Cape Town | Thursday
THE South African cabinet on Wednesday approved a law change that will allow government to monitor cell phone conversations, but seemed set to clash with phone companies over who will cover the cost of tapping.
Government communications chief Joel Netshitenze said cabinet approved the tabling of the bill in parliament because it believed “we need to be able to monitor everything” in order to fight rising crime.
He said the government would ask the country’s service providers to help pay for cell phone monitoring, something the industry has so far been reluctant to do.
“It will require the cooperation of the cell phone companies, including the cost implications of the matter,” he told journalists after a cabinet meeting.
On Wednesday, MTN, one of the country’s two operating cell phone service providers, indicated it would not be forced to foot the bill.
“If there is an attempt to unilaterally impose a financial imposition we will question and even resist it,” MTN’s consultant on crime and fraud, Jacques Sellshop said.
Cell phone tapping is not possible in South Africa at the moment but last year the government asked companies to buy the necessary equipment to monitor conversations and allow government to use the technology.
Sellshop said MTN and Vodacom had agreed in principal to buy equipment but wanted government to help finance the considerable cost. The cost of the equipment is said to run to millions of rand.
The companies suggested the money come from the five percent tax they pay on their annual operating income.
Government has so far failed to respond to the proposal and has not warned MTN about the pending law change, Sellshop said.
“Such a measure would be in the interests of all parties and would not disrupt the necessary development and growth of the cellular industry in South Africa,” he said.
He added that cellular service providers would be anxious to see that “interception is not frivolously abused.” – AFP