Is Africa cyber-crime-savvy?

Cyber awareness must become part of every aspect of life from doing business to alleviating poverty and providing security. KAREN ALLEN* writes

It started with loud music and the smell of marijuana. When South African police stormed a hotel room in the Western Cape they found six people huddled over 32 computers and mobile devices. This extortion syndicate was extracting millions of dollars from unwitting individuals.

A senior source at South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says such “boiler rooms” of malicious cyber activity are rapidly expanding.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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