The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has moved to debunk a fake social media notice falsely attributed to Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, warning that the document is fraudulent, misleading and does not represent the views of the judiciary.
The fabricated notice, which has been widely circulated on social media platforms, purports to be an "official declaration" issued by the Chief Justice and claims that a planned anti-immigration protest scheduled for June 30 has been "proscribed and banned".
The fake statement further threatens criminal consequences for anyone who participates in demonstrations that promote hostility, intimidation, violence, or discrimination against foreign nationals.
The OCJ declared in a statement that it had learned of the document and firmly disassociated the Chief Justice and the judiciary from its contents.
"The Office of the Chief Justice (the OCJ) has become aware of a fake notice circulating on social media platforms purporting to be an 'official declaration' by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya."
According to the OCJ, the fraudulent document is dated May 24, 2026, carries an image of the Chief Justice and includes a forged signature designed to give it the appearance of authenticity.
The office warned that the document forms part of a broader disinformation campaign and urged members of the public not to share or rely on the contents.
"The OCJ distances Chief Justice Maya and the Judiciary as a whole from this disinformation, which is clearly malicious and intended to mislead."
"The OCJ further discourages members of the public from spreading this disinformation."
The fake declaration emerged amid heightened tensions surrounding anti-immigration protests taking place in several parts of the country and ahead of a widely circulated June 30 deadline promoted by some activist groups calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
The bogus statement falsely claimed that demonstrations linked to the planned protests had been outlawed and suggested that anyone participating would automatically be guilty of a criminal offence.
Legal experts have previously cautioned that only competent courts, acting within the framework of the Constitution and relevant legislation, can make binding legal orders and that social media posts claiming sweeping legal declarations should always be verified through official government and judicial channels.
The OCJ has urged the public to remain vigilant and to verify information before sharing it online.
The Star
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