Landmark Cyber Crime Conviction: Former IT Employee Sentenced to Eight Years Under South Africa’s Cyber Crimes Act

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In a landmark ruling, Lucky Majangandile Erasmus (36), a former employee of Ecentric Payment Systems, was sentenced last week to eight years in prison for violating South Africa’s Cyber Crimes Act. The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville handed down the sentence after Erasmus entered a plea agreement with the State, pleading guilty to multiple cybercrime-related offences, including cyber fraud, data theft, and attempted cyber extortion. Three of the eight years were suspended for five years on the condition that he does not reoffend.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), Erasmus was convicted on 17 charges, including one count of contravening Section 12 of the Cyber Crimes Act, four counts of cyber fraud, four counts of unlawful access to a computer system, and several other charges involving interference with data and network systems.

The charges stem from a cyberattack in late 2023, when Erasmus and co-accused Felix Unathi Pupu (43), also a former Ecentric employee, illegally installed software on the company’s IT systems, granting them unauthorised remote access. Shortly after the breach, Ecentric’s CEO received ransom demands threatening to leak sensitive company data unless large sums were paid — $534,260 (R9.47 million) on 14 November 2023, and a second demand of $1 million (R17 million) on 30 November.

Despite refusing to pay the ransom, Ecentric reported that four of its retail clients suffered financial losses totalling R794,808.51 due to the incident. Erasmus and Pupu were arrested on 14 December 2023. Erasmus remained in custody until sentencing, while Pupu is set to appear in court for plea and sentencing on 30 June.

As part of the sentence, Erasmus was prohibited from committing any further offences under the Cyber Crimes Act or related legislation during the suspension period. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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Ecentric welcomed the court’s decision, confirming Erasmus’s conviction and sentencing. Digital forensics firm Cyanre, which assisted in the investigation, praised the outcome, calling it a milestone in South Africa’s fight against cybercrime. The company lauded the collaboration between law enforcement and legal experts, highlighting the success as a testament to the Cyber Crimes Act’s effectiveness.

Cyanre emphasised the importance of continued vigilance, innovation, and cooperation in safeguarding South Africa’s digital infrastructure, reinforcing their commitment to protecting individuals and organisations from cyber threats.