claim: A Post The X is characterized by a video recently showing looting in South Africa, and captured: “This is Durban, South Africa,” currently going viral. The Post was published by Alex Jones, a US-based far-flung radio host, known for promoting the principles of the conspiracy. Hey claims: “This is the same that likes to remove ‘white harassment’ and replace it with the Soros NGO system. A glimpse of all western countries has not been rapidly made in future as has already been seen all over America.” The post at the time of publication had 1.6 million views.
DW fact check: Misleading
Video Posted on X, a city Durban, a city east of the Quazulu-Natal province in South Africa, does not show a situation recently. While the footage shows a shopping street in Central Durban, as Geolocation of the scene Indicates, it was not recorded recently. A reverse image search by the DW Fact Czech revealed that the video was already aired X And Facebook In 2021. From that time, comparison with the official agency photos confirm that the footage is from July 2021.
This video catches a moment during the period of Unkest in South Africa, when attached to some parts of the country. Riots and widespread loot – Former President Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment was shattered. During his chairmanship, he sentenced a 15 -month jail sentence to fail to follow a constitutional court order to testify before investigating corruption. His arrest protested, especially in him Home province Quazulu-Natal, which included Durban-The City shown in the video.
Zura’s supporters watched his arrest unjustly and held a rally to demand his release, criticizing the judiciary. However, Zuma’s imprisonment was many triggers only for unrest. The underlying causes included economic difficulty, high youth unemployment, Political disillusionment with African National Congress (ANC)And opportunistic criminal activity. The riots eventually left more than 300 people.
“We see based on racial narratives”
Since 2021, the video has been repeatedly revived in various Social media Platform In Many languagesUniform Claim In March of this year, the use of the same footage became viral again.
Dhanraj Thakur, a researcher at the Center for Democracy and Technology, has seen it as part of a comprehensive strategy: “Sharing a big campaign with many different actors, sharing the same type of messages,” he told DW. “Some thesis actor who intends to promote this child of Creaturelist misunderstanding and racist story.”
2021 unrest has been exploited by many people accounting book Known to spread discriminatory materials and disintegration. This is surprising, given that the claim implies that the alleged current looting in Durban is a direct result of the end of apartheid, – system of institutional racial isolation that was ruled by South Africa 1948 to early 1990sIn doing so, it confirms the racist and discriminatory story that later connects the apartheid regime with urban downfall, looting and chaos. “We look at the glory of racial stresses and the apartheid system,” said Juliet Nanafuka, a digital rights researcher of collaboration on the International ICT policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA). “It is related to depth.”
The discovery of data as US President Donald Trump is amplified for forms of disintegration. Earlier this year, Trump Claimed There was a massacre against white farmers in South Africa – a statement for which no credit evidence or reliable data exists, as the DW fact was investigated at that time. Billionaire Tech Entrepreneur Elon Musk echoed echoed claims On X Where his post was viewed more than 11 million times. Musk, who was born in South Africa, appeals to an American audience, according to Nanfuka, “ready to believe in negative story about Africa.”
Other fact-checking outfits such as Africancakes Informed on many videos or publicationsIt was out of reference to 2021 unrest. Kigan Leach, a fact-Chaker Kagan of Africa check, said, “All countries experience political opposition and disruptive events from time to time.” “It is easy to present South Africa incorrectly because many international audiences do not know much about the country.”
In the viral post, Durban is presented as a caution story – a warning that faces the same chaos to the western country if they undergo comparable political or social changes. In the American context, Thakur explains: “It is about politics around immigration, and the idea that some groups are unable to operate or manage public services – and similar results will be followed if they are interested in society.” According to him, find the story exploit the current social fear, “Especially during the time of economic uncertainty.”
Anti-NGO conspiracy in the heart
This type of disintegration follows a family playbook: reuse the old footage, strip it, and pair it with a sensational caption to promote displeasure or engagement. According to Thakur, it is part of a comprehensive social media business model. “This included materials that people react – such as racist or wrong post.”
In this case, some versions of the post show that South Africa is controlled by a network of NGOs found by George Soros-a figure is often invited to the rightist. Global conspiracy theorySoros has become a symbol of alleged globalist threats. Thakur said, “Soros has become a code word – a symbol that represents everything against him.”
While viral video lies and fuel rejuvenates the principles of racial indifference, anti -immigration rhetoric and conspiracy, it is not there Gone unwantedJuliet Nanfuka said, “The following comments promised to see a large pushback.” “South African and Non-South African are trying to correct the story.” Nevertheless, she warns, not an accident in search of a story – and they do not just target a country.
The DW Fact Czech pushed a similar story against the colors and religious minorities living in Europe last year.
Edited by: Rachel Baig
