The alleged identity theft came to light only after the victim, graphic designer De Villiers, was caught drink driving and treated as a repeat offender.
De Villiers said he was hugely ashamed and embarrassed by his "poor decision", but he felt nothing but shock when police mentioned the convictions from 2008 and 2009.
"I had never done anything wrong in my life. They treated me like the worst criminal," De Villiers said. "I was thinking, 'Hang on, what's going on here?' I had to hire a lawyer to help me track through the police records."
Twenty-seven-year-old Waldo van Niekerk, a South African national and former friend of De Villiers, was due to appear in North Shore District Court next month on three counts of perverting the court of justice by giving false details to police and appearing in court under the name of De Villiers. A plea has not been entered.
Police allegations include payments for fines in De Villiers' name paid out of Van Niekerk's bank account.
It's also alleged mail was re-directed from De Villiers' Howick address to Van Niekerk's Torbay address.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said verifying identities was a police responsibility.
Police spokesman Ross Henderson said officers used "various methods to ensure the identity is genuine".
De Villiers said he was dumbfounded by the events.
"Technically, I lost my licence for 28 days and then for six months," he said.
"I will be seeking compensation. It has been a hell of a stressful thing to go through."
De Villiers was convicted on one count of drink driving earlier this year and handed a two-month suspended sentence with a $2500 fine.
"You do something wrong you pay for it. I admitted to everything," he said.
Van Niekerk could not be reached for comment on his actions.
