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Irresponsible social media voice notes spreads fear, encourages violence

Police in Gauteng and Free State have noted with concern fake voice notes circulating on Social Media purporting to be true, causing unnecessary panic among residents amid recent widespread shootings and killings.

The police have denied the authenticity of the voice notes, saying that they are manufactured to create fear among the public.

In a case of the use of Internet for malicious purposes, an alleged fake social media voice note about a shooting at an Orlando East school generated a viral storm following a shooting at a tavern at Nomzamo informal settlement in Soweto, which left 16 people dead.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo dismissed voice messages by unnamed sources received on Tuesday alleging that school children in Orlando East, Soweto, have been shot.

Lieutenant Colonel, Masondo said the school principal had told senior police officers that no such incident had occurred at the school, and all children were safe.

However, according to the police spokesperson, there was a cash-in-transit robbery about 800 meters away from the school, whose children were alleged to have been shot.

While this was going on, police in the Free State raised concern over the proliferation of unsubstantiated postings on various social media sites that claimed crimes had been committed.

Provincial Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, said voice notes and posts are being circulated about shooting incidents in Small Street in Willows, drive-by shooting in Dr. Belcher Road including gang-rape in Monnahalatwe in Phase 6, Bloemfontein.

The alleged incidences circulated through voice notes and posts were never reported at any police station where they are said to have occurred.

Members of the public are cautioned to refrain from posting and sharing fake news as the spread of such news causes unnecessary panic in the community,” said Brigadier Makhele.

Provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Baile Motswenayane said these incidents are putting a serious strain on police resources.

“False information going viral on social media might negatively affect the way we respond to real emergencies,” added Lt. Gen. Motswenyane.

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