OP-ED Disinformation in a time of Covid-19: Weekly Trends in South Africa

August 2, 2021

OP-ED Disinformation in a time of Covid-19: Weekly Trends in South Africa

Daily Maverick William & Thandi Smith

William Bird is director of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and Thandi Smith heads the Policy & Quality Programme at MMA, a partner in the 411 platform to counter disinformation.

OP-ED Disinformation in a time of Covid-19: Weekly Trends in South Africa

Government under pressure to shield whistleblowers after witness D murder

Big Tech, AI, and violence: How South African journalism is being tested

What the G20 taught us about marketing, media and reputation leadership

President Ramaphosa pleased with M20 Johannesburg Declaration initiative

President Ramaphosa pledges deeper engagement with media sector as he receives M20 Johannesburg Declaration

SA’s information watchdog takes on ‘Big Tech’

Five key takeaways from the Competition Commission report into Big Tech and the SA media

Cameroonian journalist Hans Achomba missing since November 5, 2025

Five key takeaways from the Competition Commission report into Big Tech and the SA media

SA’s women artists still fighting for visibility in a hostile music scene

Journalists and leaders unite at Johannesburg’s M20 Summit

M20 Summit to unpack challenges faced by the media

Wits Centre for Journalism endorses historic Media 20 Declaration

Unwavering commitment to solving the media’s challenges

Total blackout warning for the SABC

World News Day — we urgently need an information system that works for all

SABC could face signal blackout by the end of 2025, but there’s still hope

South Africa’s Digital Migration Journey: Challenges, Delays And Future Uncertainties

SA National Editor's Forum faces backlash over ‘selective silence‘ following Mkhwanazi allegations

A new battle, a new strategy — why Media Monitoring Africa is changing

Zimpapers writer Gibson Mhaka named among top finalists in Isu Elihle Pan-African journalism awards

M20 Summit 2025: Advancing Information Integrity on the Road to the G20

World News Day — we urgently need an information system that works for all

SABC total blackout warning

SABC Contemplates Potential Blackout If Switched Off By Signal Carrier – Sentech

African Journalists mobilise to confront climate change disinformation

African media takes stand against climate disinformation at the Goethe-Institut

First-of-its-kind summit hosted by SU’s Centre for Information Integrity in Africa

Addressing South Africa's digital blind spot: Protecting children's rights in the digital age

Minister Malatsi seeks out-of-court settlement to expedite analogue switch-off

Twisting Meta’s arm to protect kids from porn exploitation

Media experts react to viral military impersonation hoax

SABC News turns 75, reflecting on decades of journalism

African Media unite to tackle climate disinformation

South Africa: Debate Intensifies Over Analogue Switch-Off Stakeholders Seek Resolution

SABC News turns 75 – reflecting on decades of journalism

South Africa loosens media ownership rules – but keeps one hand on the remote

Iqbal called us racist, but this is why we’re rushing to his defence

SANEF holds a successful AGM and reiterates that media houses should be members of the Press Council and/or BCCSA

White House trampling on free media

Minister Mckenzie, you pledged to uphold the Constitution: Stop the hateful, unlawful directives

Opinion: Dawood Lagardien Case – Queerphobia, Religion, and the South African Constitution

Discussion | Role of media in reporting crime

MTN South Africa starts online child safety campaign

High Court blocks analogue TV switch-off as digital migration fails millions

New delay in South Africa’s analogue switch-off

Value of podcasts under spotlight after Reason’s clapback

Fireworks in court as e.tv is accused of ulterior motives

Minister's counsel argues Etv wants to protect its commercial interests in analogue switch off case

14 Million At Risk Of No TV Access In South Africa As Analogue Switch-Off Disputes Intensify

Television access at risk for millions of South Africans as analogue switch-off date is contested

Analogue Switch-Off | Not all systems have been put in place: Thandi Smith

Latest analogue TV switch off deadline fast approaching

South Africans in danger of losing access to SABC

Court to hear legal bid to invalidate, halt analogue switch off

Case to halt analogue switch off continues

Court battle over analogue TV switch-off begins

South Africa faces crunch over analogue switch-off

Applicants in analogue case emphasise they support digital migration

Discussion | Damaging effect of disinformation campaigns

South Africa’s digital TV migration falls apart

Call for the eradication of the term ‘child pornography’

Competition Commission has sights set on Google and other media giants

Google and Meta warned: SA may impose a 10% tariff to protect news industry

Huge fears over SABC Bill battle

Call for the eradication of the term ‘child pornography’

There's no clear evidence SA is acting as a proxy for Iran – despite what Zille or Trump say

Groups again call for withdrawal of South African government's flawed SABC Bill

World Radio Day | Challenges faced by radio stations

South Africa: Sentech Embraces The Task Of Distributing Set-Top Boxes To Meet Migration Deadline

eTV, media groups challenge South Africa's 2025 analogue switch-off date

MK Party vs SABC | Procedures not followed in MK-SABC case: Thandi Smith

Bad news for the SABC

SABC Funding Model | 'SABC is critical to the media sector' - William Bird

SABC's financial crisis: 'It should've been addressed 2 decades ago' – Media Monitoring Africa

Plans for new SABC funding model: William Bird weighs in

Israel-Hamas War | Ceasefire confirmed, tensions persist: William Bird

ANC, DA tensions flare over SABC Bill

Communications minister extends SA’s analogue switch-off deadline by three months