Think about the last time you scrolled through your social media feed and paused—not because a post was funny or beautiful, but because something felt off. A headline that seemed too outrageous to be true. A video with no date, no place, no clear source. A claim that made your stomach tighten, especially with elections on the horizon. You are not imagining things. In the lead-up to any election, the information landscape becomes a battlefield. Rumors, half-truths, manipulated images, and outright lies travel faster than facts, often wrapped in slick graphics and designed to trigger emotion. That is exactly why News24 has built a dedicated Disinformation Desk. Behind the clean layout and polished visuals—like the graphic created by Sharlene Rood or the stock images from Getty and Canva that accompany many online stories—there is a team of journalists and fact-checkers whose job is to cut through the noise. But they cannot do it alone. They need you. If you have spotted something suspicious—a viral video, a misleading post, a claim that simply doesn’t add up—News24 wants to hear from you. All you need to do is send a link, a screenshot, or a video to [email protected] or WhatsApp +27 72 562 3179. It is that simple. You do not need to be a detective or a journalist. You just need to be someone who pays attention. That is the first step toward protecting the truth, and it is a step you can take from the comfort of your own home, often in less than a minute.
Why does this matter so much? Because misinformation does not live in a vacuum. It feeds on emotion, especially fear, anger, and hope. During an election, those emotions are already running high. People are thinking about their futures, their families, their jobs, their safety. They want to believe that their vote can make a difference, and they also want to know that the system is not rigged against them. That vulnerability creates the perfect breeding ground for false stories, manipulated images, and out-of-context videos. Sometimes the deception is deliberate—disinformation spread by political operatives or foreign actors who want to sow chaos. Other times it is simply misinformation—people sharing something that seems true without realising it is not. Both are dangerous. Both can change minds, suppress votes, or incite hostility. That is why the News24 Disinformation Desk takes every tip seriously, whether it comes from a first-time voter in a small town or a seasoned analyst in a city office. The team examines the source, checks the date, looks for signs of editing, and consults experts before drawing conclusions. It is careful, patient, and rigorous work. But it only works when people like you notice something and say something. You are the eyes and ears on the ground. You are the ones who see the random WhatsApp forward, the suspicious TikTok clip, the Facebook post that seems tailor-made to provoke. By sending it to [email protected] or WhatsApp +27 72 562 3179, you are doing more than asking a question. You are helping a team of journalists protect the integrity of an entire election.
So what should you do when you encounter something suspicious? First, resist the urge to share it right away. The most effective weapon against misinformation is a pause. Ask yourself: Does this make sense? Who created it? Why might they want me to believe this? What evidence is shown, and what is missing? If you cannot answer those questions, do not pass it on. Instead, become an active participant in the fight for truth. Take a screenshot of the post or save the video. Copy the link. Note where you saw it and who shared it. Then send everything to the News24 Disinformation Desk. The team is looking specifically for election-related misinformation and disinformation, but they are also interested in any viral content that feels manipulative or deceptive. You do not need to write a detailed report. A simple message with the link and a one-line explanation is enough. Something like, “This video is claiming something about voting that I don’t think is true,” or “This image is being shared as recent, but I think it’s old.” That is all it takes. Once you send it, the team takes over. They will investigate, verify, and, if necessary, publish a debunk. They may also contact you for more information, so it helps to keep your messages open. And if you prefer to stay anonymous, that is okay too. The goal is not to expose the person who shared the lie. The goal is to expose the lie itself. Every report, no matter how small, adds another piece to a larger picture. You might be the only one who noticed. You might be the one who prevents a lie from going viral.
The Disinformation Desk is not just about policing individual posts. It is part of a larger mission to strengthen democracy through honest information. In South Africa, where elections are deeply meaningful and often hard-fought, the stakes are incredibly high. Communities have been shaped by decades of struggle, and many people are still fighting for equal access, opportunity, and representation. Misinformation threatens all of that progress. It exploits divisions, deepens mistrust, and makes it harder for citizens to make informed choices. When someone shares a false story about a candidate, a party, or even the voting process itself, they are not just misleading one person. They are undermining the entire foundation of democratic participation. That is why the News24 Disinformation Desk exists—not to control what people think, but to ensure that what people think is based on facts. It is a commitment to the idea that truth matters, especially when the future of a nation is at stake. The team behind the desk works quietly, methodically, and often behind the scenes, but their impact can be felt every time a false claim is debunked before it spreads too far. They are supported by the wider News24 newsroom, which is dedicated to producing journalism that is fair, accurate, and deeply connected to the communities it serves. Together, they are building a shield against chaos. And they are doing it with the help of everyday people who refuse to accept lies as normal.
This is where News24 truly comes into its own. Step into a world where the truth shines bright, and every headline is worth your time. That is not just a slogan—it is a promise. News24 is not a distant, faceless media outlet. It is a living, breathing community of readers who value knowledge and insight. When you choose News24, you are choosing more than just access to articles. You are choosing to be part of a shared experience, a collective effort to understand the world in all its complexity. The platform is filled with compelling stories, sharp analyses, and content that keeps you ahead of the curve. Whether you are following breaking news, in-depth investigations, or thoughtful opinion pieces, you are engaging with journalism that respects your intelligence and challenges your assumptions. That is especially important during election season, when the news cycle moves fast and the pressure to be first often competes with the need to be right. News24 chooses right. The Disinformation Desk is a reflection of that choice. It is a space where careful research meets public participation, where every tip is treated with respect, and where the ultimate goal is not clicks or views, but clarity. In a world that often feels overwhelming, that kind of clarity is precious. It allows you to move through your day with confidence, knowing that the information you are consuming has been checked, questioned, and verified.
So keep your eyes open, your mind sharp, and your phone ready. The next time you see a post that makes you squint, a video that seems too perfectly edited, or a headline that sounds like clickbait but feels more like propaganda, remember that you have a role to play. You are not powerless. You are not alone. There is a team of dedicated journalists waiting to hear from you, and they have made it incredibly easy to reach out. Send an email to [email protected] or a WhatsApp message to +27 72 562 3179. Include a link, a screenshot, or a video. Tell them what you saw and why it bothered you. Then let them do what they do best—investigate, verify, and expose the truth. Every report strengthens the collective defence against deception. Every question you ask chips away at the wall of falsehoods. And every time you choose not to share a lie, you are casting a quiet vote for honesty. That is the kind of power that cannot be taken away. It lives in you, in your attention, in your willingness to care. The Disinformation Desk has opened the door. All you have to do is walk through it. Together, we can keep the truth shining bright—not just for ourselves, but for everyone who deserves to vote with confidence and live in a world where facts still matter.