Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, recently spoke at the Meta for Government engagement, where she called on tech conglomerate Meta to tackle the issue of fake news and misinformation on its platforms. The engagement, held in partnership with the Presidency and the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), aimed to address the challenges faced by African leaders and content creators on social media platforms.
During her speech, Minister Ntshavheni highlighted the power of social media in enabling anyone to become a journalist and share information instantly. However, she expressed concern over the prevalence of fake news and misinformation on Meta’s platforms. She questioned why African leaders and leaders from developing countries in general have accounts that can be easily hacked, duplicated, and used for scams, while leaders from countries like the US and China have a single verified account.
The Minister described this situation as an injustice, as leaders from developed countries are not treated the same way, and fake news can easily be spread through their platforms without any form of recourse. She also shared her personal experience with a scam that used her name to deceive people into believing that she was providing free data, resulting in significant losses for the individuals involved.
In light of the upcoming national elections, Minister Ntshavheni emphasized the need for government to engage with social media platforms to convey genuine messages without the fear of fake news influencing public opinion. She called on Meta to address these issues to make the partnership more meaningful.
The Minister also urged Meta to pay African content creators the same rates as their counterparts worldwide. She emphasized the importance of treating each other as equals for the partnership to be truly meaningful, stating that Meta’s contribution to addressing these challenges will shape its legacy in the world.
In response, Meta stated that it is continually improving its processes to combat fake news and misinformation across its platforms, particularly on Facebook. The company recognizes the importance of addressing these issues to maintain the trust of its users and promote a safe online environment.
In addition to Minister Ntshavheni’s remarks, Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya highlighted the need for South Africa to share its positive stories with the world. Despite the negative narratives surrounding the country, Magwenya believes that South Africa has many positive aspects to showcase and that these stories can attract investments and showcase the country’s growth as a democracy.
Magwenya stressed the importance of transparent, two-way communication directly with citizens to build trust and partnerships. He encouraged government officials to engage directly with the public, allowing them to ask questions and addressing their concerns. He reiterated the need for government communicators to take an active role in sharing the country’s progress and challenges, rather than relying solely on the media.
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