Fake Twitter and Facebook accounts posing as various government officials and ministers have become a rising trend, especially with the recent ushering in of the new cabinet. The South African government has subsequently issued a statement advising citizens to avoid these fake accounts.

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

A number of accounts that have caused quite a stir and ruffled a few feathers on Twitter are those posting as acting SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, minister of education Angie Motshekga, new minister of communications Faith Muthombi and new Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene.

The South African governement says the real accounts can instead be found on the respective departmental websites that each minister or official works in.

[Source – South African Government News Agency. Image – Twitter]