Statement by Mark Rountree,
GOOD National Policy Officer
30 September 2021
GOOD notes the conclusion of the IEC that the Democratic Alliance’s Helen Zille’s actions in sharing faked video messages “amounts to election disinformation” ahead of the Local Government Elections.
GOOD’s National Policy Officer, Mark Rountree, had submitted evidence that Zille had on the 12th September 2021 shared, via her social media channel, a highly manipulated video of Mr Peter de Villiers, just hours after he announced his intention to stand as GOOD’s candidate for Mayor of the Drakenstein Municipality. de Villiers is the former National coach of the Springbok rugby team.
The electronic evidence was submitted to two independent watchdog organisations for further investigation.
The Real 411, a disinformation monitoring body run by Media Monitoring Africa, assessed the evidence and thereafter referred it directly to the IEC.
As confirmed by Real411 today, “the IEC has reviewed the complaint and has concluded that it amounts to election disinformation.”
The IEC defines disinformation as “false, inaccurate or misleading information designed to intentionally cause harm” and within an election context “this includes false information intended to unduly affect participation in and the outcome of elections.”
Mark Rountree reiterated that “the spreading of fake news and manipulated media is a dangerous risk to democracy across the globe and a treacherous method to undermine truth and steal elections.”
“We appreciate the assistance of The Real 411 and Media Monitoring Africa, as well as the efficient investigation of the IEC, to clamp down on the spread of fake election news” said Rountree.
“We encourage the public to please be aware that this video, now being shared on WhatsApp channels across the country, is fake. GOOD appeals to all media houses to assist in ensuring that the truth reaches all South Africans.”
GOOD believes in truth and transparency. The evidence submitted by Rountree, together with the conclusion of IEC, can be found at https://www.real411.org.za/complaints?search=1826
For background on this story, please see: https://bit.ly/3F2gkcb
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms Karabo Tledima, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 061 794 3819
Email: karabot@forgood.org.za
Mr Mark Rountree, GOOD National Policy Officer
Cell: 082 880 4393