Govt warns on fake social media accounts

Monday, May 26, 2014

Pretoria - Government has advised people, who want to follow the developments around the new Cabinet on social media, to access their Twitter and Facebook accounts via the respective departmental websites.

Acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said Government Communications is aware that a number of fake accounts have sprung up following President Jacob Zuma’s announcement of the new national executive.

“These accounts are established under the pretext of being official accounts using the South African Coat of Arms and/or names of appointed ministers,” she said.

Among the fake accounts is one purporting to be the new Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi, while another claims to be the new Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene.

“Government wishes to put it on record that official Twitter and Facebook accounts are placed and linked to official websites of different government departments.

“Government calls on those establishing these accounts to desist from impersonating government leaders and using these valuable communication platforms to try to confuse the people of South Africa,” she said.

The latest developments can also be followed on https://twitter.com/sagovnews and https://www.facebook.com/sanewsgovza. -SAnews.gov.za