Several government ministry websites were rendered inaccessible on Monday, November 17, in what authorities suspect was a coordinated cyber attack targeting critical online platforms.
The disruption affected key ministries, including Interior, Health, Education, Energy, Tourism, Labour, and Water, preventing users from accessing essential online services for several hours.
Visitors to the compromised sites encountered alarming messages in place of the usual content.
Multiple Government Websites Go Offline Amid Suspected Cyber Attack. Photo: Courtesy.
Among the displayed phrases were “Access denied by PCP,” “We will rise again,” “White power worldwide,” “14:88 Heil Hitler,” “You are being lied to,” and statements claiming collaboration with political figures and ABSA.
In addition to the defaced pages, the attackers embedded a link to a Telegram channel that reportedly has over 150 subscribers, highlighting the potential spread of extremist content through the breach.
Earlier this year, the Business Registration Service (BRS) also experienced a cyberattack that resulted in the compromise of sensitive data.
The Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy confirmed the breach but stated that the issue had been resolved.
In a statement issued on Thursday, February 6, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo assured affected parties that the leaked information had been fully removed and permanently erased.
