Multichoice has struck a significant blow against the internet streaming piracy operation known as Waka TV with a successful raid conducted on Friday, 6 September, in Germiston. The operation led to the detention of an individual on charges related to theft, fraud, money laundering, and breaches of the Cyber Crime Act 19 of 2021.
Authorities arrested the suspect during the raid for allegedly assisting an informant involved in the investigation. The individual is accused of providing an illegal streaming device designed to enable unauthorized access to SuperSport content, which negatively affects broadcasters like DStv.
Multichoice identified the suspect as an alleged reseller associated with Waka TV, which is recognized as one of the most prominent piracy networks in Africa. The raid resulted in the confiscation of various items, including a suspected illegal streaming device, promotional materials for unauthorized DStv Premium content sales, and a mobile phone containing contacts of several customers who purportedly paid for the illicit service.
The company has cautioned that subscribers to these pirated services may also face repercussions. During the raid, police also discovered comprehensive financial records connecting the suspect to another significant figure in the piracy operation. The investigation has since expanded, with authorities anticipating additional arrests linked to this piracy network.
Frikkie Jonker, the Broadcasting Cybersecurity Anti-Piracy Director at Irdeto, owned by MultiChoice, has indicated that further raids targeting resellers and distributors connected to Waka TV are expected as law enforcement steps up efforts to dismantle the extensive piracy network.
This enforcement action is part of a broader national campaign against piracy, led by local authorities in partnership with the MultiChoice Anti-Piracy Department. It represents the fifth major operation by the group to combat content piracy in South Africa within the last three months.
In July, a suspect in Eldorado Park was apprehended for selling login credentials and pirate streaming devices that provided illegal access to MultiChoice’s premium content. Additionally, two significant raids took place in June: one in the Western Cape resulting in the arrest of a suspected piracy ringleader and another in Johannesburg leading to the arrest of an individual allegedly involved in the illegal sale of pirate streaming devices.
Multichoice’s actions against content pirates are grounded in legal statutes, including unauthorized access to content under Section 2 of the Cybercrime Act 19 of 2020, possession and sale of an infringing device under Sections 44 & 45 of the RICA Act 70 of 2002, and infringement of a rightsholder’s rights under Section 27 of the Copyright Act 98 of 1978. The company has previously warned that individuals subscribing to illegal pirate services are not only at risk of legal action but may also face fines for accessing content unlawfully.
