Minister Dean Macpherson’s missing R300 million

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, could not provide details on the investigation into R300 million stolen from his department.

In July 2024, Macpherson revealed that they uncovered a cybercrime-related matter, which has resulted in the theft of at least R300 million in the past ten years.

However, this is the low end of the scale. He said that the theft could be significantly more as investigations continue.

The latest incident happened in May 2024, where the cyber-attackers stole a further R24 million from the department. 

This prompted a full forensic investigation by the Hawks, South African Police Services, the State Security Agency, and ICT and cyber security experts.

This revelation emerged as Minister Macpherson and Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala conducted detailed assessments of the department’s work.

“The department has been a soft target and playground for cyber criminals for over ten years. This should have been picked up a lot earlier,” he said.

“I cannot discount the possibility of collision between officials and criminals in this prolonged period of theft.”

Four Public Works and Infrastructure officials have been suspended, and 30 laptops seized by the investigators. 

The four officials suspended include three senior management officials and one middle management official.

The department was forced to shut down all its payment system causing significant delays in the payment of its creditors.

In May, the department announced that it had ordered a full forensic probe into vulnerabilities in its information and technology systems.

The department identified the cyber-security vulnerabilities with the assistance of its banking partners, including ABSA and the South African Reserve Bank.

The investigation covers the causes of the breach and vulnerabilities, the vulnerability of the ICT infrastructure to cybercrime, and the lack of staff capacity and weak ICT systems.

Macpherson pledged to crack down on these syndicates and those in cahoots with them internally or externally.

“We want to stop this immediately because we cannot allow our department to be subjected to unchecked looting,” he said.

“This is money that could have been spent on our infrastructure drive to improve the lives of South Africans.’

He said the investigation into the crime will be expanded and deepened to find the masterminds and the beneficiaries of this grand theft. “I want to see them in prison,” he said.

“We are appealing to the team probing this security breach to conclude their investigation with speed,” he added.

“We do not want prolonged investigations with no results or consequences. There is simply no place for corruption in this department.”

Daily Investor asked Macpherson for an update on the investigation, as it has been six months since his announcement. However, his spokesperson did not respond.