Fabricated Atteridgeville story prompts strong police warning on misinformation
Police cautioned against circulating unverified stories after a fake report accused a missing boy’s mother of murder, calling the claims baseless and harmful.
Police have issued a stern warning against the spread of fake news after a fabricated story circulated on social media platforms, falsely accusing a mother of a boy who went missing in Atteridgeville of a violent attack on an Mpumalanga family.
“The SAPS in Mpumalanga is concerned about disturbing and unfounded allegations that have been circulated on various social media platforms… claiming that there is a woman by the name of Thembi Mantwa Shakoane (44), who is said to have stabbed a 17-year-old Thapelo Mgiba to death with a screwdriver, and also seriously injured his mother,” they said.
Shakoane is said to have attacked the family in an incident stemming from her son, Mpendulo Mashiane, having gone missing after attending a soccer match in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, over the past weekend.
The rumours further claim that Shakoane was arrested in Middelburg. However, police confirmed that there is no record of anyone by that name being arrested.
The police have confirmed that the story is not true, stating that it was meant to mislead the public and cause unnecessary panic.
“The SAPS wishes to categorically refute this fabricated story as untrue, baseless, and misleading.”
They added that there is also no record of a car accident where Mpendulo Mashiane was taken to a Gauteng hospital.
Police further warned against the distribution of fake news, saying that anyone doing this must stop immediately.
They said such rumours and false accusations cause unnecessary panic among members of the public.
“The dissemination of false information not only harms the individuals who are maliciously targeted, but it also creates unnecessary fear and anxiety.”
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