Government welcomes the arrest of alleged fake news peddler
Government has welcomed the arrest of 55-year-old Steven Birch, who allegedly circulated a misleading video clip on social media, regarding COVID-19 test kits.
Birch appeared briefly in a Western Cape magistrates’ court yesterday and is expected to return on 14 July.
Birch has been charged in terms of the Disaster Management Act Regulation 11(5)(c).
The act prohibits the publishing of information through any medium, including social media, to deceive people on government measures to address COVID-19.
Acting spokesperson for Government Communications and Information System (GCIS), Phumla Williams, says disinformation is unacceptable and dangerous to our society.
“Such acts should be condemned by all South Africans who remain committed in fighting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of us have a responsibility to desist from peddling fake news,” says Williams.
Williams urges communities to work with government and report any person who misleads the public with wrong information.
Fake news regarding the coronavirus can be reported at Real411.org.
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Man arrested for posting fake news on coronavirus
The video, in which he calls for South Africans to refuse coronavirus testing, went viral on social media. Police spokesperson Mathapelo Peters says the 55-year old man is expected to appear in court on Tuesday following his arrest at Parow Police Station the previous day.