Parliament must prioritise signal jamming debate 

18 February 2015

On Monday DA Parliamentary Leader, Mmusi Maimane, tabled a request for an urgent debate on a matter of public importance (as per rule 103 of the National Assembly) regarding the use of signal jamming devices during the President's State of the Nation Address on 12 February.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, has however ignored our debate request as well as a private meeting request. I will now raise the matter in tomorrow's National Assembly Programme Committee meeting and insist that the debate be prioritised.

Yesterday during a press conference, the Speaker claimed that she had no prior knowledge of the device, and refused to disclose which Department was behind the signal jamming. However, in court on the same day, her own lawyers stated that it was the State Security Agency who conducted this illegal operation.

The signal jamming was a grave infringement on the independence of the institution and the freedom of expression of Members and media within the house. 

Considering all the obfuscation taking place, it is crucial that Members of Parliament have the opportunity to discuss in detail the circumstances surrounding this matter, including the involvement of the Executive and Parliament's Presiding Officers in this illegal act. 

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen MP, DA Chief Whip, February 18 2015

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