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SAPS optimistic they’ll win the war against cybercrime

todayJanuary 22, 2025 63

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National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, says he remains optimistic that South Africa can win the war against cybercrime.

“We will continue the fight. We are winning because we are able to track down the culprits,” he said at a high-level delegation in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The meeting was hosted by members of South Africa’s crime busting unit, the Hawks, alongside members of the SAPS and Interpol with the aim of strengthening the country’s interventions to cyber threats.

South Africa is facing a significant cybercrime challenge, with around 1 800 incidents reported weekly. 

According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), nearly half of organisations in South Africa have experienced a cyber threat in the past year, with 90% of those attacked being targeted more than once. 

The crime costs the country R2.2 billion annually.

The victims of these cyberattacks include government institutions, banks, and individuals.

For instance, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) recently faced a scandal when matric results were allegedly leaked and sold on an online platform. 

A 21-year-old suspect had since been arrested for the crime. 

Additionally, a 35-year-old man was nabbed this week for allegedly hosting and distributing child pornography on a global scale, with an estimated 10 million images found on his device.

Hawks boss, General Godfrey Lebeya, attributes Africa’s vulnerability to cyberattacks to complex reasons, including South Africa’s slowness in implementing cybersecurity laws. 

The Cyber Crimes Act was signed into legislation in June 2021, and since then, a pattern has emerged of cybercriminals committing multiple crimes to cover their tracks, he says.

“You’ll find that cybercrime is simply among the crimes these individuals are committing. If you go and look at a charge sheet, you’ll find that there are numerous offences. Because after getting the money, they will have to launder to pretend it comes from a legitimate source,” said Lebeya. 

Experts warn that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by cybercriminals is further complicating the problem. 

To combat cybercrime, Masemola emphasised the importance of learning from international police experts and implementing effective cybersecurity measures.

South Africa’s top cyber security threats include online banking fraud, emails scams, and social engineering attacks that trick individuals into sharing sensitive information.

Masemola has urged South Africans to be vigilant online and report any suspicious cyber activity.

Written by: Naomi Kobbie

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