Shock ‘Grabber’ revelations
The Grabber is a spying gadget which can bug up to 10 000 cellphone lines live and locate any person. The powerful tool can also jam networks, download and intercept SMSes, send SMSes to any number, and detect other surveillance devices and block them. The Grabber is a spying gadget which can bug up to 10 000 cellphone lines live and locate any person. The powerful tool can also jam networks, download and intercept SMSes, send SMSes to any number, and detect other surveillance devices and block them.
In a new twist, it has now been revealed that businessmen with close ANC ties are among those who invested R25 million in an illegal spy gadget which has also been used to spy on top ANC politicians, in an effort to carve a role for themselves in the presidential succession race.
The Sunday Independent knows the names of ANC politicians and their associates whose telephone conversations and movements were monitored by a team assembled by these wealthy businessmen.
Several sources have confirmed the activities, but emphasised that the spying was not done with the blessing of the politicians.
The owners of the gadget, a powerful spying tool commonly referred to as “The Grabber”, embarked on listening to politicians’ conversations with the aim of either ingratiating themselves to some, or blackmailing others.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said that investigations were at a sensitive stage and that these new allegations can neither be confirmed nor denied. “There are a lot of areas that we are still looking at. We are investigating all the possibilities.”
The conspiracy also apparently involved tapping phones of different ANC factions to find out what they were planning. The device would then be used to dig dirt and discredit rival candidates.
The discovery of The Grabber is believed to be causing sleepless nights for South Africa’s intelligence community and the police. The three men arrested in possession of the gadget are believed to have acquired the device with the help of a government official.
They were arrested in a sting operation at Pretoria’s Irene Mall. Two men were subsequently released as there was insufficient evidence against them.
One of the men, Willie Lotter, was charged with contravening Act No. 70, 2002 Regulation of Interception of Communications. Act No 70, 2002.
This week, the former director-general in the Presidency and cabinet secretary Frank Chikane claimed unknown people had used a spying device to listen to his cellphone conversations and monitor his movements. He said this eventually destroyed his lucrative business interests.
He added that there was no way an ordinary business person would have this equipment. Chikane said only corruption would make it possible for a private business person to have this device. – The Sunday Independent