Africa Check, a non-profit organization set up to promote accuracy in public debate and the media in Africa is reporting that South African radio presenter Penny Ntuli has not been arrested for twerking on a highway, despite an AI-generated video being shared widely on social media that claims to show President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for her arrest.

Footage that has been shared on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram appearing to show President Ramaphosa blasting a “selfish” radio presenter and demanding that she be “immediately arrested.” But it is digitally manipulated, Africa Check has confirmed.

The original speech was from July 2025 and was about the announcement of a commission of inquiry into corruption claims, not Ntuli, Africa Check found.

AI was used to alter the president’s voice, as well as to make his mouth match the manipulated audio.

Africa Check found several other giveaways that the speech is fake. The president’s English sounds unnatural and grammatically incorrect, and he appears unsure who he is talking about, as he pauses during the speech to say, “I think her name is Penny Ntuli, if I’m not wrong.”

There is no evidence that authorities or any news outlet has been calling for Ntuli to be arrested.

The video of Ntuli dancing by the side of the highway was first posted to TikTok on 8 September 2025, while the road was still busy with traffic. Her friend can also be seen twerking by her side.

The Jozi FM presenter defended her decision in a later video, saying she “didn’t mean to hurt anyone” by performing in the road.

“There could have easily been an accident,” she later said. “I thought before I posted that.”

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) condemned Ntuli for putting herself and others at risk and sent a reminder to social media content creators not to “risk their lives for likes.”

The RTMC has not called for her arrest or indicated if she will be prosecuted for her actions.

The digitally created fake Ramaphosa speech shows the growing threat of AI-driven misinformation in Africa’s online media environment — and the need for consumers to double-check viral content before sharing it online.