Latest news with #CybercrimesAct
The Citizen
a day ago
- 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
4 days ago
- 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.
TimesLIVE
26-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Man who 'threatened president, mayor and CEO' appears in Cape Town court
A man who allegedly made threats against the president, a mayor and a company CEO appeared in the Cape Town magistrate's court on Monday. Phillip Sebelo Masango was arrested by the Hawks on Friday in Germiston on the East Rand. He faces charges of contravening the Cybercrimes Act and assault. The threats were allegedly directed at President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and a company CEO. The CEO allegedly received a threatening voice message on May 12. 'In the voice clip the suspect can be heard allegedly threatening to kill the president of South Africa. The complainant further alleged that the suspect sent her several other threatening messages, threatening her and her family as well as the executive mayor of Cape Town,' said Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo. 'The matter and information was reported to the Cape Town-based Hawks' crime against the state (CATS) division for further investigation culminating in the arrest of the suspect in Gauteng.'
Eyewitness News
26-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Suspect to make first court appearance for threatening Ramaphosa
JOHANNESBURG - A suspect is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday morning following his arrest for making threats against President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and a prominent local businesswoman. The 28-year-old was arrested in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, on Friday after a case was opened against him earlier in May. The suspect is alleged to have sent multiple threatening messages targeting the head of state, the Cape Town mayor, the businesswoman and her family. Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo said the suspect, whose identity has been concealed until his first court appearance, was transported from Gauteng to the Western Cape, where he will appear. "The matter was reported to the Cape Town-based Hawks' CATS team, which conducted a swift investigation resulting in the suspect's apprehension in Gauteng and is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates Court on Monday, 26 May 2025, where he will face a charge of intimidation." In a separate case, Mbambo said a KwaZulu-Natal man has been handed a five-year jail term for circulating pornographic images that he had altered to include the faces of Ramaphosa, former Police Minister Bheki Cele, and his wife, Thembeka Ngcobo. "Scebi Thabiso Nene (37) has been convicted and sentenced by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on 23 May 2025 for multiple contraventions of the Cybercrimes Act."
Eyewitness News
26-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Alleged cyberbully makes brief court appearance for allegedly threatening Ramaphosa, others
CAPE TOWN - A 28-year-old alleged cyberbully made a brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrates Court for allegedly threatening President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and a prominent businesswoman. Sabelo Masango allegedly made threats against the president, the Cape Town mayor and a CEO of an unknown company. Masango was arrested in Germiston on Friday after allegedly making the threats to the CEO last week. The accused faces charges of contravening the Cyber Act and assault. Masango appeared in the dock on Monday wearing navy blue tracksuit pants and a short-sleeved T-shirt. When asked if he has legal representation, he told the court he has lawyers in Italy and South Africa. Investigators said Masango sent threatening messages to the CEO on Monday last week. In those texts, he made threats to Ramaphosa and Hill-Lewis. He is charged with five counts of contravention of the Cybercrimes Act and two counts of assault, all related to the messages he sent. The matter was postponed until 2 June for Masango to get legal representation.
