Tackling South Africa’s cybercrime threats

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November 2025 IT in Manufacturing

As South Africa battles some of the highest crime and cybercrime rates in the world, and the Phangela Group is redefining security by combining cutting-edge AI technology with human judgement to deliver faster, smarter and more resilient protection. “Technology gives us speed, scale and a view across many fronts, but it can’t read intent, prioritise risk in context, or understand subtleties like motive or human behaviour. That’s where people come in,” says Peter Kruger, head of business development and growth at Phangela Group.

Phangela’s integrated security model leverages automation and analytics while keeping human expertise at the centre. AI systems sift through vast amounts of CCTV and digital data, cutting through false alarms to flag genuine threats. Predictive insights enable proactive deployment of resources, with studies showing AI-driven policing can reduce urban crime by up to 40%. Onsite training ensures controllers, officers and managers are equipped to interpret AI outputs and make fast, informed decisions.

Kruger explains: “AI doesn’t respond to a threat on its own. It highlights risks. Human judgement then decides what’s really happening and how to act to protect lives, businesses and communities.”

The urgency of this approach is underscored by South Africa’s cyber landscape. The country ranks among the top 5 worldwide for crime rates and is a leading target for cyberattacks. In 2024 alone, 17 849 ransomware incidents were detected. Nearly 97% of South African businesses faced infiltration attempts, and the average data breach now costs R53 million, with severe cases exceeding R360 million.

Phangela’s cyber division recently intervened in a high-stakes phishing case where attackers issued death threats tied to SIM card fraud. By acting quickly, Phangela neutralised the extortion attempt, protecting 23 separate targets. “Too many businesses and individuals underestimate their exposure,” warns Kruger. “Cybercriminals don’t target you personally, they target broadly. The only question is whether you’re prepared.”

Phangela’s approach addresses an environment where both physical crime and cybercrime are escalating, while regulation lags behind. Businesses often don’t prioritise prevention until it’s too late. By merging AI’s speed and precision with the contextual decision making of human experts, Phangela offers an integrated security solution that combines AI-powered monitoring with trained human analysts, cybersecurity services to safeguard networks, systems and data, and awareness campaigns that encourage victims of fraud and phishing to speak up so threats can be mapped and neutralised.

“If you’ve been the victim of fraud or phishing, don’t keep quiet. These crimes affect more people than you think. By speaking up, we can connect the dots and prevent others from falling into the same trap. Security today is about collaboration between AI, people and communities,” concludes Kruger.

For more information contact Phangela, +27 21 949 9802, [email protected], www.phangelagroup.co.za

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Tackling South Africa’s cybercrime threats

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