People who reportedly paid about R160 per month for an unauthorized MultiChoice streaming service now face uncertainty. This is after a South African court froze more than R6.2 million linked to its alleged operator.
The order stops the money from being moved while authorities pursue an asset-forfeiture case.
The alleged service
The Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Gqeberha granted the preservation order on August 4, 2026. It covers funds held in a bank account belonging to Damian Grundlingh, a resident of Despatch.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s announcement, Grundlingh allegedly operated an unauthorized live-streaming service from at least October 2024.
Investigators claim that the service accessed copyrighted MultiChoice programming without permission and resold it through access codes. Customers reportedly paid around R160 each month.
The service has not been publicly named. Authorities have also not disclosed its full channel lineup, how customers watched it or whether it remains accessible.
Investigators found 104,667 related transactions
Investigators identified approximately 104,667 MultiChoice-related transactions. This is between January 2025 and April 2026.
That figure shows the scale of the financial records examined, but it does not mean that the service had 104,667 customers. One subscriber could have made several monthly payments, and the records could include other movements of money connected to the operation.
The R6.2 million freeze is probably not the service’s confirmed total income either. It is the amount preserved in the relevant bank account, not an official calculation of every subscription payment allegedly collected.
The financial investigation involved the NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, the Hawks, the Financial Intelligence Centre and MultiChoice investigators.
Why the money was frozen before an arrest
Grundlingh has not been arrested or charged. The criminal investigation concerns possible violations of South Africa’s Cybercrimes Act and Copyright Act, alongside allegations of fraud and cybercrime.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit obtained the order under Section 38 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The law allows the High Court to preserve property suspected of being connected to unlawful activity before a criminal case reaches trial.
The application was made without prior notice to Grundlingh. This prevents the money from being withdrawn or transferred before the preservation order takes effect.
A preservation order is not a finding of guilt. It temporarily protects the disputed property while the state decides whether to pursue permanent forfeiture.
Customers have not been accused of an offence
Authorities have not announced charges or other action against people who subscribed to the alleged service. They have also not said whether customer payment records will form part of later investigations.
The financial action could disrupt an operation if it depends on the frozen account, but neither the NPA nor MultiChoice has confirmed that the service has stopped working.
Customers should not expect the R6.2 million to be divided into refunds. No refund process has been announced, and the preserved money has not yet been awarded to subscribers, MultiChoice or the state.
Legitimate DStv and Showmax accounts are unaffected. The order concerns an alleged unauthorized service accused of redistributing MultiChoice content.
The R6.2 million has not been forfeited
The preservation order and supporting court papers must now be served on Grundlingh. He has the right to oppose the proceedings and challenge the state’s claim to the funds.
After the order is published in the Government Gazette, the National Director of Public Prosecutions is allowed to seek a forfeiture order within 90 days. The court would then decide whether the money should be permanently transferred.
If forfeiture is approved, the funds would enter the Criminal Assets Recovery Account. The amount supports law-enforcement and crime-prevention work.