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Police respond to news of social media posts about shootings in parts of Bloemfontein. PHOTO: www.sulinformacao.pt

Are posts and voice notes about Bloem shootings true?

The voice notes and social media posts allege various shootings in Bloemfontein including a gang rape, police said.

shooting

Police respond to news of social media posts about shootings in parts of Bloemfontein. PHOTO: www.sulinformacao.pt

Voice notes and posts circulating about shootings in Bloemfontein are actually false.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State have noted with concern the spread of these unfounded messages. They have been circulating on different social media platforms on crimes alleged to have happened, said Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele.

VOICE NOTES ABOUT SHOOTINGS DOING THE ROUNDS

The voice notes and posts are about shooting incidents. A recent example is a post about an alleged shooting incident that apparently happened in Small Street in Willows. Another is allegations of a drive-by shooting on Dr Belcher Road.

More unfounded posts and voice notes are about an alleged gang rape in Monnahalatwe in Phase 6, Bloemfontein, Makhele said.

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

Brigadier Motantsi Makhele

The public is to refrain from originating, generating, compiling, producing, posting and or sharing fake news. The spread of such news causes unnecessary panic, said Makhele.

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Social media posts and voice notes are doing the rounds about shootings in Bloemfontein. PHOTO: iStock

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Free State police commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane says the spread of such news strains police resources.

“These incidents are placing a serious strain on our resources, which would eventually negatively affect our response where a genuine case is reported,” said Motswenyane.

SIMILAR FAKE NEWS SPREAD IN SOWETO

Police in Gauteng are dismissing a circulating voice note that children were shot in Soweto.

The province’s police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said such voice notes attempt to scare the communities, particularly children.

ALSO READ: 137 empty AK-47 cartridges found at Soweto tavern shooting

Instead, a cash-in-transit robbery happened 800 metres from the school mentioned in the circulating voice notes.

“The District Commissioner of police in the West Rand, Major General Fred Kekana and the Station Commander of Orlando police station, Brigadier Nonhlanhla Khubeka met with the principal of the school mentioned in the voice notes. They assured that all the learners are safe and no such incident happened at the school,” Mavela said.