In Conversation With Palesa Yates ( ACDP- African Christian Democratic Party)
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Cybersecurity is back in the spotlight in the City of Ekurhuleni after the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) called for mandatory annual cybersecurity audits across the municipality.
The call follows concerns about the City’s information technology systems after a cyberattack that reportedly cost Ekurhuleni close to R2 billion in financial losses, operational disruption and recovery costs. The incident highlighted just how vulnerable municipalities have become as they increasingly rely on digital systems to manage finances, billing and essential services.
ACDP Councillor Palesa Yates says replacing the City’s financial management IT system is only part of the solution. The party argues that regular independent cybersecurity audits should become mandatory to ensure vulnerabilities are identified before criminals can exploit them.
The ACDP also believes stronger internal controls are needed, including individual user accounts with secure passwords, detailed audit trails that track every transaction, and better digital record-keeping. According to the party, these measures would not only reduce the risk of cyber attacks but also make it easier to detect fraud and hold officials accountable when public money is mismanaged.
The call follows concerns about the City’s information technology systems after a cyberattack that reportedly cost Ekurhuleni close to R2 billion in financial losses, operational disruption and recovery costs. The incident highlighted just how vulnerable municipalities have become as they increasingly rely on digital systems to manage finances, billing and essential services.
ACDP Councillor Palesa Yates says replacing the City’s financial management IT system is only part of the solution. The party argues that regular independent cybersecurity audits should become mandatory to ensure vulnerabilities are identified before criminals can exploit them.
The ACDP also believes stronger internal controls are needed, including individual user accounts with secure passwords, detailed audit trails that track every transaction, and better digital record-keeping. According to the party, these measures would not only reduce the risk of cyber attacks but also make it easier to detect fraud and hold officials accountable when public money is mismanaged.
