The debate over cellphone signal jamming rights heats up.
A year after Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis called for the introduction of cellphone signal-blocking technology at Pollsmoor Prison to cripple criminal activities, Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has confirmed that some facilities already have signal detection technology in place, while a phased rollout of a two-way radio system for officials is underway.
The minister's office said that while signal jamming has been considered, legislative and regulatory hurdles, high costs and the potential impact on surrounding communities have limited its viability.
Queries to Hill-Lewis's office concerning the latest developments regarding the cellphone signal blocking were referred to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).
The response follows the minister's announcement that more than 37 500 cellphones were confiscated from prisons across the country over the past year.
