There is something quietly unsettling about knowing that a lie is out there, but not being entirely sure you would recognise it if you saw it. That is where many South Africans now find themselves, and it is not a comfortable place to be. Public confidence in the ability to identify disinformation is falling, and it is falling at exactly the moment when the tools used to spread falsehoods are becoming smarter, faster and more personal. South Africa is heading towards local government elections on 4 November that are expected to be among the most fiercely contested in years, and…

In the quiet, sun-scorched town of Kuruman, nestled in the Northern Cape of South Africa, a story of breathtaking deception and devastating consequence has unfolded—a tale that began with a scream and ended with a whimper of cold, transactional regret. The town, known for its ancient eye of Kuruman spring and its tight-knit community, was thrust into the national spotlight when an 18-year-old woman made a harrowing accusation that sent shockwaves through the local police precinct. She alleged that a 24-year-old police constable had raped her at a guest house on the 23rd of September. The accusation was immediate, visceral,…