Latest news with #R2.8m
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Jabulani opens new park in memory of anti-apartheid lawyer Bheki Mlangeni
Soweto residents gathered in Jabulani on Thursday to celebrate the opening of a park named after the human rights lawyer, Bheki Mlangeni, who was assassinated by apartheid agents more than 30 years ago. The park, opposite the hospital that also carries his name, has open green lawns, benches, a play area for children, an outdoor gym, a soccer pitch and a mural in Mlangeni's honour. MMC for community development, Tebogo Nkonkou said the park was more than just a public space: it's a symbol of justice, memory and community healing. 'This is not just about cutting a ribbon, We are opening a living tribute to a man who gave his life for justice. Let the children play. Let the community gather. Let the legacy of Bheki Mlangeni live,' said Nkonkou. The park, which cost R2.8m to build, created 10 jobs through a local labour initiative and pumped just under R600,000 into the local economy through the use of small businesses. Ward 34 councillor Lucas Lufutso said the community had waited many years for the revamp to happen. 'The request for this park was made in 2014. I wasn't a councillor then, but when I took office in 2023, I made sure we pushed for its completion,' Lufutso said. 'Whenever it's winter, we also have electricity problems here, we haven't had electricity for two days but I know the community has been waiting for the park to open. We must protect it. No more dumping, no cars inside the park, and please, no crime. Let the children be safe here.' An emotional moment arose when a representative from a law firm where Mlangeni was working for at the time of his death stood up to speak. Speaking on behalf of the law firm Cheadle Thompson and Haysom where Mlangeni worked, Karien Norval, co-director of Cheadle Thompson & Haysom Inc Attorneys, got everyone emotional with her tribute. 'Bheki was a young lawyer, a father, and a community activist. He was part of the team investigating Vlakplaas death squads,' she said. 'The parcel bomb that killed him was not meant for him, but they used his name so the package would be trusted. He died because he stood for the truth.' Norval said the firm started a scholarship in 2002 in Mlangeni's name which still supports young law students today. 'Every day when we walk into our office, we see his photo. It simply says 'Bheki Mlangeni, colleague and friend, assassinated February 15 1991'. We are proud to remember him.' The chief whip of the City of Johannesburg, Sithembiso Zungu, also raised concerns about crime and safety, saying parks often attract criminals if not looked after. 'We need to keep this park safe. The children are here playing, and that's how it must stay. We need to make sure security is taken seriously, taken that crime is a challenge in this area,' Zungu said. .
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Ransomware recovery costs South African businesses R24 million on average, report finds
A new cybersecurity report from Sophos has revealed a sharp rise in the number of South African organisations paying ransoms to cybercriminals. Image: Pixabay A new cybersecurity report from Sophos has revealed a sharp rise in the number of South African organisations paying ransoms to cybercriminals, with average recovery costs now at R24 million. The State of Ransomware in South Africa 2025 report is based on responses from 154 local businesses that were hit by ransomware in the last year. South African organisations fell victim to ransomware due to compromised credentials used in 34% of attacks. Another reason was exploited vulnerabilities, which were the start of 28% of attacks. Malicious emails were used in 22% of attacks. A lack of expertise was the most common operational root cause, cited by 58% of South African respondents. This was followed by a lack of protection cited by 55% of organisations. 53% said that a weakness in their defenses that they were not aware of played a factor in their organisation falling victim to ransomware. The report shows that 71% of organisations paid the ransom to recover their encrypted data - a dramatic increase from just 43% in 2024. Meanwhile, fewer businesses are using backups to recover, with that number dropping from 72% to just 35% in the past year. According to Pieter Nel, Country Manager for Sophos South Africa, this is a worrying shift. 'The fact that more South African organisations are choosing to pay ransoms - while relying less on backups - shows that many are not adequately prepared for cyberattacks. It's critical that we change this trajectory by investing in stronger defences and better recovery planning.' The report also found that the median ransom demand is now R18m – up from R2.8m last year. However, the median ransom paid rose to R8.3m, nearly three times more than in 2024. Meanwhile, South African organisations are getting faster at recovering from a ransomware attack, with 47% fully recovered in up to a week, an increase from the 41% reportedlast year. 19% took between one and six months to recover, a drop from last year's 26%. On top of the financial damage, the human impact was also significant. Among organisations where data was encrypted 76% of IT teams felt increased pressure from leadership; 47% reported higher levels of anxiety and stress and 42% experienced a sustained increase in workload. Sophos is encouraging all businesses, large or small, to strengthen their cyber resilience by using strong passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication; keeping systems up to date and patched; making regular backups and testing recovery plans and educating employees about common scams as well as considering professional cybersecurity support like Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services. 'Ransomware doesn't only target big corporations - it affects schools, small businesses, and even healthcare providers,' says Nel. 'It's more important than ever that all South Africans, whether consumers or business owners, take cybersecurity seriously.' BUSINESS REPORT
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- The Citizen
eMalahleni is the prime spot for hijacking
eMalahleni is the prime spot for hijacking Two victims found themselves at the mercy of alleged armed criminals in separate hijacking incidents, narrowly escaping their captors in daring getaways. The first incident unfolded on June 14, when a truck driver was hijacked shortly after leaving a mine in Delmas. When he stopped at a stop sign, three masked men allegedly armed, stormed his white Volvo truck, and as they approached the truck, they forced him into the back seat and tied him up with cable ties. They covered his face with a blanket and drove for about an hour before stopping at an industrial premises. They continued driving before pausing again, ignoring the victim's pleas to be untied. The armed men abandoned the victim and drove off with the truck. Patrol officers later assisted the victim. The hijacked truck, valued at R2.8m, was recovered at Balmoral along the Old Pretoria Road. The second case occurred on June 12, when a man was hijacked while driving his employer's vehicle, a white Nissan NP200, after stopping at a tuck shop in Extension 16. As he returned to his car, three men allegedly pointed firearms at him, forcing him into the back of the vehicle. With one suspect allegedly holding him at gunpoint, the others took control of the vehicle and drove toward yet another industrial premises. In a desperate bid for freedom, he managed to leap from the moving car and flee later finding assistance at a police station. 'We continue to call on motorists to exercise caution, avoid stopping in isolated areas, and remain alert to potential threats,' warned Captain Eddie Hall, spokesperson of SAPS Witbank. Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
