The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) has temporarily suspended its electronic payment system for third-party funds, including child maintenance, due to attempted security breaches.
An investigation is currently underway to understand the nature and extent of the attempted compromise.
Allegedly a cyber attacker tried to hack the system
SABC reported that a cyber attacker allegedly tried to hack their system. The department says an investigation is underway to assess the breach.
In response to this development, the DJCOD has advised child maintenance beneficiaries to visit their nearest court with their original identity documents to receive manual payments until the electronic system is fully operational again.
Furthermore, the department has deployed a dedicated forensic team to thoroughly investigate the suspicious activity. This team aims to identify any vulnerabilities and enhance the system’s defences against future breaches.
“We are committed to continually fortifying our systems to prevent and mitigate the risk of future breaches,” stated the DJCOD.
Department apologises to child maintenance and other services beneficiaries
The department also apologised for the inconvenience caused and expressed gratitude for the patience and understanding of the affected beneficiaries during this period.
In other news, DJCOD Minister Ronald Lamola presided over the launch and renaming of the newly refurbished Justice College on Friday.
Founded in 1957, Justice College has evolved from its beginnings as a modest training institution into a renowned centre for legal education. It offers comprehensive training programs for legal practitioners, including judicial officers, prosecutors, and interpreters.
Furthermore, the college’s influence extends beyond South Africa, attracting officials from Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, the Republic of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, thus fostering regional collaboration.
Additionally, the refurbished Justice College now features state-of-the-art training facilities, providing an optimal learning environment for future legal professionals. The department highlighted that these upgrades will support the college’s mission to deliver top-tier legal education and training.
