A man who shared fake news on his social media about an apparent assassination plot against President Cyril Ramaphosa has been sentenced to five years of direct imprisonment.
Elrico Kaizer Kasper, 38, was found guilty and sentenced in the De Aar Magistrates Court in the Northern Cape on Tuesday.
In March this year, Kasper posted on his social media that 'some people' were planning to assassinate President Ramaphosa during his visit to De Aar on Human Rights Day.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Mojalefa Senokoatsane says a team, consisting of the Hawks and Crime Intelligence was operationalized to locate Kasper.
He says Kasper was located and brought in for questioning where he admitted to making the post.
Kasper said he did it out of frustration over his unemployment.
The NPA said Kasper's sentence should send a strong message to those who create and share fake news on social media.
Kasper was charged with Cyber Fraud.
