65-Year-Old DStv Hacker Fined US$300 Over Illegal Subscriptions

A 65-year-old man who hacked MultiChoice’s DStv systems and offered illegal subscription services to clients has been convicted by the Harare Magistrates Court and sentenced to nine months in prison.

Geoffrey Charles Bushby was sentenced by Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki, who suspended three months of the sentence on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years. A further six months were suspended, provided he pays a US$300 fine.

Bushby faced charges of hacking, or alternatively, unlawful use of data.

In passing sentence, Magistrate Mutendereki said she had taken into account Bushby’s age, his first-time offender status, and ill health, which contributed to the relatively lenient punishment.

According to Mandirasa Chigumira from the NPA, Bushby had been running an operation that allowed clients to access DStv channels without authorisation.

An undercover MultiChoice official responded to a social media advert placed by Bushby and followed the steps he used to commit the offence.

Between February and March 2025, Bushby advertised his services in WhatsApp groups, offering access to all DStv channels for a one-off annual payment of US$300.

He allegedly used a Xiaomi TV Box S to create login credentials and connect to DStv’s servers. Clients then paid him directly, bypassing MultiChoice’s legitimate subscription services.

Bushby also misrepresented himself as a MultiChoice-accredited agent, despite having no official affiliation.

The court heard that he employed an advertising agent, Bambazonke, to promote the illegal service.

MultiChoice Zimbabwe’s anti-piracy manager, Parcion Matikiti, posed as a client and set a trap.

Bushby reportedly visited Matikiti’s home, connected a Xiaomi TV Box S, and activated all channels, only to be arrested by police at the scene.

Two Xiaomi TV Box S devices were recovered during the arrest, and a subsequent search of Bushby’s home at 89 King George Road uncovered 32 more devices, along with a laptop and a cellphone, all seized as evidence.

More: NewsDay