4 suspended, laptops seized as R300m theft is unearthed
NEW Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has revealed that his department unearthed a cybercrime-related matter that resulted in a staggering R300 million stolen over the past decade.
Macpherson said that in May, cyber attackers stole a further R24m and this prompted a full forensic investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), police, State Security Agency, and experts in the ICT and cyber security industry.
These details emerged as Macpherson and Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala conducted detailed assessments on the work of the department and through briefings from department branches.
“The department has been a soft target and playground for cyber criminals for more than 10 years; this should have been picked up a lot earlier.
“I felt it important to let South Africa know what has happened and what we are doing about it.
“I cannot discount the possibility of collusion between officials and criminals in this prolonged period of theft. It is clear that we need better financial controls which I have said to the department are a matter of urgency,” Macpherson said.
Four officials from the department have been suspended and 30 laptops have been seized by investigators.
The suspended officials include three in senior management and one in middle management. The department was forced to shut down all its payment systems, causing significant delays in the payment of its creditors.
The investigation which involves cyber and ICT security experts covers:
• Causes of the breach and vulnerabilities.
• Vulnerability and susceptibility to cybercrime of the ICT infrastructure within the department.
• Lack of staff capacity and weak ICT systems.
“We appeal to the team probing this security breach to conclude their investigation with speed. We do not want prolonged investigations with no results. There is no place for corruption in this department,” Macpherson said.