South Africa – The Foschini Group (TFG) is investigating a cybersecurity incident that disrupted information technology systems across its United Kingdom operations, affecting fashion brands Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles.
According to Daily Investor, the incident was detected over the weekend, prompting TFG London to bring in external cybersecurity specialists to contain the disruption.
Reuters reported on Tuesday, October 13, that several IT systems across the retailer’s UK operations remained unavailable as investigations continued.
TFG said the investigation was ongoing to establish whether any personal or other sensitive information had been compromised. The company has also informed the relevant UK authorities.
The retailer has not confirmed whether customer information was accessed or stolen, leaving the potential data-security implications unclear.
Data breaches
TFG’s operations in Africa and Australia have not been affected, according to Reuters, suggesting that the disruption is currently confined to its UK business.
The incident comes amid wider concerns about cybersecurity risks facing South African businesses. TechCentral reported on October 9 that Shoprite had identified cybersecurity as its top-ranked business risk in its 2026 integrated report, recording four data breaches during the financial year, up from three in the previous year.
Meanwhile, TFG continues to operate an extensive international retail portfolio, including its UK fashion brands. The latest incident highlights the potential operational risks retailers face when critical IT systems are disrupted.
The investigation into the TFG incident remains ongoing, with the full extent of the disruption and any potential exposure of sensitive information yet to be established.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
