Pretoria – Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has set the record straight on a Facebook account that purports to be that of the Minister.
The Facebook account is under Minister Nhleko’s full names, Nkosinathi Nhleko, and even features the Minister’s individual pictures and those taken with members of the South Africa Police Service (SAPS).
“I wish to categorically distance myself from the Facebook account and regard the fraudulent use of my name and pictures as a serious violation of my individual rights.
“This act must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. For the record, I have never been on social media and have no intention to do so in the near future,” said Minister Nhleko.
Minister Nhleko said he did not want to take the matter lightly because the fraudulent act was on social media. He said this should sensitise all South Africans about the dark world of internet fraud and incidents of rising cybercrime globally.
The Minister is currently considering legal action and has encouraged all South Africans to periodically check if they too may be victims of social network fraud and other cybercrimes.
At its 85th Interpol General Assembly in Indonesia last week, which Minister Nathi Nhleko attended, the world policing body noted that criminals had intensified their abuse of social media.
“In particular, there is an escalating use of the internet and social media to conduct crimes ranging from illicit trade to child sexual abuse,” warned Interpol. – SAnews.gov.za
