Madlanga Commission: Chaskalson Explains How Jammers Block Communications to Commissioner Baloyi

• Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson testified at the Madlanga Commission on 18 August 2026 about how signal jammers work
• Chaskalson explained jammers can block cell phone communications and potentially prevent law enforcement from listening in
• The evidence leader appeared to experience a small-scale jamming incident himself during his testimony before Commissioner Sesi Baloyi

PRETORIA — Evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson testified before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on 18 August 2026, explaining to Commissioner Sesi Baloyi how signal jammers operate, ranging from low-level car park theft to large-scale communication disruption.

According to SABC News, Chaskalson outlined how jammers function at different levels of sophistication. At the most basic level, he said, small-time criminals use them to interfere with car remote controls, preventing vehicles from locking while their owners step away. He noted that many South Africans had likely experienced this personally, returning to a car they believed was locked only to discover their belongings had been taken.

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How jammers can disrupt law enforcement

At a much greater scale, Chaskalson testified that jammers are capable of blocking mobile phone communications entirely by operating across specific frequencies. When Commissioner Baloyi raised the possibility that jammers could prevent law enforcement from intercepting communications, Chaskalson confirmed this was within their capability.

The testimony forms part of the broader proceedings examining private parties alleged to be impersonating a state entity, a central focus of the commission's current hearings.

In a notable moment during the proceedings, Commissioner Baloyi observed that Chaskalson appeared to have personally experienced a small-scale jammer during his own testimony. Chaskalson responded that he had, in fact, encountered two.

Watch Chaskalson's testimony on jammers at the Madlanga Commission:

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In a related article, Briefly News reported on the startling claims made at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry regarding suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola's alleged targeting during the Medicare24 tender investigation. Testimony revealed that directives were issued to investigate potential links to Masemola, despite clear findings indicating no evidence connecting him to any wrongdoing.

Source: Briefly News