CSIR concerned about cyberattacks if SA implements e-voting
Head of information and cyber security at the CSIR, Jabu Mtsweni, said South Africa ranked low among the world in terms of its ability to handle data breaches.
The IEC held its electronic voting conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town on 10 March 2025. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has raised concerns over the country’s vulnerability to cyberattacks should it implement electronic voting (e-voting).
Earlier on Tuesday, the CSIR made a presentation at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)’s e-voting seminar in Cape Town.
The three-day seminar is looking at the feasibility of transitioning South Africa away from paper-based elections to electronic ones.
The CSIR said the possibility of e-voting would make the electoral process more efficient and less expensive.
However, head of information and cyber security at the CSIR, Jabu Mtsweni, said South Africa ranked low among the world in terms of its ability to handle data breaches.
"When we are thinking about this e-voting, we also have to think where is the technology going to come from, are we going to home-grow it or import it? Just imagine if you are getting your technology from another guy who is somewhere but born in South Africa, what would happen if when he is not happy with your votes?"
Mtsweni said e-voting was not impossible in South Africa, however, there would need to be a massive scale up of the country’s digital infrastructure.