Hawks probing Master Deeds leak
The Hawks are investigating the publication of millions of South Africans' private information on the internet.
It emerged this week a file, titled 'Master Deeds' - containing more than 60 million records was published on a publicly accessible web server.
The Hawks says its cybercrime team is leading the investigation and is also working with other law enforcement agencies.
"We view this matter in a very serious light and hence we are trying by all means to try and find out exactly what might have transpired," says Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi. "We have made sure that our cybercrime team works around the clock to make sure that we find out exactly who was responsible for this serious breach."
A web security expert who found the 'Master Deeds' file says both the file and web server are dated April 2015.
It contains sensitive information, including ID numbers, addresses and contact details.
Microsoft regional director in Australia, Troy Hunt, further confirms the information has been exposed, at least for the past seven months.
"So we know that at the very least it was exposed in March when someone sent it to me and it was still exposed yesterday (Tuesday)," Hunt told Jacaranda FM News during a Skype interview.
The file has reportedly since been removed.