I imagine that if most of us had someone fact checking everything we said we would get caught out a fair deal. Of course there’s Google too, that mate whipping out a phone every time we say something iffy and giving us the sideways look.

It’s different when you’re the president of South Africa and under the microscope big time, your SONA address coming in the midst of the most turbulent spell of your reign.

The Mail & Guardian decided it was time to pick apart Zuma’s address and check how much of what he was saying actually holds water. We’re going to give them a run through then and see if he was telling tall tales or delivering the truth:

1) Finance

Claim: “We are proud of our Top 10 ranking in the World Economic Forum competitiveness report with respect to financial services.”

Our verdict: Yes but…

South Africa was ranked 6th out of 144 countries for the “availability of financial services” in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2015/16 Global Competitiveness Report.

However, the ranking is not based on objective data or research. Rather, it is the result of an opinion survey of unnamed South African business leaders…

A further flaw is that the WEF uses a national score to create an international ranking. Respondents may rank their countries differently if they were asked to compare South Africa’s availability of financial services to other countries.

2) Electricity

Claim: “There has been no load-shedding since August last year.”

Our verdict: Incorrect

South Africa’s electricity supplier Eskom tweeted on 20 January that there had been no load-shedding in 165 days – since 9 August 2015 – “except 2hrs 20mins” on September 14 last year.

However, they amended their numbers in a media statement on 29 January, saying the utility had been able “to avoid load shedding for the past 136 days”, since 14 September.

3) Renewable energy

Claim: “The multiple bid windows of the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme have attracted an investment of R194 billion.”

Our verdict: Broadly correct

Following the rolling black-outs South Africa experienced in 2008 government invited independent power producers to sell electricity to the country’s power supplier, Eskom.

According to a September 2015 report by the department of energy, government has so far procured 6 327 MW from independent power producers. At the end of June 2015, 1 860 MW had come online.

The investments pledged totalled R192.6 billion

4) Water

Claim: “To curb water wastage, the Department of Water and Sanitation has begun its programme of training 15 000 young people as artisans.”

Our verdict: Correct

The department of water and sanitation launched their “War on Leaks” project in August 2015.

Phase 1, to be completed in the 2015/16 financial year, will train 3 000 artisans, plumbers and water agents. (A water agent educates the public on how to use water wisely and manage water resources.)

An additional 5 000 people will begin training in the 2016/17 financial year (phase 2) and 7 000 will begin training in 2017/18 (phase 3).

5) Life expectancy

Claim: “… life expectancy of South Africans for both males and females has significantly improved and is currently 62 years across genders, which is an increase of eight and a half years since 2005.”

Our verdict: Broadly correct

Life expectancy for both men and women was estimated at 62.5 years in 2015 according to Statistics South Africa’s mid-year population estimates.

This is an increase of nine years since 2005 when life expectancy was 53.5 years.

6) HIV

Claim: “The HIV policy turnaround in 2009 led to … treatment for 3.2-million people living with the virus.”

Our verdict: Broadly correct

Data for 2015/16 is not publically available yet. But the department of health’s 2014/15 annual report shows that Zuma’s claim is in the right ball park.

According to the department, 3 103 902 people were receiving therapy at the end of March last year. That would be nearly half of the 6.2 million people in the country that Statistics South Africa estimated were living with HIV in 2015.

So at least four of six, that’s pretty decent for a politician. I don’t imagine Julius and the EFF will be much bothered though, remember this verbal barrage from the address:

“Zuma is no longer a president that deserves respect from anyone. He has stolen from us. He has collapsed the economy of South Africa. He has made this country a joke and after that he has laughed at us.

“We cannot allow Zupta to do as he pleases in this country. We are not going to allow that. We are doing what we are doing because we don’t recognise [Zuma] as our president. He is not our president.”

Zupta must fall.

[source:mg]