MultiChoice Group, in collaboration with law enforcement, has conducted anti-piracy operations across five locations in Gauteng, targeting streaming pirate networks.
The raids, involving police support, took place at four sites in Johannesburg—Mayfair, Ormonde, Florida, and Booysens—and a fifth location in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.
The operations led to the arrests of several suspects involved in distributing streaming devices loaded with unauthorised applications to access DStv and other premium content.
“These raids represent significant victories in MultiChoice’s ongoing campaign to protect its content, secure the entertainment industry, and reduce risks to consumers associated with pirated devices,” MultiChoice stated on Tuesday.
The first raid in Booysens uncovered an extensive distribution network supplying unauthorised devices. MultiChoice and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) tracked individuals allegedly selling these devices, which enable illegal access to premium TV content. Following an undercover operation on October 30, three suspects were apprehended, and multiple illicit devices were seized.
A second raid in Kempton Park on October 29 involved a “buy-and-bust operation.” After purchasing a loaded device from a suspect, the DPCI moved in to arrest the individual, who was later linked to a larger piracy syndicate.
MultiChoice highlighted the consumer risks associated with using pirated devices, which often lead to compromised personal data. “Individuals paying for unauthorised services risk having their personal information tracked and exploited by criminal syndicates, potentially leading to fraud and identity theft,” the company added.
Following their arrests, suspects from the Booysens raid appeared in court and were granted bail at R5,000 each, with further court appearances scheduled after device analysis. The Kempton Park suspect appeared in court on October 30, and the case has been postponed to November 6 for further investigation into residency status and ties to broader criminal networks, according to MultiChoice.
