Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams WhatsApp account hacked
Minister of communications and digital technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says her WhatsApp messages have been hacked.
Her office said that the Facebook-owned messaging platform has launched an investigation.
She also revealed that there were naughty messages in her Whatsapp as she communicated with her husband, but there are no nude pictures:
Speaking in Pretoria today, Ndabeni-Abrahams said, “Surely you will find naughty messages between myself and my husband in those WhatsApp messages because we do communicate”.
In a tweet on Monday morning, the department of communications and digital technologies tweeted that the WhatsApp account of Ndabeni-Abrahams was hacked “resulting in private and confidential information being in the hands of a third party.”
This illegal activity has been reported to relevant authorities and platform owners for action.
Obtaining and distributing information that is illegally obtained is a crime and offenders will be reported to legal authorities.
Enquiries: Mish Molakeng: 082 469 3997
— Dpt of Communications & Digital Technologies (@CommsZA) October 5, 2020
A spokesperson for the department of communications and digital technologies, Mish Molakeng says both WhatsApp and Ndabeni-Abrahams’ mobile service provider have confirmed that they are investigating.
He confirmed that Ndabeni-Abrahams only has one phone, and a single WhatsApp account, which means that both her work and personal messages may have been intercepted. Although he did not reveal how the hack was unearthed he said authorities are investigating.
Over the past year, there have been reports of people being simply hacked using the SMS authentication code which WhatsApp uses to verify new users.
WhatsApp is reportedly currently developing technology to require fingerprint verification to view messages. It is also expected to soon announce the option of sending a video or photo that will disappear after it was viewed once by the recipient.
Of recent, Ndabeni-Abrahams has been embroiled in controversies.
Last month, Ndabeni-Abrahams subjected herself voluntarily to the ANC’s integrity commission to address allegations of impropriety that had been levelled against her office. This was after several media articles alleged that her husband, Thato Abrahams, had business dealings in the sector under her purview and this had influenced her dealings with entities, notably the South African Post Office.
She was also hauled before the ANC’s subcommittee on communications, where she was instructed to obey Parliament with regards to the appointment of councillors to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) council. She initially refused to appoint the councillors recommended by parliament.
At the start of South Africa’s stringent lockdown, Ndabeni-Abrahams was put on special leave for two months (one of which was unpaid), after a photo emerged of her having a meal with friends. She was later fined for the offence as well.
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