Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) issued a warning after residents were purporting to be Mr Muzi Chirwa, District Executive Mayor.

“There are people pretending to be Mr Chirwa, sending e-mails to the mayor’s colleagues, using an e-mail that was created using his name,¨ Ms Bongi Ka Dube, GSDM spokesman, said.

The e-mails are said to request urgent financial assistance.

“The public is advised and warned that Mr Chirwa distances himself from such conduct, aimed at deceiving people.”

GSDM informed residents that these e-mails are not from Mr Chirwa, nor his office.

“Such scams often result in the public losing their hard-earned money and we urge the public to be vigilant to avoid such scammers being successful,” Ms Ka Dube concluded.