The individual suspected of threatening City of Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the CEO of a Cape Town-based company has been identified as Phillip Sebole Masango.
Hawks national spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said Masango appeared at the Cape Town magistrate’s court on Monday for a charge of intimidation.
The 28-year-old Masango was arrested on Friday in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, by the Hawks’ crime against the state unit (CATS), which is part of the serious organised crime investigation unit.
His arrest came after a criminal case was reported this month.
“On Monday, 12 May 2025, a complainant, the chief executive officer of a Cape Town-based company, allegedly received a voice message from the suspect that contained threats against the president of South Africa,” Mbambo said.
“The suspect is also alleged to have sent multiple threatening messages targeting the complainant, her family, and the executive mayor of Cape Town.
“The matter was reported to the Cape Town-based Hawks’ CATS team, which conducted a swift investigation that resulted in the suspect’s apprehension in Gauteng.”
Charged with intimidation
According to Mbambo, Masango was brought to Cape Town to appear in the magistrate’s court there on an intimidation charge.
Mbambo stated that Masango’s case was rescheduled for legal representation on June 2. Masango has been remanded in custody while investigations continue.
In the meantime, Ramaphosa will speak to members of parliament’s National Assembly in an oral question-and-answer session on Tuesday at 2pm.
At least once every quarter, Ramaphosa will be the subject of oral question sessions during parliament’s annual schedule.
These sessions are one of the mechanisms parliament uses to hold the executive to account, as stipulated in Section 92(2) of the constitution, which states that members of the executive are accountable collectively and individually to parliament for exercising powers and performing their functions.
