A Gauteng man accused of threatening to assassinate President Cyril Ramaphosa and other public figures was hauled before the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing a string of serious charges under South Africa’s Cybercrimes Act.
Phillip Sebelo Masango was apprehended by elite Hawks officers in Germiston last Friday, following an investigation into disturbing threats made against Ramaphosa, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and a prominent business executive. The 49-year-old suspect allegedly sent a voice message to the unnamed CEO on 12 May, explicitly threatening to kill the president and harm the woman and her family.
According to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo, the same voice clip also mentioned the mayor by name. ‘The suspect is heard uttering threats of extreme violence, not just against the complainant, but also against the President of the Republic and the executive mayor,’ said Mbambo.
According to Times Live, the high-priority probe was swiftly taken over by the Hawks’ specialised Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit based in Cape Town, which led to Masango’s arrest across provincial lines in Gauteng. Investigators believe the alleged threats are part of a broader pattern of harassment and intimidation.
In a televised interview, Hawks national head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya revealed that Masango might have also issued threats to at least two other individuals, one of whom is reportedly a sitting president of another country. ‘The scope of the threats goes beyond South Africa,’ Lebeya said, noting that the full extent of the accused’s intentions is still under investigation. He also confirmed that the court may have to determine whether Masango is mentally fit to stand trial.
Masango’s court appearance was brief, and the matter was postponed to 2 June while further assessments are made.
The incident marks the second high-profile case involving cybercrime-related offences within days.
In an unrelated case, Scebi Thabiso Nene (37) was convicted in Pietermaritzburg last Friday for producing and distributing manipulated pornographic images of South African leaders. Among the defiled figures were President Ramaphosa, a former police minister and his wife, and an ex-national police commissioner. Nene received a five-year prison sentence without the option of a fine.
Both cases have raised concerns about the rise of digital abuse targeting high-profile figures, as well as the effectiveness of existing cybersecurity measures.
Security experts say the Cybercrimes Act, which came into effect in 2021, is now playing a crucial role in addressing online threats and image-based abuse. However, they warn that a rise in politically charged digital intimidation could signal deeper social unrest.
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Picture: Frennie Shivambu / Gallo Images
