Wednesday, 24 May 2017 – The tiny “gadgets” which form part of the design features on the National Assembly (NA) ceiling, just above the chairs of the presiding officer and certain sections of the Assembly benches, which Democratic Alliance (DA) chief whip Mr John Steenhuisen suspected were surveillance cameras, are in fact downlights.
Downlights are usually installed into a hollow opening of the ceiling and are useful for general lighting in the Chamber. The lights are in fact not new. They have been on the ceiling for over 13 years, having been installed as part of routine maintenance work and upgrades prior to 2004.
The DA chief whip had lodged a complaint with the Speaker’s Office regarding the presence of the “gadgets” (downlights) on the ceiling, alleging they might be “hidden cameras” installed to spy on the opposition.
Parliament reassures MPs and the public that there are no hidden cameras installed on the lampshades inside the NA Chamber.
Sittings of the Houses of Parliament take place under the full view of the television cameras and the public in line with the Constitutional imperatives of transparency and openness.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
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