- Nhlanhla Sizani faces charges of fraud and forgery after pretending to be a UN Ambassador during 2021 Local Government Elections
Nhlanhla Sizani, 24, made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrates Court today, facing charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering. The charges stem from an incident during the 2021 Local Government Elections where Sizani allegedly posed as a United Nations (UN) Ambassador, resulting in a significant security operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Diplomatic Police Unit.
Sizani was served with a summons on December 12, 2023, leading to his appearance in court today. It is reported that during the elections, he submitted a fraudulent letter bearing the UN insignia, requesting SAPS escort to polling stations under the guise of being a UN Ambassador. This misrepresentation led to Sizani being escorted by SAPS to various polling stations as an observer.
Upon investigation by the Hawks’ Crime Against the State within Serious Organised Crime Investigation, it was confirmed by the UN that Nhlanhla Sizani was not an Ambassador or Diplomat, and the request for the escort was not authorized by the international organization. As a consequence of Sizani’s actions, SAPS suffered an actual financial loss.
The case has been postponed to January 23, 2024, to allow the accused to obtain legal representation. The legal proceedings are anticipated to shed light on the extent of the alleged imposter’s actions and the repercussions of his unauthorized use of the UN’s name and emblem during a crucial electoral process.