In a recent unfortunate surge of misinformation, various news outlets, including Per Second News, The Nigerian Voice, Harare Live and Vatican News, inaccurately reported the death of Thabo Mbeki, a monumental figure in South Africa’s history. This led to his Wikipedia page being erroneously updated to reflect this incorrect information.
After thorough verification, we can confirm that Thabo Mbeki is very much alive and in good health. The spread of such baseless reports by local media sources is deeply concerning.
Thabo Mbeki, the successor to Nelson Mandela, served as the President of South Africa from 1999 to 2008. He is highly revered for his intellectual approach to leadership and his significant role in promoting economic growth and stability in South Africa post-apartheid. Mbeki was a key architect of the African Renaissance, a vision seeking to enhance growth, development, and democracy across the continent.
This is not the first time that misinformation about Mr. Mbeki’s health has surfaced. In 2021, a false rumor claimed he had died from COVID-19, which was quickly refuted by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation.
As a publication committed to truth and accuracy, we are at the forefront of combating fake news. This incident underscores the vital importance of responsible journalism and meticulous fact-checking, especially in reporting on the health and well-being of prominent individuals like Mbeki.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to journalistic integrity and in providing our readers with the most reliable and up-to-date information. Thabo Mbeki’s enduring impact on South Africa and his ongoing contributions to the continent remain a significant part of his legacy, which we are proud to honor in our reporting.
