The Kingdom of Eswatini lost over E8.5 million to cybercrime in the past year, according to alarming statistics released by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) during the official launch of Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025, held on 6 October at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini.
Speaking on behalf of the National Commissioner, Deputy National Commissioner Mumcy Dlamini highlighted the growing complexity and financial impact of cybercrime in Eswatini. Between 1 September 2024 and 30 September 2025, the police recorded 275 cyber-related cases, resulting in E8,575,174 in losses, a 2.6% increase from the previous year. The cases ranged from online scams and mobile money fraud to email phishing and system breaches.
“Criminals no longer operate in dark alleys but behind computer screens, targeting unsuspecting victims through cyber-fraud, data breaches, and digital scams,” Dlamini said.
According to the REPS, mobile money and e-wallet scams alone accounted for E7.3 million in losses, while fraudulent emails, ATM thefts, and banking system breaches contributed additional millions. The police have arrested 87 suspects linked to the infamous Facata scam and established a Digital Forensic Unit to boost investigative capabilities.
“To date, we have arrested 87 suspects (11 females and 76 males) and forwarded 528 criminal documents to the Director of Public Prosecutions,” Dlamini said.
The Deputy Commissioner shared detailed figures of cybercrime losses over the past year:
• 86 cases involving stolen ATM cards and PINs, resulting in E422,825 in losses.
• 7 email fraud cases, including fake banking notifications, costing E2,715,168.
• 77 online purchase scams, where payments were made but goods never arrived, totaling E1,705,835.
• 90 banking system breaches, resulting in E205,937.88 fraudulently credited to accounts.
• 2 service provider system hacks, causing E3,444,684 in airtime theft and unauthorized calls.
• 1,176 fake e-wallet and mobile money scams, costing E7,322,183.
“These figures paint a grim picture of how far-reaching cybercrime has become. These are not just numbers; they represent stolen savings, disrupted livelihoods, and broken trust,” Dlamini said.
She emphasized that fighting cybercrime requires teamwork, noting ongoing partnerships with regional counterparts under the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO). “Our officers now possess the knowledge, skills, and cyber-investigative tools to detect and dismantle digital threats,” she said, stressing the need for ongoing training and public awareness campaigns like Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Echoing these words, Minister of ICT, Senator Savannah Maziya, warned that cybercrime is rising and “costing us fortunes.”
“These are not just statistics; they are salaries, school fees, medical bills, and national revenues disappearing into criminal networks,” Maziya said.
She confirmed that Eswatini has established the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCA) and a Cybersecurity Advisory Mechanism to coordinate the country’s cyber defense efforts. Maziya also praised ESCCOM for its regulatory leadership and REPS for strengthening digital investigative capacity.
Highlighting international cooperation, she noted that Eswatini recently partnered with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to train local officers and cybersecurity professionals, improving national expertise in countering cyber threats.
“Cybersecurity is not just an ICT issue. It is a family issue, a financial issue, a governance issue, and a matter of national survival,” Maziya stressed.
In his keynote speech, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini stressed that cybersecurity is about more than technology — it concerns national, economic, and personal security.
Under the theme “Secure Eswatini, Be Safe Online” or “Asichumane Siphephile” in siSwati, the campaign aims to educate citizens, businesses, and institutions on safe digital practices throughout October.
“Every safe choice you make strengthens the shield that protects our nation,” the Prime Minister said, urging emaSwati to update devices, secure their data, and think before clicking.
He highlighted Eswatini’s legislative advances, including the Computer Crime and Cybercrime Act, the Data Protection Act, and the Electronic Transactions Act, all enacted in 2022, along with the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022–2027, which guides national resilience, innovation, and collaboration.
The Prime Minister also praised the creation of the National Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) under ESCCOM, which protects the country’s digital infrastructure and responds rapidly to cyber threats. He linked the national cybersecurity agenda to the Nkwe Programme of Action, emphasizing that strong ICT infrastructure and digital integration are essential for economic growth.
The Deputy Commissioner ended by calling on all sectors — government, private enterprise, academia, and the public — to unite in fighting cybercrime. “Policing in such an environment is a major challenge and requires the full cooperation and coordinated effort of all sectors of society,” she said.