SAPS slammed for delays in social media hate speech case

LAW enforcement inefficiencies are once again under scrutiny as the South African Police Service (SAPS) drags its feet in investigating a high-profile social media abuse case involving former Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

Sisulu laid a criminal complaint on July 21, 2024, at the Roodepoort Police Station against Goolam Mohammed Sulieman Vawda, who is widely believed to be behind the controversial X (formerly Twitter) handle @goolammv — an account accused of spreading hate speech, cyberbullying, and defamatory statements targeting political figures and private citizens alike.

A year later, the case remains stagnant, with no progress communicated by the Gauteng police. SAPS failed to provide any update when approached for comment in May, and has not responded to subsequent queries. This comes despite allegations that Vawda fled the country shortly after the case was opened, allegedly relocating to Mauritius, where he continues to operate the X account.

Digital analyst and World Wide Worx CEO Arthur Goldstuck described the state’s handling of such cases as deeply concerning. He said the country’s Cybercrimes Act and Protection from Harassment Act offer legal pathways to address online abuse, but implementation remains a major hurdle.

“Law enforcement often lacks the digital forensics expertise and dedicated resources to pursue these cases effectively,” said Goldstuck. “That gap between the legal framework and practical enforcement is where justice collapses.”

He warned that unless SAPS is trained and resourced to trace digital footprints and secure admissible evidence, victims will continue to suffer while perpetrators act with impunity. “It’s not just about the law being there. It’s about having the ability and the will to use it.”

Goldstuck noted that key steps — such as securing digital evidence to link an individual to an online persona — were either ignored or delayed, weakening the potential for successful prosecution. “If forensic experts had been engaged early on, a proper digital trail could have been established, which is now much harder to reconstruct.”

Police have yet to respond despite numerous requests for an update on Sisulu’s case.