Mpumalanga man in court for impersonating Cele
A 34-year-old man has appeared in the White River Magistrate's Court for impersonating Police Minister Bheki Cele on Facebook.
Zakhele Nkosi made his first appearance on Thursday where he was charged with fraud.
Nkosi allegedly posted on Facebook purporting that the police minister will on 13 April 2020 announce that liquor shops will open during the hard lockdown.
"This was unbecoming and regarded as fake news as the Minister of Police has no valid social media account and a contravention of the Regulations of Disaster Management Act,” said Hawks spokesperson Philani Nkwalase.
"Preliminary investigation revealed that there were 161 Facebook accounts and two Facebook groups purporting to be that of the Minister, carrying a combination of both his name and pictures."
The suspect has been released on warning and is expected to be back in court on 11 August.
In December 2021, a 25-year-old man Mzomusha Hlongwane from KwaZulu-Natal was sentenced to 30 days in prison or an R1000 fine for contravening the Regulations of the Disaster Management Act.
He was found guilty of impersonating the police minister on Facebook.
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