The signal jamming in the National Assembly ahead of the state-of-the-nation-address was caused by an operational error, the state security department said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“The signal disruption was caused by an operational error by the member on duty,” the department said in statement.<\/p>\n
“The operator failed to properly terminate the device and this impacted on proper access to some users of mobile phones.”<\/p>\n
The State Security Agency said it was responsible for threat and risk assessment, and on the day was supporting SA National Defence Force efforts to enforce airspace security.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, journalists and some MPs protested against cellphone signals being blocked in Parliament.<\/p>\n
Journalists protested in the press gallery because they could not file their stories.<\/p>\n
“Bring back the signal, bring back the signal,” they chanted, waving their cellphones at a black box which they believed was a jamming device.<\/p>\n
The signal was restored after national assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete asked secretary to Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana to look into the matter.<\/p>\n
The department said there was no executive or political decision to interfere with the free flow of information, it said.<\/p>\n
“The Minister [David Mahlobo] responsible for State Security was also taken aback.”<\/p>\n
An investigation was underway with a possibility of disciplinary action for those responsible.<\/p>\n
“This operation was never intended to frustrate the parliamentarians, the media and anyone who attended Parliament and the result of it not being switched off properly is highly regretted.”<\/p>\n
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