- The SAPS Cyber Crime Unit arrested an adult male in Sebokeng following a joint operation with MultiChoice forensic investigators
- Officers conducted test purchases during which the suspect allegedly sent DStv streaming codes to customers via WhatsApp
- Searches at two shops and a private residence led to the seizure of laptops, TV boxes, routers and other equipment linked to the alleged scheme
Source: Twitter
GAUTENG — A man from Sebokeng has been arrested after the SAPS Cyber Crime Unit, working alongside MultiChoice forensic investigators, concluded an operation targeting the alleged unlicensed sale of DStv streaming services in the area. This was as Multichoice cancelled another channel.
The arrest took place on Thursday, 15 October 2026, and crime journalist Yusuf Abramjee shared it on his X account on 18 October 2026.
How the illegal streaming operation unfolded
The investigation centred on a shop allegedly operating along the Golden Highway and Zone 13 in Sebokeng without a valid licence to distribute DStv streaming services. Acting on information supplied by MultiChoice, a team of nine SAPS members carried out test purchases, during which the suspect allegedly transmitted streaming codes to buyers via WhatsApp.
A search and seizure warrant was subsequently obtained under the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020. Officers searched two shops in Boitumelo as well as the suspect's residence in Zone 13. Items confiscated during the operation included television boxes, laptops, external hard drives, routers, a point-of-sale device, receipt books, remote controls and advertising flyers.
The suspect faces charges for the alleged contravention of Section 7 of the Cybercrimes Act, while investigators are also looking into possible money-laundering offences. He is expected to appear before the Sebokeng Magistrate's Court in due course.
SAPS and MultiChoice highlight value of partnership
Cyber Crime Unit Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ngwaku Lazarus Mokovhi praised the officers involved and underscored the significance of intelligence-driven policing and private-sector collaboration in addressing cyber-related crimes.
Sebokeng SAPS Station Commander Brigadier Thembekile Kubone also commended both the officers and the MultiChoice forensic team for their professionalism. She stressed that partnerships between law enforcement and private stakeholders are critical to holding alleged offenders accountable, and urged business owners and community members to operate lawfully and report any suspected criminal activity.
Members of the public with relevant information are encouraged to contact SAPS CrimeStop on 08600 10111 or submit tips through the MySAPS App. Read the full statement on X here:
SAPS seizes counterfeit goods worth R160 million
In a related article, Briefly News reported on the SAPS operation that seized more than 62,000 counterfeit items worth over R160 million in Johannesburg’s CBD.
The raid prompted questions about what happens to confiscated goods and whether repeat offenders face meaningful consequences.
Source: Briefly News