CLAIM: A South African TV news broadcast reported that a “local man from Pretoria sold his right testicle for R2.3 million rands.”
VERDICT: FAKE. There is no record of any such report by eNCA or any other credible news outlet. The image shows several signs of being a doctored “breaking news” template, and selling human tissue is illegal in South Africa.
What the Viral Image Shows
The image, widely shared on Instagram and other platforms, appears to be a photo of a TV screen showing a smiling man in a hospital bed giving a thumbs up. Across the bottom is a “Breaking News” banner with the eNCA logo and the text: “Local man from Pretoria sold his right testicle for R2.3 million rands.”
Many people shared it as a joke, while others asked whether it was true. Flashinfong checked.
Why We Say It Is Fake
1. No news report exists. Our searches found no report of this story from eNCA or any credible South African or international news outlet. A story this unusual would have been widely covered if a real broadcaster had aired it.
2. The ticker gives it away. The scrolling ticker at the bottom of the “broadcast” reads “Top Electrical Shop | Quality Electrical Appliances | Fridges • Washing Machines • Stoves.” That is advertising text, not the news ticker a real news channel would run beneath a breaking story. It is a strong sign the graphic was made with a template or editing app.
3. The graphics don’t match. The red “Breaking News” box with a spinning globe icon is a generic design found in free meme and “fake news generator” templates. It does not match eNCA’s on-screen branding.
4. It’s a recycled joke. Similar claims have circulated in different countries for years with only the location and amount changed, including a widely shared claim about a man in Thailand selling his testicles for millions to pay for car modifications. Fact-checkers such as Snopes have repeatedly debunked stories about people selling testicles for large sums.
Can You Legally Sell a Testicle?
No. In South Africa, the National Health Act prohibits anyone from receiving payment for donating human tissue or organs. Similar laws exist in most countries, including the United States, where the National Organ Transplant Act bans the sale of human organs and tissue for transplantation.
Testicle transplants are also extremely rare and are only carried out in very specific medical circumstances. There is no legal market where a person can sell a testicle for millions.
Who Is the Man in the Photo?
We have chosen not to publish the photo or try to identify the man shown. Images used in fake “breaking news” templates are often taken from someone’s social media without permission, and the person may have nothing to do with the claim. Sharing such images can expose innocent people to ridicule.
How to Spot Fake “Breaking News” Screenshots
- Search the claim. If a major channel aired it, it will be on their website or social media.
- Read the small print. Tickers, timestamps and logos are often wrong or mismatched in fake images.
- Check the design. Compare the graphics with the real channel’s style.
- Be wary of outrageous numbers. Very specific, shocking figures are a common feature of hoaxes.
- Think before you share. Even jokes can mislead people and harm the person pictured.
Flashinfong will continue to fact-check viral claims. If you see something suspicious online, send it to us and we will look into it.
Sources: eNCA; Snopes; South Africa’s National Health Act.