National Intelligence Agency (NIA) spokesman Lorna Daniels has declined to confirm or deny it is investigating the e-mails that resulted in a province-wide tornado scare earlier this month.
Yesterday, Talk Radio 702 reported the NIA was gathering information about the "controversial hoax tornado e-mail".
The e-mail in question was based on a warning from the Weather Bureau that a severe storm was to hit Gauteng. However, the message was soon embellished into a tornado warning.
The e-mail appeared to originate from Netcare.
Cabinet also commented on the e-mail scare. In its weekly statement, earlier this month, Cabinet noted that, as a result of the rumours, some employers sent their staff home early, which resulted in panic and led to traffic congestions in many parts of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
In the light of these developments, Cabinet decided the National Disaster Management Centre would be asked to look at ways in which such situations could be managed in future. This would encompass ensuring that clear communication guidelines and procedures are developed and communicated to the public.
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