Cyril dodges jammer questions

05 March 2015 - 02:16 By Jan-Jan Joubert
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CHILD'S PLAY: Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
CHILD'S PLAY: Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image: Kopano Tlape

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and State Security Minister David Mahlobo yesterday both refused to answer aspects of questions about the switching off of the signal jammer obstructing electronic communication during President Jacob Zuma's recent State of the Nation address three weeks ago.

It has been alleged that the signal jammer was switched off after Ramaphosa sent Mahlobo a note. Mahlobo has since agreed that intelligence services were responsible for wrongly jamming the signal. But the exact nature of the events leading up to the jamming and the contents of the note remain a closely guarded secret.

Yesterday, opposition parties tried to probe the issue, but both Ramaphosa and Mahlobo claimed that, much as they wanted to answer the questions, they could not do so as the issue was before the courts. Their view, which they claimed was founded on legal advice, was challenged by the DA, EFF, UDM and FF Plus.

DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane asked Ramaphosa when he, as leader of government business, was made aware of the intended use of signal jammers and other additional security measures.

Ramaphosa said court cases flowing from that meant he was constrained in answering questions about them.

He added he would respond as soon as the court cases had been concluded. He said he was in favour of a free flow of information from parliament.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa was hiding behind the sub judice rule, and UDM leader Bantu Holomisa asked him whether he had intervened in the matter.

He also asked Ramaphosa not to dodge the question, to which the deputy president took exception, repeating his view that the matter had to run its course in the courts.

DA MP David Maynier asked Mahlobo whether he would take responsibility for the illegal use of the signal jammer in parliament.

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