Cape Town's cyber stalker convicted

A young woman, who was previously a candidate attorney at a large and reputable law firm in Cape Town, was found guilty on 24 criminal charges relating to Facebook and email activities which can only be described as 'stalking'.

Some of the charges included crimen injuria, fraud, sending out false information on the internet, intimidation, and interception or interference with data. According to media reports, the young woman engaged in this behaviour for a period of about nine months in 2012 until she was arrested. 

She set up fake Facebook profiles in the names of her work superior and his fiancee and signed them up for adult entertainment newsletters, stated that they were interested in “adult activities”, and revealed their contact details. She also sent numerous SMS messages and Facebook messages.

This case makes it clear that the criminal courts are taking this type of behaviour seriously and it is not just the risk of civil claims that cyber stalkers face when engaging in these types of actions. The new Cybercrimes Bill will deal with this type of offence in more detail, however the existing law is sufficient to deal with these types of criminals until that Bill is passed.

Not only is it humiliating to behave in that manner for both the perpetrator and the victim, but it could land the stalker in the dock. There is never any circumstance where this type of conduct is justified. 

Verlie Oosthuizen

Shepstone & Wylie Social Media Law Department