On Monday, 6 January 2025, Ziyadh Hoorzook, a 35-year-old Sandton resident, made his first court appearance at the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court.
Ziyadh Hoorzook officially charged with funding terrorism activities in South Africa
Charged with contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA), Hoorzook faced allegations of financing terrorism.
Monday’s proceedings were brief, with the case postponed to Friday, 10 January 2025 to allow for a formal bail application.
Hoorzook, represented by a private attorney, appeared calm as the charges were read, but offered no plea during the session.
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The prosecution, led by the state’s anti-terrorism unit, outlined the severity of the allegations and indicated that extensive evidence gathered by the Hawks would form the crux of their case.
The investigation into Hoorzook
The Hawks, in collaboration with the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), have been investigating Hoorzook since 2018, following suspicions raised by unusual financial transactions.
Their investigation revealed that in November 2017, Hoorzook purchased R11,500 worth of Bitcoin via the cryptocurrency exchange platform Luno, transferring the funds to a wallet associated with an organisation claiming to be a charity.
However, further inquiry linked the organisation to entities suspected of financing terror-related activities in a foreign conflict zone.
According to prosecutors, the transferred funds were allegedly used to purchase weapons, provide financial aid, and support projects benefitting militants abroad.
In October 2024, a search of Hoorzook’s Sandton home uncovered additional evidence, including:
- Digital devices containing cryptocurrency transaction records.
- Documentation linking him to overseas accounts and questionable non-profit organisations.
- Firearms improperly stored, leading to separate charges under South Africa’s firearm regulations.
Hoorzook’s case exemplifies concerns raised in the terrorist financing risk-assessment report for South Africa’s NPO sector, released by the FIC in April 2024.
The report exposed vulnerabilities within the country’s non-profit sector, noting that some organisations, under the guise of charitable activities, could be exploited to fund terrorism.
The report identified cryptocurrency as a growing challenge in monitoring financial flows, given its potential for anonymity and cross-border use.
It also stressed the importance of tighter regulations and enhanced collaboration between financial institutions and enforcement agencies.
South Africa, still addressing its greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2023, has been under pressure to bolster its financial crime enforcement.
Hoorzook’s arrest serves as a high-profile example of these efforts and could shape future policy regarding the oversight of non-profits and digital financial transactions.
