South Africa’s official data systems are under scrutiny tonight, following reports that the Statistics South Africa database may have been hacked or compromised. This is the very institution responsible
for collecting and safeguarding some of the country’s most critical information—from population data to economic indicators that shape national policy. A breach of this nature raises serious concerns, not
only about cybersecurity, but about public trust. If sensitive data can be accessed or manipulated, what does that mean for the integrity of the numbers we rely on to make decisions about the economy, service delivery, and governance? Tonight, we unpack what may have happened, what
information could be at risk, and whether South Africa’s institutions are equipped to defend themselves in an increasingly digital world.