PRESS - Press - General

Land Bank Hit by Ransomware, Refuses R5.4 Million Bitcoin Demand The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) suffered a ransomware attack on January 12, 2026, compromising parts of its IT environment. Attackers demanded a ransom of five Bitcoin (approximately R5.4 million), which the bank refused to pay. Critical systems like ERP and core banking were unaffected, but other IT systems were encrypted. The bank is enhancing its cybersecurity measures and has reported the incident to relevant authorities. Costs have been incurred for cyber security, forensic investigations, and IT restoration. The bank is assessing the financial impact and continues to investigate the breach.