The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa said on 13 February 2015 that South Africa\u2019s State Security Cluster may, in certain instances, employ signal jammers.<\/p>\n
Its statement follows reports that cellular phone signals were jammed inside Parliament on Thursday during President Jacob Zuma\u2019s State of the Nation address.<\/p>\n
Icasa said in 2012\u00a0that the use of wireless signal jammers in South Africa was illegal.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo organisation is allowed to jam cellular signal, and any device which is used to jam signal is illegal,\u201d Icasa said\u00a0at the time.<\/p>\n
The regulator referred to its enquiry into mobile phone telephone blocking devices in 2002, which found that there was no legitimate radio communications use for cellular jamming devices.<\/p>\n
\u201cIcasa has therefore decided that use of jamming devices will not be authorised,\u201d it said. \u201cNo organisation is allowed to jam cellular signals, and any device which is used to jam signals is illegal\u201d.<\/p>\n
Icasa has now said\u00a0that there are exceptions for the State Security Cluster.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, journalists at the 2015 State of the Nation address suggested that State Security may have been involved in the jamming.<\/p>\n
\u201cI watched State Security minister David Mahlobo leave the House as we started [chanting \u2018bring back the signal!\u2019],\u201d City Press editor Ferial Haffajee tweeted<\/a>. \u201cHe came back. Signal returned.\u201d<\/p>\n Following Zuma\u2019s speech, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe declined to confirm or deny whether cellphone signals were jammed, but did deny any knowledge of who was responsible.<\/p>\n Icasa summarised its position on the issue of cellphone signal jamming as follows:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Authority welcomes the Speaker\u2019s pronouncement that Parliament will investigate this matter,\u201d Icasa said.<\/p>\n It added that it will liaise with Parliament on the outcome of the investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cShould it deem it necessary, the Authority may also institute its own investigation into the matter,\u201d Icasa said.<\/p>\n Article republished with permission from\u00a0MyBroadband<\/a>.<\/p>\n Eskom to get R23 billion injection<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
More on SONA 2015<\/h3>\n