South African executive Neal Froneman-led Sibanye-Stillwater hit by cyberattack

Feyisayo Ajayi -

Key Point

  • Sibanye-Stillwater, led by CEO Neal Froneman, faces a cyber attack causing limited disruption to global operations.
  • Recent surge in South African cybercrime affects high-profile targets including TransUnion and Experian.
  • Despite the incident, Sibanye-Stillwater swiftly implements its Incident Response Plan to safeguard operations and data integrity.

Sibanye-Stillwater, a leading multinational precious metal mining company led by South African business executive Neal Froneman, has suffered a cyberattack on its IT systems, resulting in limited disruption to its global operations.

This breach coincides with a surge in cybercrime in South Africa, highlighted by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s report of a R300 million ($16.4 million) theft. High-profile targets like TransUnion, Dis-Chem, Experian, and the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund have also been compromised recently.

Sibanye-Stillwater shows resilience amid cyberattack

Following the discovery of the breach, the company swiftly enacted its Incident Response Plan (IRP), promptly isolating affected IT systems to protect data integrity. Despite the cyber incident, core mining and processing operations continue uninterrupted.

“While the investigation is ongoing, the impact on the Group’s global operations has been minimal,” the company stated. “Sibanye-Stillwater takes this incident seriously and is committed to addressing the cyberattack.”

“Our focus remains on fully remediating the effects of this attack. We are voluntarily reporting the incident to the appropriate regulators and will provide further updates as necessary.”

Sibanye-Stillwater faces cyberattack amid operational struggles

Sibanye-Stillwater faces heightened challenges amidst a cyberattack and tough market conditions, affecting investor sentiment and returns. CEO Neal Froneman, holding a 0.3 percent stake, recently cautioned on potential operational halts at its Montana palladium mine without price improvements, following a $2.1 billion U.S. asset writedown this year.

In a strategic move, J.P. Morgan, the world’s largest bank by market cap, expressed confidence with a $215 million, 6.32 percent stake acquisition, highlighting optimism in mining’s growth amid financial pressures. Conversely, UBS Group sold nearly $12 million in shares, reflecting concerns over operational hurdles at Sibanye-Stillwater.