Prominent Eastern Cape politicians and officials believe their cellphone conversations are being tapped or intercepted, Dispatch Online reported on Wednesday.
It said at least one has made a formal complaint on the matter to the police.
So nervous are senior officials that many now use code names to disguise their conversations when discussing political affairs on their cellphones.
Four senior government officials confirmed to the Daily Dispatch that they suspect someone listened to their telephone conversations.
Former Mnquma Mayor Ndyebo Skelenge and former Buffalo City municipal manager Mxolisi Tsika, were prepared to be named. The other two requested anonymity.
They told the Dispatch they suspected private concerns working for political rivals were monitoring their calls.
Tsika said he had made a complaint to the police.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Mtati Tana confirmed the complaint.
Police were told of the official’s suspicions that his calls were being listened to and his SMSs being intercepted.
”There were reports of cellphone tapping and at least one individual did make an inquiry with crime intelligence,” said Tana.
”But our detectives’ section says the matter is very difficult to investigate.”
East London-based private IT specialist Leon Nel said intercepting cellphone conversations and hacking into computers was not uncommon.
”Money talks. In the black market you can buy someone else’s records — even the state president’s cellphone records. Anything is possible out there,” he said. — Sapa