Story audio is generated using AI
The office of the chief justice (OCJ) has warned the public about a person allegedly impersonating the acting judge president of the Eastern Cape Zamani Nhlangulela.
The OCJ said it had become aware of an individual sending WhatsApp messages purporting to be from Nhlangulela.
“It has come to the attention of the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) that there is an individual impersonating acting judge president Zamani Nhlangulela, of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court,” the office said in a statement.
According to the OCJ, the individual allegedly used a profile picture resembling the acting judge president and sent messages claiming to be from him.
“According to the information available to the OCJ, the individual sent WhatsApp messages purporting to be from Acting Judge President Nhlangulela, using a profile picture of his likeness,” the OCJ said.
The office identified the cellphone number allegedly used by the impersonator as 072 910 6073, which it said was registered on WhatsApp under the name “Acting Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela”.
“The public is warned not to fall prey to this impersonator and need to be aware that misrepresenting a state of affairs knowing that it is not true, to the prejudice of someone else, is fraud,” it said.
The matter would be reported to the relevant authorities for further investigation and handling, the office said.
The OCJ has urged members of the public and the media to verify any communication that appears to originate from a judge.
“Members of the public and media are requested to contact the OCJ to verify the authenticity of any communication, directive, article or social media post that purports to be that of a judge,” it said.
The warning comes amid growing concerns about impersonation scams in which individuals use the names, photographs and identities of prominent public figures and officials to mislead members of the public.
The OCJ has over the years issued public warnings and media statements about at least five separate incidents involving individuals allegedly impersonating prominent judges and judicial officers.
In one of the most recent cases, the OCJ warned the public about an individual allegedly using Constitutional Court justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga’s photographs on WhatsApp while impersonating him.
The impersonator allegedly used the account to extort money, solicit bribes and intimidate state officials.
In February 2025, the office issued an alert about an impersonator allegedly contacting members of the public and soliciting money while pretending to be judge Mandela Makaula of the Eastern Cape High Court.
In December 2023, retired Constitutional Court justice Chris Jafta approached the OCJ after discovering that an individual was allegedly attempting to contact members of the public using his identity.
The following year, in March 2024, the OCJ issued another warning after a scammer allegedly created a WhatsApp account registered under the name “Chief Justice MM Maya”.
The individual allegedly contacted OCJ staff in an attempt to obtain contact details for other sitting judges.
In another case in 2022, the OCJ warned the public about an individual allegedly posing as Supreme Court of Appeal judge Dumisani Zondi Mabindla-Boqwana.
The OCJ said people should exercise caution and verify communications purportedly sent by members of the judiciary before acting on them.
TimesLIVE
Modiegi Mashamaite
www.timeslive.co.za