Latest news with #CybercrimesAct
IOL News
12-07-2025
- IOL News
SAPS slammed for delays in social media hate speech case
Goolam Muhammed Suliman Vawda, 49, has been using the social media alias @goolammv to discredit and threaten journalists, government officials, entrepreneurs, and politicians from South Africa for six years. Image: Supplied LAW enforcement inefficiencies are once again under scrutiny as the South African Police Service (SAPS) drags its feet in investigating a high-profile social media abuse case involving former Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Sisulu laid a criminal complaint on July 21, 2024, at the Roodepoort Police Station against Goolam Mohammed Sulieman Vawda, who is widely believed to be behind the controversial X (formerly Twitter) handle @goolammv — an account accused of spreading hate speech, cyberbullying, and defamatory statements targeting political figures and private citizens alike. A year later, the case remains stagnant, with no progress communicated by the Gauteng police. SAPS failed to provide any update when approached for comment in May, and has not responded to subsequent queries. This comes despite allegations that Vawda fled the country shortly after the case was opened, allegedly relocating to Mauritius, where he continues to operate the X account. Digital analyst and World Wide Worx CEO Arthur Goldstuck described the state's handling of such cases as deeply concerning. He said the country's Cybercrimes Act and Protection from Harassment Act offer legal pathways to address online abuse, but implementation remains a major hurdle. 'Law enforcement often lacks the digital forensics expertise and dedicated resources to pursue these cases effectively,' said Goldstuck. 'That gap between the legal framework and practical enforcement is where justice collapses.' He warned that unless SAPS is trained and resourced to trace digital footprints and secure admissible evidence, victims will continue to suffer while perpetrators act with impunity. 'It's not just about the law being there. It's about having the ability and the will to use it.' Goldstuck noted that key steps — such as securing digital evidence to link an individual to an online persona — were either ignored or delayed, weakening the potential for successful prosecution. 'If forensic experts had been engaged early on, a proper digital trail could have been established, which is now much harder to reconstruct.' Police have yet to respond despite numerous requests for an update on Sisulu's case.
TimesLIVE
17-06-2025
- TimesLIVE
Incitement of violence online: How law deals with this while shielding free speech
While freedom of speech is a right, incitement of violence is a punishable offence, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and legal expert Emma Sadleir have cautioned. The warning follows threats on social media against foreign nationals ahead of Youth Day. The SAHRC said it had alerted the national police commissioner's office about the threats and would monitor the culprits. It reserved the right to pursue charges under the Cybercrimes Act. 'While the commission does not dismiss genuine grievances about crime or service delivery, we remind the public that freedom of expression does not extend to speech that incites hatred or violence,' it said. The commission encouraged people to report any alleged criminal or unlawful activity to police and other competent authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands, and to consult the SAHRC Social Media Charter for guidance on responsible online conduct. It said it was encouraged by the Hawks confirming they would urgently look into this matter.
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Bergview principal lays charges against Malema, Mbalula for 'false rape claims'
Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse (red tie) has filed charges against Julius Malema, Fikile Mbalula, and MEC Fundile Gade over alleged false claims linking him to the rape of a 7-year-old girl Image: X The principal of Bergview College, Jaco Pieterse, has laid criminal charges against ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, EFF leader Julius Malema, and Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade after being publicly accused of raping a 7-year-old girl, known as Cwecwe. The charges, which were filed at Sophiatown police station in Gauteng, include crimen injuria, intimidation, and contravention of the Cybercrimes Act. Barry Bateman, spokesperson for lobby group AfriForum, which is representing Pieterse, told the media on Friday morning outside the police station that the allegations had devastated the principal's life and career. 'South Africa has a rape crisis, we have a child abuse crisis, and being falsely accused of committing such a crime against a child is devastating,' Bateman said. 'This is why we are pursuing these charges.' Bateman also criticised Mbalula, who he said had referred to Pieterse as 'an animal,' questioning how AfriForum could defend 'an animal who rapes children.' 'This is simply unacceptable. There must be consequences for people who falsely accuse others in the public domain,' he said. 'Social media has worsened the problem, where false allegations are repeated without question.' Last month, IOL News reported that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed it would not pursue criminal prosecution in the case. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The child was allegedly raped at Bergview College, a private school in Matatiele, in October 2024. According to NPA national spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, the case docket was first submitted in November 2024 to prosecutors at the Matatiele Magistrate's Court and the Matatiele Thuthuzela Care Centre. After interviewing the child and conducting a medical examination, prosecutors determined that the evidence was inconclusive and did not support prosecution. The decision was later upheld by the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions after further review. The case was subsequently returned to the police. However, following public pressure in April 2025, the NPA decided to publicly disclose its decision and confirmed that police had resubmitted the docket for further consideration. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu defended the investigation timeline, rejecting claims that it only began after public outcry. 'To say it took six months for SAPS to act is a dangerous exaggeration,' Mchunu previously said. 'The case was investigated as soon as it was reported in October.' On April 1, 2025, Mbalula, during a media briefing at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, condemned the alleged rape of a 7-year-old girl at Bergview College in Matatiele and sharply criticised AfriForum for defending the accused. 'We are outraged and deeply saddened by the brutal violation of a seven-year-old child at Bergview College,' Mbalula said. 'Even more disgraceful is the involvement of organisations like AfriForum, who shield suspects rather than standing for justice.' Mbalula described the alleged perpetrator as 'an animal,' saying, 'It is not a person who can rape a seven-year-old. That's not a human being... it's cannibalism.' Meanwhile, on April 6, during the EFF's Land Reclamation Day event in Johannesburg, Malema accused the principal of being treated differently by law enforcement. 'The principal who raped Cwecwe must know that we are coming for him,' Malema said. 'We call on all victims of that principal to come out. He should not be working with children.' Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade also commented publicly. According to the lobby group, in a March 30 interview on Newzroom Afrika, he said, 'The principal is one of the suspects who should have submitted a long time ago. When he was called for a DNA test, he ran to his lawyers, clearly avoiding the investigation.' Bateman said AfriForum will now seek criminal convictions against those who made the accusations, including politicians. 'If that involves a custodial sentence, going to jail, that would be preferable,' Bateman said. 'Politicians who lie publicly and destroy lives should go to jail.' He confirmed that AfriForum will also assist Pieterse in filing civil lawsuits against Malema, Mbalula, Gade, and former DA MP Phumzile Van Damme, whom Bateman accused of driving a 'disinformation campaign.' 'Allegations were made against our organisation that we were protecting a rapist - which are entirely false,' he said. Though Pieterse remains the official principal of Bergview College, he has not returned to work and remains in a difficult personal situation, Bateman said. 'He has had to leave his home. His family has received threats. His own daughter was contacted on Instagram and threatened with rape if he didn't submit DNA samples,' Bateman said. 'His entire life has been turned upside down.' Bateman said classes at the school have since resumed. He said despite the accusations, Pieterse remains committed to seeing justice served. 'He believes people who make false allegations should face the music,' he said. IOL News
The Citizen
05-06-2025
- The Citizen
Man sentenced to eight years in jail for cybercrime
The man and his co-accused attempted to extort nearly a million rand after installing remote access software on a company computer. A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for cybercrime, fraud, theft of data, and attempted cyber extortion Lucky Majangandile Erasmus appeared in the Commercial Crimes Court in the Western Cape this week, where the sentence was handed down for the cybercrimes. He entered into a plea agreement with the state, which resulted in a combined eight years' imprisonment for his crimes. Charges Erasmus faced several charges, including contravening the Cybercrimes Act, theft of data, attempted cyber extortion, unlawful access to a computer system, unlawful interference with a data storage medium, and resetting of passwords, among others. Erasmus was sentenced after he and his co-accused—both former employees of Ecentric—installed software on the company's systems to enable remote access, intending to commit cybercrimes. Thereafter, an unknown person made contact with the CEO of 'Ecentric', indicating that they had compromised various aspects of 'Ecentric's' IT environment and planned to hold Ecentric to ransom. ALSO READ: Cybercrime: A global risk surpassing load shedding in potential impact Ransom On 14 November 2023, the individual issued the first ransom demand of US$534,260, to be paid within 16 hours. Failure to comply, he warned, would result in the publication of all compromised data within the next 30 hours across all platforms—including competitors, stakeholders, the public, and regulatory bodies. Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, stated that a second ransom demand was made on 30 November 2023, this time for US$1,000,000. The threat warned that if the payment was not made, further action will be taken to prove the data breach and hack. 'No ransom was paid by Ecentric. Four retail clients of Ecentric suffered a loss of R 794 808.51. The accused have since been in custody from 14th December 2023 till the sentencing of Erasmus whereas his co accused, Felix Unathi Pupu (43) is still in custody to appear on 30 June 2025 for plea and sentencing. 'Erasmus will effectively serve five years direct imprisonment. Additionally, he was declared unfit to possess a firearm,' Hani said. ALSO READ: WhatsApp account hacked? This is what you need and must do
Eyewitness News
02-06-2025
- Eyewitness News
Case against man who sent threats to Ramaphosa, Hill-Lewis postponed to verify addresses
CAPE TOWN - The case against a man accused of sending several threats to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and the CEO of a Cape Town-based company has been postponed to verify the accused's address. Philip Masango made his second court appearance in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Monday. The 28-year-old was arrested in Germiston two weeks ago after the businesswoman reported the threats to police. He faces three counts of assault and five of violating the Cybercrimes Act. Masango's case was postponed to 9 June for investigators to confirm several addresses he provided the court. The addresses include properties in Germiston, Gauteng, and Sea Point, Cape Town. Masango also provided an address for the Church of Scientology in Cape Town. The church has distanced itself from him. He also claims to have leased a property at the V&A Waterfront, but the prosecution told the court that there was no record of this. Masango will be represented by a court-appointed lawyer when he returns to the stand next week.
