Just last week, in February 2026, a video went viral featuring two of Hollywood’s biggest names involved in an intense fight on a rooftop. It looked exactly like a trailer for an upcoming blockbuster.
Wrong. It was a AI deepfake created by ByteDance’s new Seedance 2.0 AI. The video is so hyper-realistic that it triggered a massive legal clash with Disney and the MPA. While filmmakers are panicking about the “end of cinema,” the corporate world is missing the real story: Seedance 2.0 has proven that “seeing is no longer believing,” and criminals are paying close attention.
We’re talking about a psychological threshold that has been crossed. If AI can perfectly recreate human physics and micro-expressions from a two-line prompt, the “human” barrier of security is simply no longer enough.
Gauteng under fire: Why 2,145 weekly cyber attacks are the new normal
In South Africa, the digital landscape has shifted from “concerning” to “combustive.” The latest data from Check Point Research confirms that South African organisations faced an average of 2,145 cyberattacks per week in January 2026.
That is a staggering 36% increase year-on-year.
This isn’t just an increase in volume; this is an increase in weaponisation. The Cruise-Pitt anomaly proves that AI can now perfectly mimic not just a face, but specific movements and, as we already know, the exact voice of an individual. In Gauteng, the business capital of South Africa, this isn’t entertainment, it’s a liability.
- Live deepfake fraud: Attackers are now using tools like Seedance to impersonate bank staff and executives on video calls to authorise illicit transfers.
- The “shadow AI” leak: 20% of organisations have already reported a breach due to unauthorised employee AI use, adding an average of $670,000 to the cost of a single breach.
- Autonomous infiltration: We are seeing the rise of agentic AI threats or “autonomous agents” threats; AI agents that change their own code in real-time to evade standard firewalls.
The R185 million gamble: The true cost of a 2026 data breach
The global average cost of a data breach in 2026 has reached a record-breaking $10.22 million all-time high, amounting to approximately R185 million. For a business in Gauteng, a breach of this magnitude is a terminal event for your reputation.
Despite this, only 64% of organisations globally have implemented formal security vetting for AI tools. The remaining 36% are operating in a high-stakes gamble, waiting for a crisis to define their strategy.
Why this is personal for Rand Data Systems: Four decades of protecting South African trust
At Rand Data Systems (RDS), we recognise that you cannot fight 2026 threats with legacy defenses. But as a reliable cybersecurity partner in South Africa, we also know that behind the firewalls and data points are real people and businesses built on decades of local trust.
Having operated for over 40 years in the IT industry, our footprint covers everyone from some of South Africa’s largest and most well-known hospitality names to local law firms. Our approach to Cybersecurity isn’t about building a bigger wall; it’s about engineering a resilient architecture that protects your business. In a world where digital identity can be fabricated in seconds, we focus on:
- Zero trust identity: We verify every user, every device, every time.
- Defensive systems: The systems we put into place to protect your business are tailored to your unique needs; no one-size-fits-all solutions.
- We know your business: We take knowing our customers and their behaviour seriously. We know when something is off, and we act immediately.
Beyond IT: Why cyber-resilience is now a personal liability for South African directors
The “Cruise-Pitt” video was a wake-up call for Hollywood. For South African business leaders, it must be the final warning. Cybersecurity is no longer an IT line item; it is your primary fiduciary responsibility.
With the 1 January 2026 effective date of the King V Report, this responsibility is now an explicit mandate. King V moves beyond the “apply or explain” model of the past, requiring boards to demonstrate measurable governance outcomes in technology and AI stewardship. Failing to engineer a resilient defense is no longer just a technical oversight; it is a direct breach of modern governance standards.
The gap between the protected and the vulnerable is widening every hour. Is your organisation ready for the machine-speed era?
Partner with the experts. Contact Rand Data Systems to schedule your 2026 Infrastructure Risk Audit.
