Behind the Facts

Numbers, Nuance, and Nerding Out: Fact-Checking the State of the Nation Address

The state of the nation address sets the country’s priorities—but how accurate is it? Africa Check’s Kirsten Cosser and Keegan Leech pull back the curtain on fact-checking the SONA on speech night. Spoiler alert: it looks like the ‘nerdiest party ever’ fuelled by pizza, stats and official reports. They share practical tips to help you follow along: how to spot cherry-picked numbers, decode vague terms like ‘housing opportunities’ and track promises across years. Tune in for a sharp look at how accountability works in real time. Disclaimer The views expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect those of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources [BLOG] How to ‘pre-bunk’ a state of the nation address (and almost anything else) [https://africacheck.org/fact-checks/blog/how-pre-bunk-state-nation-address-and-almost-anything-else] Sign up for our podcast alert [https://africacheck.info/behind-the-facts] to find out when the latest episode is released. Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line [https://africacheck.org/join-our-whatsapp-fact-checking-community] or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung and Laura Kapelari. Your host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check. Africa Check, the continent’s leading organisation promoting information integrity, helps you separate fact from fiction.

Defending Truth Across Africa: 2025 Wrapped

As 2025 comes to a close, Behind the Facts looks back on a year defined by one urgent question: how do we protect truth in an increasingly hostile information environment? In this special wrap-up episode, host Thipe Maelane revisits six powerful conversations with fact-checkers, researchers and journalists working on the frontlines of information integrity across Africa and beyond. From battling ever-shifting social media algorithms, reaching offline communities and verifying claims in information deserts to embedding fact-checking inside newsrooms and exposing foreign information manipulation – these voices reveal what it really takes to stop lies from travelling faster than facts. This episode is a celebration of resilience, innovation and courage. It is a reminder that while misinformation continues to evolve, so do the people committed to challenging it. As we head into 2026, one message is clear: truth doesn’t defend itself – we do. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert [https://africacheck.info/behind-the-facts] to find out when the latest episode is released. Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line [https://africacheck.org/join-our-whatsapp-fact-checking-community] or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check. Africa Check, the continent’s leading organisation promoting information integrity, helps you separate fact from fiction.

Uncovering Africa’s Untold Climate Story

What if the biggest story about climate change in Africa is the one we’re not telling? In this episode of “Behind the Facts”, we explore how African fact-checkers are shaping the climate conversation — separating myths from facts and highlighting what global narratives often miss. Our guest, Lanre Olagunju, Editor-in-Chief of CheckClimate Africa, joins us to unpack how misinformation affects public understanding, how Africa’s climate story is framed, and why accurate, locally grounded reporting matters more than ever. From viral climate myths to overlooked realities, we dive into how the stories we tell — and the ones we don’t — influence the continent’s response to the climate crisis. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert [https://africacheck.info/behind-the-facts] to find out when the latest episode is released.  Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line [https://africacheck.org/join-our-whatsapp-fact-checking-community] or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s leading organisation promoting information integrity, helps you separate fact from fiction.

Foreign Interference, Local Impact: How Disinformation Shapes Africa’s Reality

Foreign influence isn’t just political - it’s informational. In this episode of Behind the Facts, host Thipe Maelane speaks with Samba Dialimpa Badji, a research fellow and PhD candidate, about foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and its growing impact in Africa. From Russia and China to local governments, discover how disinformation is being used to sway public opinion, fuel tensions and influence policy - with real-life examples from West and Southern Africa. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert [https://africacheck.info/behind-the-facts] to find out when the latest episode is released.  Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line [https://africacheck.org/join-our-whatsapp-fact-checking-community] or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking organisation, helps you separate fact from fiction.

Breaking News or Breaking It Down? The Rise of Fact-Checking in Newsrooms

What’s the difference between reporting the news and verifying it? In this episode of Behind the Facts, we dive into the increasingly blurred lines between traditional journalism and fact-checking. As misinformation spreads faster than ever, fact-checkers and journalists are finding new ways to work together—rather than compete. We explore why more newsrooms are launching dedicated verification desks, how fact-checking strengthens public trust, and what this shift means for the future of credible reporting. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Africa Check, Behind the Facts, its staff or affiliated groups. Resources Sign up for our podcast alert [https://africacheck.info/behind-the-facts] to find out when the latest episode is released.  Join the Africa Check Whatsapp line [https://africacheck.org/join-our-whatsapp-fact-checking-community] or channels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal to help us fight misinformation. Special thanks to This episode was produced by the Africa Check team: Khumo Motaung, Tshiamo Mononyane, and Laura Kapelari. Your show host for this episode is Thipe Maelane, also from Africa Check.  Africa Check, the continent’s first independent fact-checking organisation, helps you separate fact from fiction.