• 35+ judges and magistrates completed Commonwealth workshops in Johannesburg to strengthen cybercrime expertise.
• Cybercrime costs South Africa ZAR 2.2 billion yearly, with 16M web threats and 18,000 ransomware cases in 2024.
• A train‑the‑trainer model extends knowledge nationwide, part of a Commonwealth program training 2,000+ officials since 2018

South Africa has stepped up its fight against cybercrime with more than 35 judges and magistrates completing Commonwealth training workshops in Johannesburg from December 1–5, 2025, and January 12–15, 2026. The program aims to equip the judiciary with practical skills to handle the surge in digital cases threatening the nation’s economy.

According to Acting Judge President Andre Petersen of the North West province, cybercrime costs South Africa more than ZAR 2.2 billion annually, underscoring the urgency of building judicial expertise in this area.

Antony Phillipson, British High Commissioner to South Africa, said the initiative reflects the need for broad preparedness across the justice system. “Judges are critical stakeholders in the cyber law enforcement pipeline,” he noted.

The program, supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and delivered in partnership with the South African Judicial Education Institute, emphasized practical exercises. Participants engaged in mock cases and group work covering topics such as electronic evidence, legal safeguards in digital cases, search warrants in cybercrime investigations, mutual legal assistance in cross-border matters, and fair decision-making.

These efforts come at a time when cyberthreats across Africa are intensifying. According to Kaspersky’s Africa Cyberthreat Landscape 2025 Report, cyberthreats across the continent escalated sharply in early 2025 compared to the previous year, reflecting Africa’s deeper integration into the global digital economy. In the business-to-business sector, on-device threat detections rose by 21 percent, backdoor detections increased by 29 percent, and password stealer incidents more than doubled.

South Africa, with its large internet user base and advanced digital ecosystem, remains one of the continent’s most targeted countries. In 2024, Kaspersky reported more than 16 million web threat detections, placing South Africa second only to Kenya. The company also recorded over 18,000 ransomware incidents—the highest in Africa—and ranked the country third in password stealer detections. The report noted that these increases were driven by hybrid work models and rapid digitization, which have often outpaced cybersecurity investments.

The train-the-trainer model is expected to extend the program’s reach, as participants will share knowledge with colleagues across the justice system. Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Professor Luis G. Franceschi described the vision as building “a self-sustaining national capacity where judges in South Africa can confidently investigate, assess, and adjudicate cyber-related matters.”

The initiative is part of a broader Commonwealth program addressing cybercrime across member states. Since 2018, the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Cyber Unit has trained more than 2,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judicial officials from 55 of the 56 Commonwealth countries.

Judge Petersen expressed hope that continued judicial training would help courts stay ahead of criminals and reduce the impact of cybercrime in South Africa.

Hikmatu Bilali