In South Africa

  • Acting chief editor

Lee Mwiti (@LMAfrican) joined Africa Check on 1 September 2016 as deputy editor. Previously he was the deputy editor at Mail and Guardian Africa, the pan-African arm of the South Africa-based Mail & Guardian. He has also been senior writer at the Africa Review, the continental unit of the Nation Media Group, in Kenya. He holds a masters in international studies from the University of Nairobi, a bachelor’s in biomedical sciences and a certificate in journalism. He has also been a Diageo business reporting awards (UK) finalist with experience of reporting the continent’s geopolitical economy. He is a recovering pedant.

  • Acting deputy chief editor

Kate Wilkinson (@kateomega) joined Africa Check as a researcher in July 2013. Her main research areas include education, immigration, crime and viral social media hoaxes. In 2018, she discovered an error in the South African police service’s annual crime statistics, which lead to an official revision. She leads the organisation’s media work, with regular appearance on local and international television and radio. Her work also involves training African journalists on verification and research techniques. In 2017, she developed a programme which taught school children how to decipher fact from fiction on social media. The Mail and Guardian named her one of its Top 200 Young South Africans in 2013.

  • Researcher

Lloyd Hazvineyi (@Gandadema) joined Africa Check as a researcher on 1 November 2018. He previously worked with Book of African Records and was one of the researchers who contributed to the maiden Book of African Records (2016) which was presented to the African Union in June 2016. While working as a researcher with ZimFact in July 2018, Lloyd was part of the pioneering team of Zimbabwean researchers that
checked the presidential elections. He is also affiliated with the History Department at Wits University where is currently doing his doctoral research.

  • Researcher

Cayley Clifford (@cayleyclifford) holds a bachelor’s degree in social science (political science, legal studies and German) and an honours Degree in International Relations from the University of KwaZulu Natal. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in international relations from the University of Witwatersrand. Before joining Africa check as a junior researcher in November 2018, Cayley worked as a research scholar at the South African Institute of International Affairs. Her interests include African governance, foreign policy and international criminal justice.

  • Researcher

Naphtali Khumalo (@NaphtaliTK) is a regular newsreader, fact-checker and now also research intern at Africa Check since November 2018. In addition to having a lifelong interest in international relations and economics, he holds a bachelors degree in politics and sociology from Rhodes University and is currently in the process of procuring a major in economics. He is also a part time sandwich-maker and prior to becoming a fact-checker was running a chip shop.

  • Copy editor

Mary Alexander (@MezAlexander) joined Africa Check in May 2018 as copy editor, tasked with making our fact-checks clear and readable for everyone. She also manages our Facebook fact-checking programme. Mary has 29 years of experience in publishing, 15 of them online. Starting as an editor for social research organisations, she’s worked in newspaper, magazine, educational, book and online publishing in overlapping roles: writer, researcher, chief subeditor, web editor, designer and project manager. She’s helped develop websites for Corruption Watch, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Vodacom Education and more. Her site South Africa Gateway publishes facts and information about South Africa and the continent in essays, data, graphics and animation.

In Kenya

  • Kenya editor

Alphonce Shiundu (@Shiundu) joined Africa Check in January 2017 as Kenya editor. He was previously parliamentary editor of Standard Group Plc. Before then, he was a journalist at the Nation Media Group. He has experience and expertise in new media training, newsroom convergence and publishing technologies. He holds a masters degree in media and development from the University of Westminster, London; a bachelors in information sciences from Moi University in Kenya. He’s a Chevening scholar; an alumnus of the School of Authentic Journalism (Mexico), the Professional Fellows Exchange Programme (Washington DC), and the Young African Leaders Initiative (Nairobi). He believes in holding power to account. In his free time, he climbs mountains.

  • Kenya deputy editor

Vincent Ng’ethe (@vn6) joined Africa Check as Kenya deputy editor in December 2017. He was an Online Sub Editor at the Nation Media Group, with responsibility for the Dot9 Blog and also the sub editor for Newsplex, the Daily Nation’s data journalism desk. In addition to data and fact checking, he has written stories with a focus on urban planning and the natural environment. Ng’ethe graduated in 2006 with an honours degree in geography and environmental science from Trent University in Canada. He also has certificates in advanced sub-editing and data journalism from Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications.

  • Research intern

Bwire Dancan Nanyanga (@Dancan_Bwire) is a creative writer, passionate blogger and now a research intern at Africa Check since February 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication from the Maasai Mara University in Kenya. Dancan has previously had internships at the Kenya News Agency, Consolata Media Centre and has written on security, entertainment and human-wildlife conflict. Prior to joining Africa Check, he worked with The Standard Group Plc as a graduate trainee with sub-editing roles on the Standard digital platform. He tweets @Nairobi_Weekly and blogs at www.nairobiweekly.com

In Nigeria

  • Nigeria editor

David Ajikobi (@Pantaphobious) joined Africa Check as Nigeria editor in November 2016. He was previously an Editor/Producer at Channels Television with about a decade of experience across different media platforms. He was one of the pioneer News Editors/Producers at 99.3 Nigeria Info, 96.9 Cool FM and 95.1 Wazobia FM in Lagos. Earlier in his career, he was Metro Editor at NEXT Newspaper (234next.com) published by African-born Pulitzer Prize winner, Dele Olojede. David has a bachelor’s degree in zoology at the University of Lagos and a masters degree in media and communications with distinctions, from the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

  • Nigeria deputy editor/health researcher

Motunrayo Joel (@motunjoel2) joined Africa Check as Nigeria deputy editor/health researcher in February 2018. She has about eight years of experience in journalism covering health, education and development issues at the Punch newspapers. She studied Journalism at the Midrand Graduate Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa, where she graduated with distinctions. She won the Nigeria Academy of Science Award in 2016 and was named runner-up at the 2015 edition of the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism award. She was among the 12 journalists from eight countries in Africa and South Asia shortlisted for the 2015 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Foreign Press Award and the Kurt Schork Memorial Awards. Motunrayo also won a prize for investigative reporting at the 2016 Diamond Awards for Media Excellence.

  • Researcher & community manager

Allwell Okpi (@allwellokpi) joined Africa Check as researcher and community manager in January 2017. As a trained journalist, his newsroom experience spans eight years: reporting and editing at NEXT Newspaper and PUNCH Newspaper. Allwell has also led content development for leading strategic communications consulting firms in West Africa – C&F Porter Novelli and Chain Reactions Nigeria (an Edelman affiliate) – and in those roles, helped develop and deploy strategies for consumer marketing, advocacy campaigns, media relations and crisis communication. He has a bachelor’s degree in geology from Federal University of Technology Minna and certificates in copy writing and digital marketing.

  • Editorial & marketing assistant 

Jennifer Ojugbeli (@jennyojugbeli) joined Africa check in January 2019 as editorial and marketing assistant. She was previously a personal assistant to a Nigerian Fashion and lifestyle photographer, executive assistant for Run Man Media and operational manager to the 300 Project (a human trafficking NGO), where she still volunteers. In her undergraduate years, she worked as an administrative secretary to Golden Petals Limited and as an event planner for Perfect Endings and Event Spice World. Jennifer has a bachelor degree in educational management from the University of Lagos.

  • Truthbuzz fellow

Hannah Ojo (@HannahOjo) is a Truthbuzz fellow with the International Centre for Journalists. A winner of the Nigerian Academy of Science awards, she has worked with Code for Africa to deliver data driven reports on water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria’s biggest cities. Hannah is a recipient of the 2017 Newscorp Fellowship hosted by The Times of London and The Wall Street Journal and is an alumnus of the U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Centers reporting tour on human trafficking. A recipient of the 2018 United Nation’s Reham Al-Farra (RAF) Journalism Fellowship, she is committed to helping reporters adopt compelling storytelling methods that make fact-checking go viral.

In Senegal

  • Editor

Samba Dialimpa Badji (@dialimpa), has been the editor of our French-language website since January 2019. He was previously deputy editor of the same office since joining the organisation in July 2016. Samba studied journalism at the Centre d’Etudes des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information (CESTI) in Dakar. Before joining Africa Check, he was for more than four years deputy editor of the BBC French-language service in Dakar, and before that editor of independent Senegalese radio station Océan FM. He previously worked for other media including the radio station Walfadjri, the daily newspaper Le Matin and Radio France Internationale.

  • Deputy editor

Mame Gor Ngom (@gor_ngom) started as deputy editor at Africa Check’s francophone office in March 2019. Mame Gor is a Senegalese journalist and an alumnus of Centre d’Etudes des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information at University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar. Previously, he was editor at Senegalese newspapers Le Matin and recently La Tribune, for seven years. In addition, he was the publishing director for the daily newspaper La Cloche. Mame Gor has degrees in general university studies and political sciences from Gaston Berger University of Saint Louis as well as a degree in letters.

 

  • Researcher & community manager

Hyppolite Valdez Onanina (@ValdezOnanina) joined Africa Check in July 2017 as researcher and community manager of our French-language site, of which he had been a permanent contributor since April 2016. Prior to this collaboration, he was reporter at Agence de presse sénégalaise and to the Dakar office of Alerte Info. He was also a trainee at the United Nations Information Center in Dakar. Valdez holds a masters degree in media and communication from ETICCA Dakar and a diploma in journalism from Centre africain de formation et de perfectionnement des journalistes de Cotonou. He is currently preparing an MBA in Political Communication and Influencing Strategies at the Madiba Leadership Institute in Dakar.

  • Editorial assistant & contributor

Ass Momar Lô (@assmomar) joined Africa Check in October 2018 as an editorial assistant and contributor. He handles administrative tasks and contributes to the production of fact-checks on Africa Check’s website. He holds a masters degree in English from Cheikh Anta Diop Dakar University and a bachelors degree in journalism from CESTI. Before starting at Africa Check, he worked as an intern with West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR).

Project team

  • Executive director

Peter Cunliffe-Jones (@PCunliffeJones) launched Africa Check in 2012, devising the project and overseeing it since. In more than 25 years as a journalist, most of it for the AFP news agency, he reported on the wars in Bosnia and Croatia for two years, spent five years in Lagos as AFP Nigeria bureau chief and three years in Hong Kong as AFP chief editor for Asia. From 2011 to 2016 he was Deputy Director of the AFP Foundation. He became a fellow of the Shuttleworth Foundation in March 2016 and is a Visiting Researcher at the University of Westminster. He has written for numerous media and provided commentary for Al Jazeera, the BBC and CNN. His book My Nigeria – Five decades of independence was called “a triumph” by Chinua Achebe.

  • Deputy director

Noko Makgato (@nokolosh) joined Africa Check on 1 September 2016 as deputy director. With experience of over 18 years in media, Noko has a deep understanding of the industry coupled with expertise in news gathering and newsroom management, content management and distribution. In various senior roles, Noko has led several editorial and creative teams successfully in print and digital. He recently served as assistant editor responsible for news at Business Day/Financial Mail. In his previous role as managing director of digital agency Big Media, Noko was responsible for day-to-day operations and for shaping and implementing digital communications strategies for a wide range of clients. Noko is currently studying for an MBA degree.

  • Finance manager

Rajan Thevasagayam joined Africa Check as our finance manager in 2016. He is a qualified Chartered Certified accountant who has over thirty years of audit and accountancy experience in many different sectors including auditing, banking and retail.

For the past nine years, he was Head of Finance for a major international charity. He has worked in both Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

  • TRI Facts general manager

Aniesha Bulbulia (@anieshabulbulia) previously worked at the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) as its Business Development Manager, from there she later moved to head the IAJ’s Communications Unit where she collaborated, built and made the department relevant to the needs of modern day journalists and communicators. Her business acumen, organisational skills and interpersonal relationship with clients, delegates and facilitators make her an asset to the organisation. Aniesha is also a facilitator/trainer and a registered assessor with MICT-Seta.

  • Head of digital communication

Laura Kapelari (@laurakapelari) joined Africa Check in September 2016. She was previously marketing and fundraising coordinator at SA Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind. Before this, Laura interned at Médecins Sans Frontières, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and SANGONeT, adding to her information technology and public information skillset. She holds first-class masters degrees in both International Relations and German Literature from the University of the Witwatersrand and has a diploma in Digital Marketing from the University of Cape Town.

  • Head of partnerships & engagement

Nishen Naicker (@NishenNaicker) joined Africa Check in January 2019. Nishen has a bachelor’s degree (psychology and criminology) from the University of KwaZulu Natal. He co- founded and headed up a community movement called KNOWCRIME focused on mobilising civil society to be proactive about their safety. In 2009, he received an EThekwini Mayoral Award for his efforts. He previously worked as the advancement & communications manager at Inclusive Education South Africa. Other organisations he has worked with include the South African National Council for the Blind and Doctors without Borders. With a passion for social change – building partnerships around ensuring equal access to
facts is his new mission at Africa Check.

  • Impact manager

Nicola Theunissen joined Africa Check in November 2017 as impact manager. Previously, she worked as an independent communication specialist in Monitoring & Evaluation for a Ghanaian-based NGO advocating for better evaluation practices in Africa, and Khulisa Management Services, an established M&E consultancy in Johannesburg. She continues to consult in the M&E field. Nicola started her career as trade journalist in natural resources, infrastructure and urban planning. She holds a masters degree in communication studies and is currently pursuing honours in community and health psychology, with a specific interest in public mental health.

  • Editorial & marketing assistant

Khumo Motaung (@MowMotaung) joined Africa Check in February 2018 as editorial and marketing assistant. Khumo is a third year LLB law student at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and holds a certificate in advanced radio from the Wits Radio Academy. She ventured into radio two years ago, producing as well as presenting content for a law-focused talk show on UNISA Radio. She also completed a radio programming internship with Jacaranda FM and VOW FM in 2017, where she gained experience in activations, project management and marketing.

Our board

Anton Harber (@AntonHarber), the chair of our board, is the Caxton Adjunct Professor of Journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He was a founding editor of the Weekly Mail (now the Mail & Guardian), Editor-in-Chief of eNCA and board member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network. He wrote Diepsloot (Jonathan Ball, 2011), winner of the Recht Malan Prize, and co-edited the first two editions of The A–Z of South African Politics (Penguin, 1994/5) and Southern African Muckrakers: 300 Years of Investigative Reporting that Shaped the Region (Jacana, 2018)

 

Cami Mbulawa, CA, our board treasurer, serves as an Executive within RisCura’s team that provides unlisted investment services for clients across all alternative asset classes such as private equity, infrastructure and private debt. She completed her articles at KPMG and worked for various companies in oil and gas, financial services and agri-finance. Cami’s passion for business and corporate governance led her to being appointed independent non-executive director in the asset management, printing, enterprise development, state-owned entity and tertiary education space.

 

 

Dapo Olorunyomi (@DapsyOly) is the publisher of Premium Times, Nigeria’s leading investigative and online news platform, and has won many journalism awards over 35 years in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world. A former chief of staff at the anti-corruption Economic and Financial Crimes Commission he in 2004 founded the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Reporting and, after launching Premium Times he in February 2018 helped found Dubawa.org, a fact-checking and verification platform to help combat the spread of fake news and misinformation in Nigeria. His academic career includes studies at the Obafemi Awolowo University, in Nigeria, the American University in Washington DC and the University of Oxford in the UK.

 

 

Hamadou Tidiane Sy (@tidianeouestaf) is a seasoned Senegalese journalist, and champion of independent, ethical and high-quality journalism. After working early in his career for major international media including Channel Africa, AFP and the BBC, he founded the award-winning Ouestaf News. For the past decade, he has dedicated time to training journalists, founding in 2011 a Journalism, Communication & Digital Media School in Dakar (ejicom.com). With Ouestaf News, he has taken part in major global investigative projects: Swissleaks, Fatal extractions, Panama Papers (with ICIJ). Through Ejicom’s partnership with Africa Check, Tidiane has been instrumental in the introduction and promotion of fact checking in francophone Africa.

 

Karien Bezuidenhout (@karienbez) is an advocate for openness and supporter of social entrepreneurs. As a director of the Shuttleworth Foundation, her core interest lies in social and policy innovation through practical interventions and sustainable social enterprises. Through her experience as board member to social change organisations and social enterprises across the world, she strives to make connections that accelerate learning. Karien studied business and economics at the business schools of the University of Stellenbosch and University of Cape Town.

 

 

Mandla Mchunu is the Chairman of the Africore Group, and a respected figure in South Africa’s political, legal, community and business circles. He lectured at the universities of the North and UND (UKZN); and was a guest professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago, USA. As the Director for the Center for Socio-Legal Studies at UND he co-pioneered the Street Law Programme in South Africa. In 1994 he joined the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and in 1997 he served as the IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer. He has served in several leadership positions in the public and private sectors, e.g. as board member for multinationals such as Heineken and SAAB Grintek Defence (Pty) Ltd. He has led democracy support missions in the continent and served as an electoral observer for the UN, Commonwealth etc.

 

Paula Fray (@paulafray) is the managing director of the pan-African media training organisation frayintermedia which she founded in 2005. A former regional director for Inter Press Service (IPS) Africa, Fray was editor of the Saturday Star in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 1999 to 2003. She serves on the boards of Media Monitoring Africa and IRIN news and on the panel of adjudicators of the Press Council of South Africa.  In 2015, Print and Digital Media South Africa honoured her as a Print and Digital Media Fellow in recognition of her contribution to the industry.

 

 

Pamella Makotsi Sittoni (@PamSittoni) is Executive Editor, Daily Nation, at the Nation Media Group in Kenya. Ms Sittoni has held several leadership positions, including serving as Managing Editor of The EastAfrican (2012 – 2018) and the Standard (2005 – 2006). She began her career at the Nation Media Group as a reporter in 1993, moving in 2003 to the Standard Group as Deputy Managing Editor. From 2006 to 2012, she worked as a Communications Specialist at UNICEF Kenya. In 2017, Ms Sittoni was named by the World Association of Newspapers as the Laureate of the Women in News Editorial Leadership Award for Sub-Saharan Africa. She is a Fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, through the African Leadership Initiative. She holds a BA and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Communication from the University of Nairobi, and a Masters in Communication from the University of Leicester.