President Cyril Ramaphosa. File Picture
A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective five years behind bars for posting on social media that “some people” were planning to assassinate President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Elrico Kaizer Kasper was sentenced in the De Aar Regional Court on charges of cyber fraud.
The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) said the incident took place in March last year.
“Kasper posted on his social media page that ‘some people’ were planning to assassinate President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, during his visit to De Aar, on Human Rights Day celebrations,” said Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi.
Mnisi said a disruptive operation consisting of the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team and Crime Intelligence was operationalised and the team located the accused.
“He was then taken in for questioning and he admitted to having posted such, citing the frustration of unemployment.”
Mnisi said Kasper made numerous court appearances until his sentencing.
Hawks provincial head in the Northern Cape, Steven Mabuela, congratulated the team, including the prosecution team for the sterling work done.
“Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation welcomes the sentencing of the accused, and hopes this sentence will work as a deterrent to other perpetrators of cyber crimes.
“Is it important that people should be aware that the dissemination of false information through social media platforms, will lead to people being prosecuted.”