Nicole Tau
A viral social media claim alleging that South Africa has accused neighbouring Lesotho of possessing nuclear weapons and is seeking intervention from the United States is FALSE. Investigations by CheckDesk, a fact-checking platform at MISA Lesotho, reveal the claim to be entirely fabricated, with official sources from both nations unequivocally denying any such accusation.
The false claim, which gained traction on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) from June 23, 2025, onwards, was presented as “BREAKING NEWS” over a composite image featuring a man who is seemingly a news anchor on the left, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the centre, an unidentified figure in a Lesotho Prime Minister’s military uniform, and missiles in the background.
The Facebook post alone garnered 88 reactions and 27 shares, while a Twitter post accumulated over 9,000 views and 25 retweets, indicating its significant reach and potential to mislead the public.
The image, designed to mimic a television news broadcast, displays a “BREAKING NEWS” banner with the text: “SOUTH AFRICA ACCUSES LESOTHO OF HAVING NUCLEAR WEAPONS” and a sub-line stating “SEEKS INTERVENTION FROM THE UNITED STATES.” The visual elements, including what appear to be missiles, are strategically placed to lend false credibility to the headline.
CheckDesk’s investigation followed a multi-pronged approach to rigorously test the claim against available evidence. The first step involved a keyword search on Facebook, which quickly led to the viral image. Upon contacting the original poster, they confirmed they were not the creator and had simply shared it from an unknown source.
A comprehensive Google reverse image search was also conducted, including multiple attempts and frame-by-frame analysis, to trace the image’s origin. This led to a Twitter post published approximately an hour after the Facebook post on the same day, indicating it too was not the original source but rather part of the rapid spread of the misinformation. The lack of any credible news source for the “BREAKING NEWS” graphic immediately raised red flags.
The research further focused on Lesotho’s official stance and commitments regarding nuclear weapons which confirmed that Lesotho is a signatory and active proponent of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
The official website of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) confirms Lesotho’s ratification of the TPNW and its explicit declaration that it “does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.”
Additionally, an official statement by the Kingdom of Lesotho at the United Nations, accessible through the UN Treaty Collection, conveys Lesotho’s position, its ratification of the TPNW, and its unwavering commitment to global nuclear disarmament. These documents directly contradict any notion of Lesotho possessing nuclear capabilities.
To ascertain South Africa’s official position, CheckDesk directly contacted the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), unequivocally stated: “This is fake news. South Africa has never made such an accusation.”
Beyond the false headline, a meticulous scrutiny of the image reveals clear signs of manipulation. While South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is identifiable, the figure on the far right is definitively not Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Mr. Matekane. Critically, the military uniform worn by this individual, displaying “LESOTHO” on the shoulder and rank insignia, is one specifically designated for and worn by the Prime Minister. This suggests a deliberate attempt to create a false portrayal of Mr. Matekane in the manipulated image.
Image: Prime Minister, Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane Image credit: The Post Newspaper
This deliberate misrepresentation, coupled with the generic news anchor, the superimposed missiles, and the absence of any legitimate news channel branding, confirms that the entire image is a digitally composited fabrication created from scratch.
The claim that South Africa would accuse Lesotho of possessing nuclear weapons is highly significant and deeply concerning. Lesotho and South Africa share deep historical, economic, and diplomatic ties, with ongoing bilateral cooperation on various fronts, including recent high-level visits focused on strengthening relations.
Such a false accusation, if left unchecked, could severely damage diplomatic relations between two key Southern African Development Community (SADC) members. It could also create unnecessary public alarm and fear within both nations and the wider region regarding nuclear proliferation as well as undermine public trust in official information and legitimate news sources, contributing to a broader climate of disinformation.
CheckDesk’s timely and thorough debunking aims to halt the spread of this harmful misinformation, restore clarity to the public discourse, and reinforce the importance of verified information in maintaining regional stability and public understanding. By transparently detailing our investigative process and presenting irrefutable evidence, we strive to empower the public to critically assess information and recognize fabricated content.
This fact-check was produced by Nicole Tau, CheckDesk, MISA Lesotho, as part of the African Fact-Checking Alliance’s (AFCA) incubation programme. It was produced with peer-mentorship from Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, PesaCheck, with financial support from Norway. AFCA mentorship respects the journalistic independence of the researchers, offering access to advanced techniques and tools. Editorial decision-making remains with MISA Lesotho. Want to learn more? Visit: https://factcheck.africa/
