In the latest episode of television identity theft, Natasha Thahane of Skeem Saam has spoken out against fakes who use her grandfather, Archbishop Desmond Tutu's name in vain.
Thahane, who plays Enhle in the SABC1 youth drama, said the fake accounts have taken a toll on her.
"There are about 12 fake accounts that I know of; it's like they create one every two weeks. These people are always hard at work, posting things I never even said. You see posts from these accounts as early as 5am."
The 19-year-old actress said she didn't like how one of the fake accounts bragged about being Tutu's grandchild.
"I wouldn't do that at all. That's why even when I did a magazine interview, I said I didn't want people to know [who my grandfather was] because I'm here in the industry to act and want to be appreciated as a performer."
She has had to block some of her fans because she can't trace who the culprit is.
"It's really hard to see who it is if you have 75000 followers. It's sad because some fans ask why I've blocked them. I need to be verified."
Thahane and her colleagues at Skeem Saam, one of the country's most watched shows, have become some of the most cloned celebrities in social media.
Another victim is Mlungisi Mathe who plays MK.
"This thing started around February, when MK started trending. It seems everyone wants a piece of the character," Mathe said.
He complained that whoever was running the accounts was ruining his reputation.
"These people demand female fans to send them numbers or come to certain auditions."
Speaking for Skeem Saam, Percy Vilakazi said: "This is bad for these kids because people who meet them on the street ask them why they are so rude, because of some of the things they (supposedly) say [on social media]," he said.
Vilakazi said one of the posts from Thahane's dubious accounts read: "'Who do you choose between me and Bonang?'
"That's something Natasha wouldn't post. The bigger it [Skeem Saam] got, the worse it became. Natasha and Mlungisi are the worst victims with a lot of these accounts in their names," he said.
Vilakazi said they've tried reporting the cases to Facebook, but it has been a drag. He said that "Facebook is very inefficient".
tiwaneb@timesmedia.co.za
Actors cry out over profile hijackers: I need to be verified - Natasha
In the latest episode of television identity theft, Natasha Thahane of Skeem Saam has spoken out against fakes who use her grandfather, Archbishop Desmond Tutu's name in vain.
Thahane, who plays Enhle in the SABC1 youth drama, said the fake accounts have taken a toll on her.
"There are about 12 fake accounts that I know of; it's like they create one every two weeks. These people are always hard at work, posting things I never even said. You see posts from these accounts as early as 5am."
The 19-year-old actress said she didn't like how one of the fake accounts bragged about being Tutu's grandchild.
"I wouldn't do that at all. That's why even when I did a magazine interview, I said I didn't want people to know [who my grandfather was] because I'm here in the industry to act and want to be appreciated as a performer."
She has had to block some of her fans because she can't trace who the culprit is.
"It's really hard to see who it is if you have 75000 followers. It's sad because some fans ask why I've blocked them. I need to be verified."
Thahane and her colleagues at Skeem Saam, one of the country's most watched shows, have become some of the most cloned celebrities in social media.
Another victim is Mlungisi Mathe who plays MK.
"This thing started around February, when MK started trending. It seems everyone wants a piece of the character," Mathe said.
He complained that whoever was running the accounts was ruining his reputation.
"These people demand female fans to send them numbers or come to certain auditions."
Speaking for Skeem Saam, Percy Vilakazi said: "This is bad for these kids because people who meet them on the street ask them why they are so rude, because of some of the things they (supposedly) say [on social media]," he said.
Vilakazi said one of the posts from Thahane's dubious accounts read: "'Who do you choose between me and Bonang?'
"That's something Natasha wouldn't post. The bigger it [Skeem Saam] got, the worse it became. Natasha and Mlungisi are the worst victims with a lot of these accounts in their names," he said.
Vilakazi said they've tried reporting the cases to Facebook, but it has been a drag. He said that "Facebook is very inefficient".
tiwaneb@timesmedia.co.za
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