Rescued crew of Greek ship sank by Houthis taken to Saudi Arabia
The rescue mission began on Wednesday when the Iran-aligned group sank the Liberia-flagged Eternity C cargo ship, with 22 crew and three armed guards on board, after attacking the vessel with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades over two consecutive days.
Eight crew members and two security guards were rescued. All the crew were Filipino, except for one Russian.
On Sunday, maritime risk management firm Diaplous and British security firm Ambrey said in a joint statement that the vessel's owner had decided to end the privately run search for the remaining crew.
"The decision to end the search has been taken by the vessel's owner reluctantly, but it believes that, in all the circumstances, the priority must now be to get the 10 souls safely recovered alive ashore," they said.
The ship carrying the rescued crew has arrived in Jizan, a Diaplous official said.
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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Command line to control room: SA's infrastructure vulnerable to cyberattacks
South Africa is rapidly digitising its infrastructure, but not necessarily legislating protections against cyberattacks at the same pace. This means we run the risk of becoming a frontline where attackers don't merely steal data, but tamper with infrastructure, and our defences are dangerously out of date. On 23 December 2015, about 23,000 residents of western Ukraine found themselves without electricity. The cause? An Advanced-Persistent-Threat (APT) — that is, a non-state actor, often a proxy for a nation-state, hacking into the power grid and turning off local substations. While that incident was later traced to a Russian-backed Advanced-Persistent-Threat, it was the first noted example of a power grid being disabled by cyberattacks. That was almost a decade ago — connectivity, and the corresponding vulnerability, has only accelerated since then. 'In today's world, you don't need to physically access infrastructure to disable it. You can disable it from a continent away. That's the terrifying shift in power we've seen in cyberwarfare,' says cybersecurity firm ESET's chief security evangelist Tony Anscombe. With more than 25 years of cybersecurity experience, Anscombe paints a picture of both a capable state and private sector where not enough attention is being devoted to the threat that cyberattacks pose. Despite producing world-class cybersecurity experts, South Africa's infrastructure is lagging — and increasingly in the crosshairs of both cybercriminals and state-aligned attackers. Prominent breaches such as those at the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the Government Employees Pension Fund, and the National Health Laboratories Services show that this is no longer just a consumer nuisance — it's costing the country billions, and is a national security vulnerability. The 2023 SANDF breach exposed both classified data and President Cyril Ramaphosa's personal contact details — underscoring how deeply these attacks can cut. (Not) OK computer South Africa has featured prominently in cybersecurity reports over recent years, especially with regard to our continental performance — and not in a good way. South Africa's connected society and developed telecoms make it a prime target for cybercriminals. Interpol's Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report of 2025 placed us fifth on the continent in terms of suspected scam attacks, and second in terms of cybercrime detections. This underscores both the benefits — and pitfalls — of our connectivity: we can better detect attacks, but we're also more likely to be targeted. While this offers some defensive potential, South Africa's rapid digitisation without legislative guardrails has left critical systems exposed. The infrastructure that governs water flow, power grids and chemical treatments is increasingly vulnerable to manipulation by both cybercriminals and hostile states. If this seems remote, recall that cyberattacks during the Israel-Iran conflict were used to cause actual flooding in Israeli towns. The 2010 Stuxnet virus reportedly sabotaged Iranian nuclear centrifuges. These are not sci-fi threats — they're documented precedents. And they're not limited to global players. 'We've also seen things like the Uganda water treatment system being targeted,' Check Point's global research group manager Eli Smadja said. 'That's a real infrastructure breach. It wasn't publicised much, but the fingerprints were there. If they can go for Uganda, they can go for anyone.' Target-rich environment 'South Africa is actually among the most attacked countries in Africa, but also one of the most capable at detecting and reporting,' continued Smadja. 'That makes it a double-edged sword: threat actors know there's infrastructure to exploit, but defenders are watching. 'We monitor threat activity across Africa. The same techniques used in Ukraine are now being adapted here — and we've observed probes in South African infrastructure,' he said. According to Smadja, this isn't hypothetical. 'We've seen entire playbooks reused — reconnaissance activity, credential stuffing, port scanning — these are standard steps before a full-scale intrusion.' Check Point has also observed code injections targeting legacy industrial control systems. Probes into protocol vulnerabilities, particularly on outdated systems, often come from known botnets and command-and-control servers. 'South Africa's critical infrastructure is particularly attractive because it operates in a hybrid environment: old tech connected to new interfaces. That creates blind spots,' Smadja said. 'You'll often have a 1998-era controller (a system used to control industrial processes) that is remotely accessed through a 2020s web interface. That kind of mismatch is what attackers look for.' South Africa's geopolitical and economic role in the Southern African Development Community may further raise the country's threat profile. 'If you want to send a message or disrupt a region, targeting South Africa's systems — power, water, or logistics — achieves impact,' said Smadja. And not all attackers are foreign. Local ransomware gangs are increasingly mimicking the tactics of Advanced-Persistent-Threats, including delayed payloads, supply chain infiltration, and backup disabling. What this means for you If a substation is hacked, your power could be cut without explanation. If a water system is tampered with, your supply could change without warning — and you'd never know if it was a cyberattack. Even when no data is stolen, critical services can be disrupted, with no public communication or accountability. Infrastructure on the edge 'If you're going to run an industrial system, you should segment the network so that operational tech is not accessible through the corporate side. That's not always happening,' warned Anscombe. Municipal water systems show similar gaps. Check Point has recorded targeted scans and login attempts. 'We've seen reconnaissance scans and access attempts directed at water systems, power grids, logistics. These aren't random — they're calculated,' said Smadja. South Africa's current attack surface: large targets, small defences Despite solid detection capability, South Africa lacks a mandatory breach reporting regime for infrastructure. 'There needs to be an obligation to report. If an entity suffers a cyberattack, there should be a legal requirement to notify a central authority,' said Anscombe. Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia), only personal data breaches must be disclosed. If a water pump is hacked, or a substation disabled, there's no legal requirement to inform the public. 'When systems go dark, people assume it is load shedding. But there is a real risk of an invisible trigger. The threats we track in Africa show real intent,' said Smadja. The law vs the reality South Africa's cyber governance remains fragmented. The Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (Cipa) addresses fences and guards, but not firewalls. The Protection of Personal Information Act protects personal data but offers little for industrial control systems that govern our infrastructure, and despite escalating cyber threats, no dedicated critical information infrastructure law exists. Oversight is split with the State Security Agency (SSA) running the cybersecurity hub without legal enforcement powers, while the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies sets policy but lacks operational control. Experts say this siloed architecture leads to regulatory paralysis. Professor Sizwe Snail ka Mtuze, adjunct professor of cyberlaw at Nelson Mandela University and a key drafter of the Cybercrimes Act, told Daily Maverick that South Africa is struggling with 'a lack of centralised legal authority on cybersecurity.' He notes, 'Right now, you've got POPIA looking at data breaches, SSA managing the hub, and DCDT working on policy, but no one really able to enforce infrastructure-specific protections.' The Information Regulator confirmed this in response to Daily Maverick's queries, warning of systemic non-compliance in the public sector. 'Public entities do not invest in compliance with POPIA as compared to private entities,' the regulator stated. 'In some instances mitigation measures are not implemented, leading to repeat compromises of identified vulnerabilities.' Notably, none of South Africa's major infrastructure operators – including Eskom, Rand Water, or Transnet – reported a single high-risk data breach in the past two years, despite ongoing cyberattacks. This, combined with the Regulator's statements and the data showing cyberattacks in South Africa suggests a worrying culture of under-reporting or non-compliance. In her 15 July Budget vote speech, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni noted: 'We are finalising consultation on the draft cybersecurity strategy' and emphasised a state investment push into advanced interception, AI, and analytics capabilities. But without a unified legal regime or enforcement authority, implementation remains uncertain. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the Information Regulator of South Africa had not responded to Daily Maverick's queries by the time of publication. IoT: innovation or open door? South Africa's infrastructure future hinges on Internet of Things (IoT) — but it is being rolled out without minimum standards. Devices like smart meters and programmable logic controllers, which govern a lot of industrial processes in factories and utilities, are often installed without firmware update paths or password security. 'The problem with IoT is two-fold: there's no update mechanism, and many of these devices are built without even basic password protections,' warned Anscombe. Many were foreign-made and integrated via local vendors — increasing supply chain exposure. What must be done, and urgently Establish a national computer security incident response team with enforcement powers. Mandate disclosure of infrastructure-related cyber breaches. Pass legislation to govern Critical Information Infrastructure. Enforce cybersecurity procurement standards for public infrastructure. 'The adversary only needs one entry point. And if it's your power grid or water supply, the consequences go far beyond business disruption,' said Anscombe. DM
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Rescued crew of Greek ship sank by Houthis taken to Saudi Arabia
Ten mariners rescued after Houthi militants sank a Greek ship last week have arrived in Saudi Arabia, maritime security sources said on Monday, after rescuers ended their search for the remaining crew. The rescue mission began on Wednesday when the Iran-aligned group sank the Liberia-flagged Eternity C cargo ship, with 22 crew and three armed guards on board, after attacking the vessel with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades over two consecutive days. Eight crew members and two security guards were rescued. All the crew were Filipino, except for one Russian. On Sunday, maritime risk management firm Diaplous and British security firm Ambrey said in a joint statement that the vessel's owner had decided to end the privately run search for the remaining crew. "The decision to end the search has been taken by the vessel's owner reluctantly, but it believes that, in all the circumstances, the priority must now be to get the 10 souls safely recovered alive ashore," they said. The ship carrying the rescued crew has arrived in Jizan, a Diaplous official said.
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- The Citizen
‘All in the name of God': Murder and abuse allegations rock KZN rehab centre
A facility meant to heal has become the centre of allegations involving torture, forced conversions, and a brutal regime masquerading as recovery. Tetelestai Recovery Centre (TRC) in Winklespruit, KwaZuluNatal, is at the centre of controversy following the alleged murder of inpatient Luke Edwards, 32. Former residents have come forward on social media and to The Citizen with allegations of brutality including violence, psychological torture, sexual exploitation and physical abuse. All were purportedly meted out in the name of God, under the eye of proprietor Donovan de Klerk. A death shrouded in abuse and isolation In April, Edwards' body was found dumped at an old age home up the road from Tetelestai. While the state autopsy results remain outstanding, The Citizen has seen pictures which appear to show he had been severely beaten. According to testimony in court, Edwards tried to escape from the facility on 9 April after being placed in isolation and denied adequate food. It was then alleged that four inpatients called monitors, who oversee fellow residents, beat him to eventual death. The four alleged killers Lloyd Ramsbottom, 29, Banele Mseleku, 24, Jean Pierre Van Niekerk, 28, and Njabulo Brandon Dlamini, 28, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail on Wednesday after first being denied bail last week. Tetelestai Recovery Centre owner Donovan de Klerk. Picture: Supplied Fear, control and 'therapy' by punishment The centre is run by De Klerk, a recovering addict, his wife Laticia and a friend. According to Google, 'Tetelestai' is a Greek word meaning 'it is finished' or 'it is completed' and purportedly the last words Jesus said on the cross. Macy, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, sought help at Tetelestai two years ago. She said she left traumatised and stripped of dignity. ALSO READ: Dentist on murder rap after Austrian dies in 'rehab' From the day of intake, she said, all personal freedoms were confiscated. People are then placed in isolation for up to a few weeks, medication taken away and they are detoxed under the watchful eye of monitors, or recovering addicts, she said. 'People are left in there to scream in a locked room for days on end,' Macy said. Claims of humiliation and forced labour Macy said her days at TRC were filled with enduring and witnessing degrading punishments disguised as therapy. She was frequently forced to scrub floors and tiles for hours with a toothbrush, repeatedly ordered to clean the same spot. Speaking up in protest meant harsher punishment. 'It wasn't therapy. It was abuse. They humiliate you to control you,' she said. 'All in the name of God.' Private investigator Brad Nathanson, retained by the Edwards family to probe the alleged murder of their son, said his investigation unearthed numerous, consistent reports of abuse, including violent punishments and coercion. The investigator's Facebook page became an outlet for many former inpatients to ventilate their experiences, none positive. Nathanson said TRC lacked medical professionals to appropriately manage addicts, violated safety standards and used patients for unpaid, harsh punishment-labour under constant surveillance. Luke Edwards' body. Picture: Supplied Alleged danger, violence and survival inside TRC Jack, a pseudonym, was a former patient who spoke to The Citizen. He went to Tetelestai believing it would help him conquer his drinking problem. ALSO READ: One in four alcohol addicted teens first exposed by family members He sold his possessions to pay for treatment, only to discover what he described as a prison camp. He arrived inebriated and was made to sign paperwork while drunk, only to be told later that he was legally bound to the centre and could not leave at will. Macy said people who attempted to escape were collected by teams of recovering addicts. She said returnees came back bleeding and with bruises at times. Jack described how a disabled resident with a fused leg was restrained and forcibly bent by monitors as punishment, resulting in severe injuries. The man later jumped from a second-storey window and got away. Macy said she witnessed a female resident jump from a second-floor window during an episode of what looked like severe distress. 'She lay there in agony with a shattered leg,' Macy said. 'They left her there for hours, claiming it was 'God's punishment'. No-one helped her. It was horrifying.' 'Forced' religious conversion Medics were eventually called, she said. Christian teaching, former patients said, permeated the TRC. De Klerk presented himself as the centre's spiritual leader, Macy said, and preached daily. Jack said residents were forced to convert to Christianity. He witnessed Muslims being made to strip off religious clothing and abandon their faith to study the Bible under threat of punishment. Jack spent time in detox, describing conditions worse than jail. He said he was housed with violent ex-convicts, including alleged members of the notorious numbers prison gangs. ALSO READ: Here is how long you could spend in jail for drug trafficking in SA Knives were hidden around the facility, sharpened on floors and used as intimidation tools. 'I feared for my life at every turn,' he said. Punishments he endured included cleaning toilets covered in faeces, blood or semen using bare hands or toothbrushes for hours. Claims of medical neglect and overcrowding Food, or lack of it, was another alleged form of punishment and control. Residents were allegedly fed shelf-life expired groceries. Jack said the kitchen was filthy. 'We were once so hungry we stole brinjals from the kitchen and cooked them over candles in our dorm,' he said. A punishment called 'full hold' was described as physical and psychological torture. Inmates were forced to sit on cold floors, drawing shapes on tiles with their fingers for 30 days, with food and basic comforts limited. Others were made to dig holes with teaspoons in the garden, only to fill them in again. Former inpatients said unqualified monitors dished out medication and the only nurse ever present was a recovering addict and helped only during her tenure. Macy claimed she saw a counsellor once. Jack was never on a psychologist's couch at TRC. But at least one formal complaint was laid. A South Coast social worker wrote to the department of social development in KwaZulu-Natal three years ago about the centre. ALSO READ: Drug-addicted mother who killed son and went to church gets 20 years Watch: Former Tetelestai Recovery Centre residents speak out: In the letter, seen by The Citizen, the social worker, whose daughter-in-law was an inpatient, accused De Klerk of having a relationship with her son's wife while she was vulnerable. There are also questions surrounding TRC's registration. An eThekwini municipality permit dated 2024 allows for the residence of 40 men and 30 women. Another certificate, dated March this year and issued by the provincial department of social development, limits inpatients to 20 and noted that no detox activities may occur on the premises. Macy and Jack both alleged, however, that over 100 patients were housed at the centre during their time, with severe overcrowding in the men's quarters. 'Control, power and profiting' Former patient Bill said: 'That place isn't about healing. It's about control, power and profiting off the vulnerable.' Macy agreed. 'They destroyed me. They will keep destroying others until someone stops them.' The social worker's letter to the department stated: 'They have caused devastating harm to vulnerable people. They must be deregistered without delay.' Psychologist and medical doctor Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys said: 'Placing people dealing with addiction into environments that involve humiliation, deprivation and violence creates extreme trauma responses.' He said these conditions could lead to aggression, depression and learned helplessness. According to Redelinghuys, addiction requires a dedicated team. 'Detoxing can be life-threatening,' he said. 'It requires professional, university-degreed medical oversight.' NOW READ: R13m already overspent on Gauteng rehab stuck in planning phase since 2018
