Africa Check is Africa’s first independent, non-profit fact‑checking organisation, founded in 2012 at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. It tests public claims by politicians, officials, media and viral posts against the best available evidence, and publishes findings in English and French. From hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos and Dakar, its researchers produce in‑depth fact‑checks, rapid spot checks, explanatory factsheets and practical guides that clarify contested issues in health, elections, the economy and crime. The organisation builds information resilience as well as content. Since 2015, it has trained more than 14,000 people across the continent in verification skills, online safety and responsible social media use, and it runs newsroom fellowships and a helpdesk through Info Finder — a Q&A database covering Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Zimbabwe. Africa Check created the African Fact‑Checking Awards in 2014, the continent’s longest‑running prizes dedicated to fact‑checking, and convenes the Africa Facts network and annual Africa Facts Summit; the 2025 edition took place in Dakar. It also meets audiences where misinformation spreads, operating a WhatsApp tipline and co‑producing What’s Crap on WhatsApp? with Volume. Across its programmes, Africa Check’s aim is straightforward: reduce the harm of false information, strengthen public debate and make reliable data easy to find.

Source: Code for Africa

Last updated date: July 2026

Location:
Johannesburg, South Africa
Year the organization started publishing:
2012
Languages:
English
French
Type of coverage:
Regional
Area of coverage:
South, east and west Africa

Content

Editorial coverage:
Generalist, focused on multiple topics
Type of content produced by theme:
Science
Education
Environment
Politics
Economy and business
Health and well-being
Law and crime
Economy and finance
Migration
Journalism genres:
Investigative journalism
Journalism coverage types and techniques:
Data journalism
Explanatory journalism
Fact-checking
Tech platforms and other mediums used:
Newsletter
Messaging service
Social media platforms
Podcast
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Tiktok
LinkedIn

Audience and reach

Social media audience

Facebook number of followers:
100,000
Twitter number of followers:
86,500
Instagram number of followers:
11,000
YouTube number of followers:
1,600
Tiktok number of followers:
51,000

Management and team

Founders

Female:
0
Male:
1
Founders:
Peter Cunliffe-Jones
Directors:
Lee Mwiti, Noko Makgato, Hlalani Gumpo, Aretha Mashotana, Laura Kapelari

Team

Full-time employees:
35
Part-time employees:
0
Freelancers or consultants:
1
Volunteers:
0

Business structure and revenue sources

Organization tax status:
Non-profit

Why is this profile included?

This media outlet is part of our directory because it meets SembraMedia’s inclusion criteria: it produces original content, serves the public interest, and works with independence and transparency. This profile was developed using information provided directly by the media outlet, through surveys or interviews. We aim to keep the information current, but SembraMedia does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness, and recommends verifying any key details with the media organization.

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