Dr. Thabo Makgoba, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, has strongly rejected as “fake news” an article circulating on social media that falsely links him to a financial scam purportedly aimed at benefiting the poor. In a brief yet emphatic statement, the Archbishop’s spokesperson, Wendy Kelderman, clarified that the allegations were entirely baseless.
“The Archbishop of Cape Town wishes to categorically denounce an article making the rounds on social media linking him to a financial scam allegedly intended to benefit the poor,” said Kelderman. She assured the public that there was no truth in the claims and urged everyone to disregard the misleading information. According to her, the so-called scheme appeared to be part of a broader financial scam that should be avoided at all costs. She further cautioned the public not to engage with or register for the so-called stock market scam, as it was entirely fraudulent.
The article in question had been posted on a website that bore the logo of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). This led many to believe that the story had some legitimacy, but Kelderman emphasized that the Archbishop had no involvement in any such scheme. She confirmed that the SABC had been notified about the unauthorized use of its logo and branding to give the article a false sense of credibility. In response, the SABC distanced itself from the misleading report, stating that it was investigating the matter and working to address the misuse of its logo.
This incident comes at a time when concerns about the growing impact of deepfake technology are increasing, particularly in the financial sector. Deepfakes, hyper-realistic videos generated by artificial intelligence, are becoming a serious issue, as they can convincingly impersonate prominent individuals to spread false information. Just last week, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) issued a warning about a new investment scam that featured deepfake videos of well-known South African entrepreneurs, including Dr. Patrice Motsepe. These scams, which often promise high returns, are designed to exploit the trust of the public by using the faces and voices of respected figures to lend them false legitimacy.
As technology advances, so do the methods used by scammers to deceive the public. This incident involving Archbishop Makgoba is a stark reminder of the importance of verifying information before taking any action, especially when it involves financial investments. Both the Archbishop’s office and the SABC have worked quickly to address the situation, but the incident highlights the growing need for awareness and vigilance in navigating the increasingly complex digital landscape.
