CSIR Prepares National Live Platform for Banks and Telcos to Report Cybercrime
In a significant move to bolster South Africa’s digital defenses, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has finalized a live, web-based system for reporting cybercrimes directly to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
A Direct Line to Law Enforcement
The new platform, developed over the past two years, fulfills a key requirement of the Cybercrimes Act. This legislation mandates that financial institutions and electronic communications service providers report cyber incidents directly to a designated police contact—a process that previously lacked a dedicated, secure mechanism.
“As the use of digital systems for communication and online transactions becomes increasingly widespread, so do the risks to the safety and security of users’ personal information,” the CSIR noted in its recent annual report. The organization developed the secure reporting platform to support more effective cybercrime investigation and response.
The tool is now ready for deployment and will undergo final rounds of testing, including rigorous security and penetration assessments, before being rolled out nationally.
A Critical Tool Amid Soaring Digital Fraud
The launch of this system comes at a critical juncture. Recent data paints a stark picture of the escalating threat landscape. According to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric), reported digital fraud incidents from the banking sector nearly doubled year-on-year in 2024.
With 97,975 incidents leading to gross losses of R1.9-billion, the situation is dire. Sabric’s analysis reveals a troubling acceleration: more than half of all digital banking fraud cases from the past three years occurred in 2024 alone.
The telecommunications sector is also under siege. The Communication Risk Information Centre (Comric) estimates that telecoms fraud costs the South African economy a staggering R5.3-billion annually. A particularly virulent threat, SIM-swap attacks, are a primary culprit, responsible for a staggering 60% of all mobile banking breaches.
Building a Pipeline of Cybersecurity Talent
Beyond developing tools, the CSIR is also addressing the critical shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. In a separate initiative, the research council partnered with Italian gambling firm Sisal to establish a technology hub.
This hub focuses on recruiting, training, and developing local graduates by giving them hands-on experience with emerging digital technologies. Interns were selected from various higher learning institutions, bringing qualifications in computer science, IT, and data science. To date, five graduates have been absorbed as interns by the CSIR’s own Information and Cybersecurity Centre.
A Year of Strong Performance
The cybersecurity developments were highlighted in the CSIR’s 2024/2025 annual report, which detailed a year of strong institutional performance. The organization achieved 29 out of its 31 key performance indicators.
Notable achievements included an 11% increase in localized technologies, a 17% rise in industry joint development agreements, and a 31% growth in the number of chief researchers. The CSIR also reported a net profit of R40.6-million.
Significantly, the organization far exceeded its targeted investment in property, plant, and equipment. With additional grant funding secured for capital infrastructure, it invested R427.04-million. A major portion of this—64%—was allocated to enhancing the CSIR’s high-performance computing system within the national integrated cyberinfrastructure system, underscoring a deep commitment to fortifying the nation’s digital backbone.
Source: NewsCentral Media (2025)