highlights delays in spectrum allocation due to government-led digital migration and policy issues. Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C provide insights into how spectrum availability could impact data prices, with varying opinions on the direct relationship between spectrum and pricing. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and the GSM Association are also mentioned in the context of spectrum management and its implications for consumers.

In South Africa, high data costs and the expiration of data are contentious issues. The government, with an election approaching, is pushing for the release of radio frequency spectrum to help lower data prices. Spectrum is a limited resource essential for broadcasting and mobile data services, managed by Icasa. Delays in digital migration and policy flip-flops have hindered the availability of spectrum. Vodacom's CEO suggests that access to more spectrum could reduce data prices by almost half, but this is contingent on reasonable acquisition costs and market conditions. MTN and Telkom also weigh in on the impact of spectrum on data prices and service quality. The next spectrum auction is anticipated by the end of the current financial year, with the new digital migration deadline set for July 2020.

Postbank, currently a division of the South African Post Office, is preparing to become a fully-fledged bank with a focus on financial inclusion for lower-income segments. With R3 billion in capital, double the required amount, and a pre-tax profit of R315 million, Postbank is awaiting a banking license from the Reserve Bank. Acting managing director Shaheen Adam highlights Postbank's unique market position, targeting customers in the lower Living Standards Measure (LSM) groups, and plans to offer loans to small businesses and agricultural operations. Postbank has also been involved in government-to-citizen services, such as social grant payments, and boasts a wide distribution network through Post Office branches. Adam assures that Postbank will not require a government bailout due to its strong capital base.

The Constitutional Court of South Africa found the voters' roll not compliant with the Electoral Act, leading to a request by the Independent Electoral Commission for more time to record addresses. This has raised concerns about whether the 2019 elections could be delayed. The court's decision is seen as a protection order to prevent challenges to the elections' integrity based on the voters' roll issues. Political parties, including the DA, EFF, IFP, and UDM, do not believe the court hearing will delay the elections, despite the importance of addresses in local government elections.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is facing challenges in recording voter addresses, which are crucial for ensuring voters cast their ballots in the correct districts. With 3.4 million addresses incomplete and 2.2 million not recorded, the IEC sought an extension from the Constitutional Court to resolve the issue after the 2019 elections. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) oppose the extension. The IEC's efforts include using government sources for addresses, employing GIS operators, and planning new registration technology. However, the absence of a uniform address standard and a complete national geolocated address database complicates the process.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in South Africa has postponed its deadline to eradicate the bucket toilet system by six months, a move that contradicts Mayor Athol Trollip's major political promise. The municipality has also decided to discontinue the provision of chemical toilets as a temporary alternative due to high costs. The delay has been attributed to community demands for other services like electricity and housing. The municipality is exploring container ablution facilities with flush toilets as a replacement in some wards, while others, like Walmer Township, may continue using buckets until the new deadline. Residents express frustration and concern over the lack of progress towards more dignified sanitation solutions. The article reports on the challenges and community reactions to the unmet promise and the ongoing sanitation issues.

The Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo, South Africa, failed to deliver on its promise to supply water from the De Hoop Dam to local villages by June. Despite the official opening of the dam by President Jacob Zuma in 2014, many communities still lack a reliable water supply. Residents have resorted to self-help solutions, such as repairing old boreholes, while others buy water from those with private boreholes. The municipality blames the withdrawal of R126 million in funding for the delays and projects completion by April next year. Meanwhile, some villages have taken legal action to secure water provision, leading to interim solutions and cautious optimism for a permanent resolution.

South Africa's health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, claimed that the private healthcare sector only serves 16% of the population, based on medical aid membership. However, this claim is misleading as many people use a combination of private and public healthcare services depending on their needs. Various studies and data sources indicate that a significant portion of the population, including those without medical aid, also use private healthcare services. The article concludes that equating medical scheme coverage with exclusive use of a particular healthcare sector is inaccurate.

The article fact-checks key claims made in the African National Congress' (ANC) local government election manifesto ahead of the 2016 local government elections in South Africa. It examines the ANC's performance in areas such as electricity, water, sanitation, refuse removal, health, jobs, housing, and corruption. The analysis reveals discrepancies and provides context to the ANC's claims, using data from Statistics South Africa and other sources. The article also highlights the challenges and limitations in service delivery and the impact of various government programs.