Another message making false claims is being circulated on social media, especially on WhatsApp.

It says, “Entire country to move to level 4 tonight again at 00:00 as cases surge, with Gauteng, Western and Eastern Cape to go into level 5 from Saturday, 26 June”. It goes as far as providing two official-looking links.

The first link is to the South African Government’s Headline News section, although there is no announcement on the page regarding any impending increased lockdown levels. The second link takes one to a photo of a naked man.

People who receive this message are advised to delete it immediately without opening the links, or forwarding it to anyone else, and to remind the person who sent the message that, “Anyone that creates or spreads fake news about the Coronavirus Covid-19 is liable for prosecution,” as per a notice published by the South African Government website. The notice further asks that fake news be reported through www.real411.org or a WhatsApp message to 067 966 4015.

In the past President Cyril Ramaphosa has been the first to make a public announcement about a change in lockdown levels before it is published in the media. Anyone claiming to have information on an impending change in lockdown levels before the president has announced anything, may be spreading false information.