SA Government to Roll Out Signal-Blocking Technology in Prisons

Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is set to implement signal-blocking technology. (DSC_ZA/via X)

by Mathipa Phishego

The South African (SA) government has confirmed plans to introduce signal-blocking technology in selected correctional facilities, in a bid to curb the widespread use of contraband cellphones by inmates and halt the coordination of crimes from behind bars.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said the project will begin with a pilot phase at five prisons, including Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town, notorious for gang-related activities. The pilot is expected to be fully implemented before the end of the year.

For years, authorities have struggled with the smuggling of mobile phones into prisons, which has allowed inmates to orchestrate robberies, extortion rackets, and even contract killings from inside correctional centres.

“Signal-blocking technology will go a long way in ensuring that criminal activity does not continue to thrive within our prisons,” the DCS said in a statement.

The system will use advanced jamming equipment to disrupt cellphone reception within prison walls while preventing spillover into nearby communities. Officials emphasised that the technology is designed to target only inmate communications, without interfering with prison staff or emergency services.

Despite the move being welcomed by many security experts, concerns remain about legal and technical challenges. South African law tightly regulates signal jamming, and the technology must comply with the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act.

There are also worries that blocking signals could unintentionally affect residents or businesses near prisons. The rollout of signal-blocking technology forms part of a wider government strategy to tackle corruption and criminal networks inside prisons.

Alongside jamming systems, DCS is also tightening security checks and deploying body scanners to curb the smuggling of cellphones and weapons into facilities. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis recently called for urgent deployment of the technology at Pollsmoor, describing the prison as a “command centre for gangsterism” in the Western Cape.

The pilot programme could be extended to other high-risk correctional centres across the country. Authorities believe it could be a game-changer in weakening prison-based criminal networks and restoring control in facilities plagued by gang influence.