SA prisons gearing up for introduction of cellphone signal-blocking technology

South African prisons are gearing up for the introduction of cellphone signal-blocking technology to prevent inmates from ordering crimes from behind prison walls. 
 
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has recently expressed his shock after discovering an extortion racket run inside Pollsmoor Prison.

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The mayor said he's been promised by Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald that a tender process is underway to acquire the signal-blocking technology for prisons.

During his visit to Pollsmoor prison on Monday, National Correctional Services Commissioner Samuel Thobakgale also confirmed plans to introduce the technology.

"But we are doing that with careful consideration that those systems should not interrupt the work of the criminal justice system."

He said several prison officials have been caught for allegedly smuggling cellphones inside prisons.
 
"With each and every search that we conduct and also with each and every operation that we do to block contrabands from making their way into our facilities, we identify officials that are involved, and we take them through disciplinary processes. But we also open cases with the SAPS [South African Police Service], so that's a continuous campaign that we are involved in."