Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala ordered a full forensic investigation into its internal information communication technology, saying the system was being attacked by cybercriminals.
Zikalala said the breaches were detected by its banking partners, which include the reserve bank and Absa.
But the department was still quantifying the extent of its vulnerability.
Minister Zikalala said the investigation was prompted by concerns the department was becoming a soft target for cyber crimes.
It will be carried out by the Hawks and the police, with the assistance of ICT and cyber security experts.
The probe will include the vulnerability and resilience of infrastructure, the capacity of staff and ICT systems, and the improvement of internal controls.
Zikalala said the department had become vulnerable due to the nature of its business but with the help of experts, it’s hoping to improve on its cyber resilience capabilities.
Department spokesperson, Lennox Mabaso: “The matter is very urgent, that’s why we’ve got these agencies involved but there must be thorough work in a short space of time and the most important thing is the report must also assist us to ensure we remain resilient.”
Zikalala said the investigations would impact the processing of payments to creditors and beneficiaries, and the department appealed to its partners for patience while it took measures to protect itself and state resources from cybercriminals.
-EWN
In other news – #RIPMphoSebeng: Natasha Thahane under fire over her reaction to Mpho Sebeng’s death
Well-known South African actress Natasha Thahane has been labeled “dramatic” following her reaction to the news of Mpho Sebeng’s death. Sebeng, who was a child star and thespian, tragically died in a car accident in Potchefstroom, North West, in the early hours of Sunday, 5 May.
As tributes continue to pour in from the actor’s colleagues, Thahane – who shared the screen with Sebeng on Saints and Sinners – posted a screenshot of her phone log to indicate she is in disbelief and she’s been trying to get ahold of him since the tragic news. Read More
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