Latest news with #CybercrimesAct19of2020
IOL News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Why SAHRC flagged Operation Dudula to Hawks over June 16 plans
Members of the Operation Dudula Movement led yet another operation of shutting down spaza shops owned by illegal foreigners in Diepkloof. The operation uncovered expired food items which included cookies, snacks, colddrinks, painkillers and sanitary pads. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has raised the alarm over Operation Dudula's latest planned activities in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, and has reported the group to the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, and the Hawks. This follows social media posts by Operation Dudula, in which the group called on members of the public to join them on 16 June to 'reclaim hijacked properties from illegal foreigners.' The post, shared on the group's Facebook page, claims that a Nigerian national has taken control of over 100 properties and alleges, without evidence, that several white South Africans have been murdered in the process. The planned gathering is expected to start at 9 am at the Moffettview police station. It forms part of the group's ongoing efforts to mobilise communities around their anti-immigration agenda — a campaign critics say fuels xenophobia and undermines the rule of law. In response, the SAHRC said on Sunday that it had taken note of the concerning language and potential for incitement. 'We have already alerted the National Commissioner of Police and will keep these calls under close watch,' the Commission stated. 'We reserve the right to pursue charges under the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 should the content amount to criminal incitement.'While acknowledging that communities often face real concerns about crime and service delivery, the Commission urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands. 'Freedom of expression does not extend to speech that incites hatred or violence,' it added. The Commission encouraged South Africans to report criminal activity to SAPS or relevant authorities and to consult its Social Media Charter for responsible online engagement. 'Together with law enforcement and civil society, the SAHRC will continue to safeguard the dignity, equality and security of every person in South Africa.'In response to the SAHRC, Operation Dudula denied being a violent organisation. 'We are peaceful,' the group said in a statement. 'We just want to help illegal foreigners return to their home countries. We are good Samaritans.' However, Operation Dudula's activities are under increasing legal scrutiny. Last week, the High Court in Johannesburg heard arguments from civil society groups including Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX), the South African Informal Traders Forum (SAITF), Inner City Federation (ICF), and Abahlali baseMjondolo. The applicants argue that the group's actions constitute xenophobic harassment, intimidation, and unlawful evictions. According to legal counsel Jason Brickhill, Operation Dudula has been forcibly shutting down informal businesses, demanding identity documents, and even removing learners and teachers from schools based on nationality. The applicants also challenged Section 41 of the Immigration Act, arguing that its current form allows warrantless searches beyond public spaces and does not require reasonable suspicion before demanding immigration status. As tensions rise ahead of 16 June, the SAHRC and the Hawks have pledged to monitor the situation closely. The case against Operation Dudula highlights broader concerns around rising anti-immigrant sentiment and the erosion of constitutional protections for vulnerable communities in South Africa.
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- The Citizen
SAHRC reports Operation Dudula's activities to Hawks
Operation Dudula claims it is a group of 'good Samaritans' who are helping illegal foreigners return home. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says it has alerted the National Commissioner of Police, Fannie Masemola, and the Hawks regarding Operation Dudula's planned activities for 16 June. On Friday, Operation Dudula took to their Facebook page, calling on the public to join their operation in Rosettenville, 'as we will be reclaiming Rosettenville hijacked properties from illegal foreigners'. 'It has been discovered that one illegal Nigerian foreigner has hijacked over 100 properties, while an undisclosed number of white people have allegedly been murdered in the process,' it claimed. ALSO READ: Operation Dudula vows to remove foreign shop owners from Ekurhuleni 'We are fighting for space with our siblings in small houses, yet foreigners are comfortable in hijacked properties. Those are our RDPs.' The meeting point for the operation is Rosettenville at the Moffettview police station at 9am. SAHRC: 'We alerted police' The SAHRC said on Sunday that it had taken note of the social media posts and alerted Masemola. 'We have already alerted the National Commissioner of Police and will keep these calls under close watch, reserving the right to pursue charges under the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 should they amount to criminal incitement,' it said. '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. 'Citizens are encouraged to report any alleged criminal or unlawful activity to Saps 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. ALSO READ: Operation Dudula tells immigrants to get healthcare 'in their own countries' 'Together with law-enforcement agencies and civil-society partners, the SAHRC will continue to safeguard the dignity, equality and security of every person in South Africa. 'The Commission is encouraged by the confirmation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Hawks, that it will urgently look into this matter.' However, Operation Dudula says it is not a violent organisation. 'We just want to remind SAHRC that Operation Dudula is a peaceful organisation helping illegal foreigners go back to their countries and develop them. We are good Samaritans,' it said in response to the SAHRC. Case against Operation Dudula Last week, the High Court in Johannesburg heard arguments presented on behalf of Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX), the South African Informal Traders Forum (SAITF), the Inner City Federation (ICF), and Abahlali baseMjondolo, challenging the alleged xenophobic and racist speech and conduct of Operation Dudula. Legal counsel Jason Brickhill, for the NGOs, accused Operation Dudula of harassing and intimidating foreigners by demanding to verify identity documents, forcing businesses to close, preventing informal traders from operating, evicting people from their homes without a court order, wearing uniforms that resemble those of the police or the military, denying people access to health care or education by removing students and teachers from schools based on of nationality. The applicants also challenged the constitutional validity of Section 41 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002, to the extent that its application is not confined to public spaces, authorising warrantless searches in private places that include the home and places of study, work, and/or business; and to the extent that it does not require an immigration officer or police officer to hold a reasonable suspicion that a person is unlawfully in South Africa before requesting such persons to identify themselves as a citizen, permanent resident, refugee, asylum seeker or undocumented migrant. Judgment was reserved. READ NEXT: NGOs say foreigners in SA told to return to their countries when opening cases against Operation Dudula
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Phillip Sebole Masango secures new legal representation in case against Ramaphosa and Hill-Lewis
Phillip Sebole Masango, 28, was arrested by The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and is facing two assault charges, and six charges related to contravening sections 14 and 15 of the cyber crimes act 19 of 2020. Image: Linked In/Supplied The man who is facing charges of assault and for threatening to kill the President of the Republic of South Africa and the Mayor of Cape Town made his second court appearance on Monday morning. Phillip Sebole Masango, 28, was arrested by The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and is facing two assault charges, and six charges related to contravening sections 14 and 15 of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020. The cyber crimes act charges specifically refer to 'unlawfully, and intentionally disclose by means of electronic communication services to a person with the intention to incite violence' against an individual. He was arrested by the Hawks' Crime Against The State (CATS) unit, part of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation on Friday, May 23. On Monday, May 12, a complainant, who is the Chief Executive Officer of a Cape Town based company, allegedly received a voice message from the suspect, in which threats were made against the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. Masango is also alleged to have sent multiple threatening messages targeting the complainant, her family, and the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis. The matter was reported to the Cape Town based Hawks' CATS team, which conducted a swift investigation resulting in Masango's apprehension in Gauteng. 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 ✕ When Masango arrived in Cape Town Magistrate Court, he did so without any legal representation, to which he stated that 'no one is talking to me'. He had explained he had contacted FNB for their legal service but he had heard nothing back. 'Why is my attorney not showing up? Not sure why my attorney is not coming…' he explained to Magistrate Alida Theart when asked about his legal representation. 'Am I guilty of anything?' Theart explained that they were not yet there in the process as he first had to have an attorney on record. 'Which one is better?' he asked when the magistrate explained to him that he could use legal aid which is provided by the state, or one he could pay for himself. He then decided to have legal aid represent him in court, which is when the attorney, Mrs A Semmery came onto the record. Semmery took a few moments to confer with Masango, and during the time, State prosecutor Mujaahid Sandan had raised the question surrounding the accused's place of residence as the one he had previously indicated had belonged to a Church of Scientology in Cape Town. The court heard that Masango has had no prior convictions, and that there were no other outstanding warrants of arrest. The matter was then postponed to Monday, 9 June, to allow for the verification of his address and investigation in other details, including the status of his passport. Cape Argus
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
New lawyer for man accused of threatening President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis
Phillip Sebole Masango, 28, was arrested by The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and is facing two assault charges, and six charges related to contravening sections 14 and 15 of the cyber crimes act 19 of 2020. Image: Linked In/Supplied The man who is facing charges of assault and for threatening to kill the President of the Republic of South Africa and the Mayor of Cape Town made his second court appearance on Monday morning. Phillip Sebole Masango, 28, was arrested by The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and is facing two assault charges, and six charges related to contravening sections 14 and 15 of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020. The cyber crimes act charges specifically refer to 'unlawfully, and intentionally disclose by means of electronic communication services to a person with the intention to incite violence' against an individual. He was arrested by the Hawks' Crime Against The State (CATS) unit, part of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation on Friday, 23 May 2025. On Monday, 12 May 2025, a complainant, who is the Chief Executive Officer of a Cape Town based company, allegedly received a voice message from the suspect, in which threats were made against the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. Masango is also alleged to have sent multiple threatening messages targeting the complainant, her family, and the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis. The matter was reported to the Cape Town based Hawks' CATS team, which conducted a swift investigation resulting in Masango's apprehension in Gauteng. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading When Masango arrived in Cape Town Magistrate Court, he did so without any legal representation, to which he stated that 'no one is talking to me'. He had explained he had contacted FNB for their legal service but he had heard nothing back. 'Why is my attorney not showing up? Not sure why my attorney is not coming…' he explained to Magistrate Alida Theart when asked about his legal representation. 'Am I guilty of anything?' Theart explained that they were not yet there in the process as he first had to have an attorney on record. 'Which one is better?' he asked when the magistrate explained to him that he could use legal aid which is provided by the state, or one he could pay for himself. He then decided to have legal aid represent him in court, which is when the attorney, Mrs A Semmery came onto the record. Semmery took a few moments to confer with Masango, and during the time, State prosecutor Mujaahid Sandan had raised the question surrounding the accused's place of residence as the one he had previously indicated had belonged to a Church of Scientology in Cape Town. The court heard that Masango has had no prior convictions, and that there were no other outstanding warrants of arrest. The matter was then postponed to Monday, 9 June, to allow for the verification of his address and investigation in other details, including the status of his passport.
