The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has alerted the public about an individual impersonating Gauteng judge-president Dunstan Mlambo on WhatsApp. The impersonator used profile pictures that looked like Mlambo and sent messages from the numbers 074 624 8917, 067 712 4674, and 060 200 8121, registered under “Maphisa Tibane.” The OCJ emphasized that impersonating a judicial officer is a criminal act and has reported the incident to the South African Police.
In a similar vein, just last week, the OCJ warned of another case of impersonation involving Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga. An unknown person, claiming to be Madlanga, sent a message via WhatsApp to a high-ranking official at the Electoral Commission of South Africa, attempting to impersonate the judge.
Both incidents caused concern, prompting the OCJ to advise the public and media to confirm the authenticity of any communications purportedly from judicial authorities by contacting the OCJ directly. This measure aims to prevent falling victim to such scams and to maintain the integrity of the legal system.
For further verification and to report suspicious communications, individuals are encouraged to reach out to the Office of the Chief Justice.
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