Ransomware attacks are escalating globally, and South Africa ransomware incidents have made it a top target. Recent incidents have disrupted critical services, slowed operations, and exposed serious vulnerabilities across both public and private sectors. In this article, we explore major ransomware attacks in South Africa and why strengthening your cybersecurity posture is more urgent than ever.

National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) attack

On June 22, 2024, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), which processes millions of blood tests across 256 laboratories, was hit by a ransomware attack attributed to the BlackSuit group. The attack crippled IT systems, halting diagnostics for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and mpox. Healthcare workers were forced to use manual communication methods, delaying critical test results and impacting patient care.
As reported by Bitdefender, the incident raised serious concerns about the resilience of healthcare infrastructure in the face of cyber threats.

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development breach

In September 2021, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) experienced a severe ransomware attack. Over 1,200 files containing sensitive information were encrypted, and investigators later found the department had failed to renew critical security software licenses, including antivirus and intrusion detection systems.
As reported by ITWeb, the Information Regulator fined the department R5 million in July 2023 for violating the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

South Africa: A prime target for cyber criminals

According to ESET’s bi-annual Threat Report, South Africa accounted for over 40% of Africa’s ransomware attacks and nearly 35% of infostealer incidents between June and November 2024. Phishing remains the most common attack method, responsible for 34% of all incidents across the continent.

Financial impact of Ransomware in South Africa

According to the Sophos State of Ransomware 2024 report (PDF), the average ransom demand in South Africa is $975,675, which is below the global average of $2 million. The average payment made by South African organisations is $958,110, while the median ransom demand locally is $152,000, highlighting the wide variation in attack severity.

Proactive measures for protection

To reduce the risk of ransomware, South African businesses should take the following cybersecurity precautions:

• Regular Data Backups: Perform frequent backups and store them offline or off-network.
• Employee Training: Help staff recognize phishing attempts and suspicious emails.
• Software Updates: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches.
• Advanced Security Solutions: Use firewalls, antivirus software, email filtering, and intrusion prevention systems.
• Incident Response Plan: Establish a clear plan for detecting, responding to, and recovering from cyberattacks.

Is your business prepared for a Ransomware attack?

Cyber threats are rising, and prevention is always more cost-effective than recovery. At IT Plus Technologies, we support South African businesses with:

• Real-time threat monitoring
• Employee security awareness training
• Reliable data backup strategies
• Customised incident response plans

Don’t wait until you’re the next headline. Act now and protect your business future.

Let IT Plus Technologies help you stay one step ahead of cyber threats. Book a strategy session today.