The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has issued a public alert after identifying a WhatsApp account that appears to impersonate Acting Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court.
What the OCJ found
According to an OCJ statement, the impersonator used a profile image resembling the acting judge president and sent messages claiming to be from him. The OCJ named the cellphone number associated with the account as 072 910 6073, which it said was registered on WhatsApp under the name "Acting Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela".
"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."
The office emphasised that deliberately representing false information to the prejudice of others amounts to fraud and that the incident would be referred to the appropriate authorities for investigation and action.
Public risk and verification
Impersonation of high-profile judicial officers poses multiple risks: the dissemination of false directives, attempts to influence legal matters, or scams designed to extract money or confidential information. The OCJ’s advisory seeks to protect both members of the public and journalists from acting on communications that did not originate from the judiciary.
To reduce risk, the OCJ asked media and citizens to confirm any questionable message with the office before treating it as authentic. The statement did not provide a direct OCJ hotline in the release; it focused on the instruction to verify suspected judge-origin communications through official OCJ channels.
Context — a pattern of incidents
The OCJ noted that this is not an isolated event. Over recent years the office has flagged multiple cases where individuals have allegedly used names, images and identities of prominent judges and judicial officers in attempts to mislead the public. This warning is part of ongoing efforts to preserve the integrity of judicial communications and public trust in the courts.
- Impersonated person: Acting Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela
- Platform: WhatsApp
- Number identified by OCJ: 072 910 6073
- Action: Matter to be reported to relevant authorities
Practical steps for the public and media
The OCJ’s advisory underlines a simple verification protocol useful for anyone who receives unexpected communications purportedly from members of the judiciary:
- Do not act on directives, financial requests or legal advice received via unverified WhatsApp messages.
- Check the message against official OCJ or court announcements posted on recognised channels.
- Contact the OCJ or the relevant court registry to confirm authenticity before sharing or publishing such communications.
These steps are particularly important for newsrooms, legal practitioners and paralegals who might be asked to rely on documents or orders that appear to originate from judges.
What happens next
The OCJ said it will refer the matter to the relevant authorities for further investigation and handling. The office did not specify which investigative bodies would be involved, but matters of alleged fraud and impersonation typically involve SAPS and, depending on the nature of the offence, other agencies with jurisdiction over cybercrime.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Impersonated official | Acting Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela |
| Platform | |
| Phone number named | 072 910 6073 |
| OCJ action | Public warning; referral to authorities |
The OCJ’s statement serves as a reminder that impersonation scams are evolving with social media and messaging apps. For residents of the Eastern Cape, and those engaging with the province’s courts, the office’s guidance is a practical safeguard: verify, and if necessary report, before responding to online correspondence that claims to represent judicial authority.
Further developments, including any investigative outcomes or SAPS notices, will be reported as they become available.
