The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has been informed of the existence of a fake and misleading Facebook page that impersonates him.
The impersonator misleads the public into believing that they are communicating with the Minister by soliciting money to support a “worthy course of student funding”.
“It is unfortunate that we have individuals who go to an extent of masquerading as a Minister to defraud members of the public, using the genuine plight of students,” said Minister Nzimande.
Minister Nzimande already communicated to Facebook to locate and close this fake Facebook page.
The Minister wishes to put it on record that the ONLY authentic social media accounts that he has authorised are the following:
https://www.facebook.com/bonginkosi.nzimande.52
https://www.facebook.com/DrBladeNzimande/
https://mobile.twitter.com/drbladenzimande
https://www.instagram.com/minister_blade_nzimande/
All other social media pages bearing the Ministers’ name are fake and false. 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.
Minister Nzimande is aware of the essential role that is played by social media for effective and responsive communication and he is committed to continue to engage with the public through genuine and credible social media platforms.
Members of the public are also advised to contact their nearest police station if they suspect or might have already been scammed by this fraudster/s.
Members of the public who might be aware of any existence of a suspicious social media platform in the name of Minister Nzimande should contact Ishmael Mnisi at 066 037 8859 or send an email to Ishmael.Mnisi@dst.gov.za
Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
Cell: 066 037 8859
