MultiChoice arrests two suspects in piracy crackdown in Cape Town, South Africa. This is following a successful raid by MultiChoice Group and the Milnerton police on another alleged piracy ring.
According to the group, this development forms part of its broader anti-piracy strategy, which has led to successful raids in several African countries over the past few months.
The two suspects, a male and a female, are scheduled to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on August 15 to face charges related to their alleged criminal activities. They are accused of violating the Cybercrime Act 19 of 2020, the Copyright Act 98 of 1978, and the RICA Act 70 of 2002. Law enforcement has also seized several items connected to the alleged illegal operation.
“Streaming piracy remains a growing global concern, with significant implications for the entertainment industry and beyond. While it offers short-term benefits to consumers, the long-term effects are detrimental to content creators, economic stability and job security,” the group mentioned.
MultiChoice stressed that combating streaming piracy demands a multifaceted approach, including stricter copyright enforcement, improved access to affordable legal options, and heightened awareness about the risks of illegal content.
Plans to intensify anti-piracy efforts
The company also announced plans to intensify its anti-piracy efforts in the “coming weeks,” including additional raids across South Africa and other African countries.
In a similar effort to address the issue of copyright infringement, MultiChoice said last month that Partners Against Piracy, an Africa-wide, multi-stakeholder initiative, is working alongside local governments and prosecutors to address the issue.
“To cast a wider net for tracking down copyright infringement activities, these stakeholders are also collaborating with IP rights holders such as MultiChoice and internet service providers,” it said.
In July 2024, MultiChoice, partnering with the Eldorado Park police station in Gauteng, arrested a suspect, Jurgen Johannes Potgieter, in a raid for allegedly selling login credentials and Internet streaming pirate devices, which enabled illegal access to premium content.
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In June 2024, MultiChoice Group, along with its technology security subsidiary Irdeto, also shut down Waka TV, a pirate internet streaming service, with the help of Western Cape police investigators.
The pay-TV company described this as a major milestone in its ongoing commitment to protect its content and the integrity of its broadcasting services.
