National Treasury confirms malware on infrastructure reporting platform
National Treasury has confirmed that it has "identified malware on its Infrastructure Reporting Model website, the online infrastructure reporting and monitoring system".
In a statement issued to the media late on Wednesday, the Treasury announced that it has isolated the IRM servers to assess the extent of the compromise and to ensure the security of its systems.
"Considering recent media reports since Sunday regarding security incidents affecting Microsoft platforms in the USA, NT has requested Microsoft's assistance in identifying and addressing any potential vulnerabilities within its Information and Communication Technology ICT) environment,". the Treasury said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Why Parliament's buildings were uninsured during the devastating fire
The restoration and rebuilding work is set to be completed in November 2026 for the New Assembly building and the following month in the Old Assembly just in time for the State of the Nation Address in 2027. Image: Phando Jikelo / Independent Newspapers The buildings of Parliament were not insured when they were gutted by fire three years ago, Secretary to Parliament Xolile George said on Friday. 'The State does not insure immovable property to a large extent as we know, including movable property. There is no insurance. It covers that by placing funds to rebuild whenever there are issues or replaces those assets,' he said. George was responding to questions from MPs when implementing agent, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and Parliament briefed the Joint Standing Committee of Financial Management of Parliament on the rebuilding and restoration work. George also said the National Treasury had issued an instruction note in 2007 that clearly stated departments not to insure immovable properties. 'These buildings were not insured at the time of the fire. The replacement is done as per appropriation from the national fiscus to rebuild. We may not know the reasons for that, given the large scale of the portfolio of the state. It might have been informed by these considerations. I don't know,' he added. During the meeting, MPs heard that at least R574 million has been spent to date on rebuilding the buildings gutted by fire in January 2022. DBSA group executive for infrastructure delivery, Chuene Ramphele, said the cost of restoring and rebuilding the gutted buildings was R4.4 billion. 'We have already spent R574 million. These are reconciled by the National Treasury and Parliament,' Ramphele said. He told the MPs that the work done at the precinct had entailed five work streams that included enabling a work safe access route, MPs' offices, rubble removal, asset recovery, and spatial planning and designs, among other things. Ramphele also said the gutted buildings were a crime scene after the devastating fire until 2023. 'It was under police watch. That was lifted in February 2023. Technically, work started in March 2023,' he said. However, Ramphele said there was much significant work completed at that particular time. He said some of the achievements were the demolition work which came to the tune of R73m. The designs were completed in November 2023 and presented to the multi-party forum and chief whips in January 2024. The heritage application process, started in November 2023 in consultation with the South African Heritage Resource Agency, was approved in December 2024 following an intensive consultative process. Ramphele also said the construction and restoration have started after construction companies were appointed following the issuing of a work permit for construction by the Department of Employment and Labour. He said work was happening underground. 'You may not see things really happening. You see cranes. We started the kind of work happening in the basement,' he said. The presentation made to the committee showed that work in the New Assembly and Old Assembly would be completed in November 2026 and January 2027, respectively, just in time for the State of the Nation Address. Ramphele said they projected to commission, test, and hand over the New Assembly in November 2026. 'At that time, the building will be practically complete at 95%. It can really be used.' He stated that the building can be used around January 2027. Ramphele also said the Old Assembly will be commissioned, tested, and handed over in January 2027. He said they were monitoring the timelines closely. 'We really work hard with contractors, consultants, Parliament, and everyone involved to make sure these milestones are achieved and get these buildings completed,' Ramphele said. George echoed the sentiments of MPs that issues of weather could not be used as an excuse for not completing the project unless something unreasonable happened. However, George said a stream of ground was found under the Old Assembly buildings. 'It is known that the stream has always existed. I think the engineers, like any other, would find answers so that it does not materially impact the progress per set timelines. We will be watching that also to ensure the project is completed as planned,' he said. [email protected]


The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
South Africa gets R8.4 billion loan to help fix and improve its energy sector
The money will be used to support the implementation of the Just Energy Transition (JET). South Africa has secured a $474.6 million (approximately R8.4 billion) loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support the country's energy sector transition efforts. The National Treasury stated on Thursday that the money will be used to support the implementation of the Just Energy Transition (JET). JET is a strategic shift towards a low-carbon economy, specifically focusing on reducing reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal, while ensuring a fair and equitable transition for those affected by the change. ALSO READ: SA's just energy transition: Why investing in gas is a bad idea Second loan with AfDB This is the second loan that the Treasury gets from the AfDB. This first one was concluded in 2023. 'This new agreement highlights the importance of South Africa's partnership with the AfDB in advancing South Africa's development agenda.' Treasury believes that this loan will strengthen efforts to improve energy security measures, accelerate the decarbonisation of the economy, and enhance socio-economic benefits of the energy transition, thereby enabling inclusive economic growth and fostering job creation. Loan is part of third Development Policy 'The loan is part of the third Development Policy Operation which includes participation from the World Bank, KFW Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) to support structural reforms to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of the country's infrastructure services,' read the statement. One of the JET's key aspects is transitioning away from fossil fuels, especially coal, towards renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, and exploring other low-carbon technologies. ALSO READ: 'There is hope' for SA's Just Energy Transition despite concerns about funding gap US withdraws from JET Partnership In March, the US withdrew from the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), leaving SA in need of about $1.56 billion (about R28 billion) for its JETP financing. The United States government had pledged $1.56 billion for the country's decarbonisation during the Joe Biden presidency. 'This funding either needs to be found elsewhere or SA's climate change programme will need to be reprioritised,' said Professor Raymond Parsons from the North-West University Business School. NOW READ: SA's R1.5 trillion Just Energy Transition Investment Plan unpacked


The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
South Africa secures $474m AfDB loan for Just Energy Transition
South Africa and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a US$474.6m (approximately R8.6b) loan agreement aimed at supporting the implementation of the Just Energy Transition. The loan agreement with the AfDB follows the first policy loan concluded in 2023 to support South Africa's Just Energy Transition. 'This new agreement highlights the importance of South Africa's partnership with the AfDB in advancing South Africa's development agenda. It strengthens efforts to improve energy security measures, accelerate the decarbonisation of the economy, and enhance the socio-economic benefits of the energy transition, enabling inclusive economic growth and fostering job creation,' National Treasury said yesterday. This loan is part of the third Development Policy Operation, which includes participation from the World Bank, KFW Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund), to support structural reforms to enhance the efficiency, resilience and sustainability of the country's infrastructure services. It offers favourable concessional financial terms at a nominal value of US$474.6m, with a maturity of 15 years and a three-year grace period at an interest rate of a daily Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 1.22%. 'The National Treasury wishes to express its appreciation to the AfDB for its continued partnership and support of South Africa's development objectives. 'This includes efforts to implement critical reforms in the energy and transport sectors, while also advancing the country's Just Energy Transition goals and meeting foreign currency commitments at lower interest rates.' Read original story on