Higher education, science and innovation minister Dr Blade Nzimande has become the latest public official to be the target of a social media scam account.
Warning the public, Nzimande has distanced himself from the fake and misleading Facebook page purporting to be representing him.
In a statement, Nzimande says the imposter misleads the public into believing they are communicating with him by soliciting money to support a “worthy course of student funding”.
“It is unfortunate that we have individuals who go to the extent of masquerading as a minister to defraud members of the public, using the genuine plight of students,” says Nzimande in a statement.
The minister reveals he’s already communicated with social media giant Facebook to locate and close the fake social media page.
He also confirms he does have an authentic personal page on the popular social network, adding that he is aware of the essential role played by social media in enabling effective and responsive communication.
Nzimande indicates he is committed to continuing to engage with the public through genuine and credible social media platforms.
“All other social media pages bearing the minister’s name are fake,” he says. “The other social media pages that might be regarded as authentic are those of the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Department of Science and Innovation.”
The minister has advised members of the public to contact their nearest police station if they suspect they might have already been scammed by this fraudster.
Members of the public who might be aware of any existence of a suspicious social media platform in the name of the minister, should contact Ishmael Mnisi on 066 037 8859, or send an e-mail to Ishmael.Mnisi@dst.gov.za.
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