South African minister's Wikipedia entry falsely claimed he is Zimbabwean
After South Africa’s new government was unveiled in late June, online users shared viral Wikipedia screenshots allegedly proving that Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber was born in Zimbabwe. However, AFP Fact Check found that his Wikipedia entry was changed several times in the space of a few hours after the cabinet announcement, before reverting to the original version created in 2020, which cites South Africa’s Namaqualand as Schreiber’s birthplace.
“BREAKING NEWS: The Republic of South Africa demands answers as the DA Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber who is alleged to a Zimbabwean foreigner is given a key position in country (sic)”, reads an X post published on June 30, 2024.
AFP Fact Check has debunked claims by this account in the past.
Its latest post includes four Wikipedia screenshots from Schreiber’s page: two highlight his new government role and two mark his birthplace as Zimbabwe.
The post adds: “On Wikipedia Leon’s place of birth was changed 5 hours ago from Zimbabwe to South Africa, this is happening while South Africa is watching.”
