Electoral Commission warns public about CEO imposter

The Electoral Commission has issued a warning to the public following the impersonation of its Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo.

The warning to the public came after the commission learned of the impostor recently and this was not the first time Mamabolo is being impersonated.

The first time was in October 2022 when the commission issued a public alert and reported the matter to police for investigation.

According to the IEC the SAPS investigations on the first case are still continuing and over the weekend the impersonation has resurfaced.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, February 28, the imposter is using the cellphone number 084 577 9791 and appears to be very active on WhatsApp, wherein he or she is conversing with unsuspecting professional contacts and acquaintances of the Chief Electoral Officer.

“The WhatsApp account linked to the 084 577 9791 bears the photographs of Mamabolo, which are easily accessible from news-sites and publications on the internet.

“Members of the public are encouraged to contact the police should they encounter anyone claiming to be Mamabolo. Furthermore, members of the public are also urged to contact the Commission to verify any information,” read the statement.

The statement further stated that he Commission strongly condemns the impersonation of Mamabolo as this is damaging to the reputation of the institution especially now that the commission is scaling up preparations for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

“We urge the SAPS to intensify the investigation and apprehend the culprit as his or her criminal conduct undermines electoral democratic processes of the country and the commission as a foremost election management body on the African continent,” the statement concluded

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram