Standard Bank has urged its clients to update their passwords and monitor their emails and apps for any suspicious activity, following a data breach reported last month.

The banking group on 23 March noted an incident involving unauthorised access to its data. 

“We will directly notify the select number of clients that are affected. We have increased our monitoring and encourage our clients to remain vigilant,” said Standard Bank in a 23 March statement.

Following a preliminary investigation, it confirmed this week that the data included names, ID numbers and company registration numbers. The banking group said this is based on what they know for sure at this stage, based on the investigation by external experts. 

“We have reported this incident to the regulatory authorities.”

Meanwhile, banking systems have not been affected.

“They remain secure and operational and available to all our clients and employees.”

Standard Bank added that there is a risk that hackers could use that stolen information to impersonate their clients or contact them for scams.   

It recommended several steps that clients could take as a precaution:

“We advise all our clients to follow good practices, including but not limited to:

• Update your banking passwords on our digital banking platforms as well as your social media platforms.
• Enable digital authentication on the Standard Bank mobile banking app.
• Contact us or your Relationship Manager immediately if you notice any suspicious activity on your bank accounts or cards.
• Never share personal information such as passwords and PINs when asked to do so by anyone via phone, fax, text messages or even email.
• Use strong unique passwords and enable biometric authentication where possible.
• Register with the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service for protective registration. This is a free service. If anyone tries to apply for any banking related products with your identity number, it will be declined or referred for further review. Visit https://www.safps.org.za/Home/OurServices_ApplyProtectiveRegistration
• Verify any unexpected email, SMS or call asking for sensitive information by contacting the bank through trusted channels.
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or unfamiliar websites URLs.”

It further noted that the investigation into the breach is ongoing, and that their “highest priority” is to ensure that the personal information and privacy of their clients is protected.

“If we discover that any additional information was affected, we will provide further updates on our website or directly to you.”

Three arrestees have been convicted in Mitchells Plain in a landmark drug case that highlights the ongoing battle against crystal methamphetamine, or ‘tik’,  in the Western Cape.

The suspects, aged between 61 and 66, were found guilty by the Mitchells Plain Regional Court for dealing in narcotics yesterday.

Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi says a sentencing hearing is scheduled for 29 May 2026.

“The investigation began in February 2016, when intelligence led the Western Cape Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) to a suspected drug deal at the Mitchells Plain Promenade Mall. Five suspects were caught in the act.”

Vukubi adds that the operation resulted in the confiscation of 193 grams of crystal methamphetamine, valued at R60,000, and R13,570 in cash.

“Of the five initially arrested, two have since passed away, leaving the three now convicted.”

New US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell has repeated his view that the struggle song Kill the Boer is hate speech, but that he respects the South African judiciary.

President Cyril Ramaphosa today accepted Bozell’s credentials, a month after he was issued a formal reprimand for questioning the ”Kill the Boer” court ruling.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation issued a formal démarche to the Ambassador in March this year.

Speaking at a business conference in Hermanus in early March, Bozell was quoted as stating, “I don’t care what your courts say,” in reference to the legal determination that the struggle song in question does not constitute hate speech.

The “Kill the Boer” ruling, finalised by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) and not heard by the Constitutional Court in March 2025, determined that the “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer” chant is not hate speech, but rather a protected political “liberation chant”.

The court ruled it is a form of political expression.

Bozell, along with the envoys from 19 other nations, was formally accredited at a ceremony in Pretoria this morning.

When probed by the media afterwards, Bozell had the following to say about the song, but stressed that this did not mean that he disrespected the courts:

“The position of my country is that it’s wrong. That it is hate speech. The position of the civilised world is that it’s hate speech.”

The greatest respect is for the judiciary. I take nothing away from that. I will say that men, that judges, can be wrong. American judges are wrong all the time.”

In comments delivered after Ramaphosa accepted the letters of credence from all 20 newly appointed ambassadors, the President called on all countries to respect international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

“I expect South Africa’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners to your country to exercise diplomatic tact and discretion and desist from interfering in the internal affairs of your country.”

“If they have any manner of concern, they should raise those concerns directly with officials in your country’s foreign affairs department and engage in quiet diplomacy.”