The South African government has issued a public warning against trusting or sharing unverified information related to migration, emphasizing the dangers of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation in undermining social cohesion and informed public discourse.

The statement highlights that while South Africa manages migration through established legal frameworks and institutions, the rapid spread of false content on social media platforms and unofficial websites is causing confusion, fear, and division within communities.

The government defines misinformation as false information shared without intent to deceive, disinformation as deliberate false information to manipulate, and malinformation as genuine information presented out of context to cause harm.

It stresses that during periods of heightened public interest, manipulated content such as deepfakes or emotionally charged posts can spread rapidly, inflaming tensions around migrants, border management, and law enforcement.

The government urges citizens and migrants to verify information from credible sources, avoid unverified social media posts, and support fact-checking initiatives to protect public trust and national stability.The call to action underscores the importance of responsible communication in fostering a society grounded in facts rather than falsehoods.