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• What became known as the Phala Phala scandal has shadowed South African president Cyril Ramaphosa throughout his second term, drawing in some of the country's most powerful institutions along the way.
• In May 2026, the constitutional court ordered parliament to reopen impeachment proceedings, bringing a five-year saga to potentially its most consequential chapter yet.
• To help you keep up, we have developed a moving timeline of key moments in the scandal. 

A hantavirus outbreak in May 2026 sparked global headlines and fears of another pandemic. But despite three deaths linked to the initial outbreak, experts say there’s no reason to panic. The virus is unlikely to spread widely and does not pose a threat to everyday life.

• What is hantavirus and how does it spread? Hantavirus refers to a group of viruses carried mainly by rodents. People can become infected through contact with infected rodents or their droppings. Only one strain, the Andes virus, has been shown to spread between humans.
• Where has the Andes virus been detected? In May 2026, the Andes virus was identified in an outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic. Passengers disembarked or were evacuated to countries including South Africa, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Authorities say there is no evidence of ongoing spread within those countries, while contact tracing continues to determine whether the virus has spread beyond the original group of passengers.
• Should I worry about catching hantavirus? No. At the time of writing, there is no reason to worry or change your normal behaviour. Unless you think you had close contact with a passenger from the MV Hondius, the World Health Organizaion says the general public does not need to take special precautions. If you have had close contact with a confirmed case, you can find advice about what to do here.
• Where can I find more information about the May 2026 outbreak? Follow updates from the WHO or your country’s health department. Be cautious of sensational or misleading posts online, and rely on reporting that quotes credible experts and sources.

Recommended reading

• In moments of major breaking news, the urge to share information major quickly is often driven by anxiety and uncertainty. But speed can come at the cost of accuracy.
• How to vet information during a pandemic: You can either help spread false information, sometimes with serious consequences, or choose to share the best available information instead.

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, despite being widely shared. 

FALSE: As anti-migrant demonstrations continue to shake South Africa in May 2026, claims about neighbouring Botswana taking action are circulating online. But there is no evidence the country has closed borders or cut off electricity supply to South Africa.

SCAM: Facebook profiles using the name of South Africa's First National Bank to offer loans are scams designed to steal personal information. FNB warns the posts are “NOT legitimate FNB offerings”.

SCAM: Facebook posts circulating in South Africa are claiming Bidvest is offering a learnership programme. But this is also a scam, aimed at driving clicks and traffic.

SCAM: South Africa’s Department of Basic Education warns that social media posts advertising “teacher assistants phase 6” positions are scams. The department urged jobseekers to only apply through verified channels.

Kenya 🇰🇪

FALSE: Viral social media posts are sharing an image of president William Ruto and governor Gladys Wanga holding hands, falsely imply that the two are romantically involved. The image was likely manipulated using AI tools. 

FALSE: A fake front page styled to look like Kenya’s Standard newspaper claims former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has mental health issues. No such story was published.

FALSE: A graphic quotes Kenyan president William Ruto threatening ethnic communities ahead of the 2027 general election. But it is fabricated.

FAKE: Another fake Standard newspaper front page claims Rigathi Gachagua is under fire over contradictory political messaging. The front page is fabricated.

FALSE: Social media posts claiming that trade minister Lee Kinyanjui has resigned are not supported by any credible evidence.

Nigeria 🇳🇬

FALSE: Viral posts in Nigeria claim “angry youths” set fire to the residence of Nafiu Bala, a factional leader of the African Democratic Congress, in Gombe state. There is no evidence the incident happened. 

FALSE: Posts on Facebook falsely claim Nigerian singer Burna Boy met Donald and Melania Trump at the White House over insecurity in Nigeria. But the images shared as evidence show signs of being AI-generated.

FALSE: Several Facebook posts claim lawmakers in Rivers state have revived impeachment proceedings against governor Siminalayi Fubara. But there is no evidence for this.

FALSE: Several social media posts claim Nigerian politician Atiku Abubakar plans to leave the African Democratic Congress for the Nigeria Democratic Congress after internal disputes in the ADC. His spokesperson and the party say the claim is false.

SCAM: Numerous Facebook pages posing as Nigerian GTBank, claim to have details of how the public can apply for loans. But the bank has warned against sharing sensitive banking information with fraudsters. 

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Your weekly dose of facts in newsletter form is created by Laura Kapelari (@laurakapelari). It is edited by Lee Mwiti (@LMAfrican) and Cayley Clifford (@cayleyclifford).