The Department of Communications (DOC) is driving a SIM card registration campaign today, in Soweto, to urge South Africans who have not registered their SIM cards to do so, or else be cut off from networks.
The Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA) was introduced in the middle of 2009. The law is meant to cut down on crimes committed using cellphones.
According to the law, every South African with a SIM card must register the card by providing proof of residence and identification. Failure to do so by the end of this month will see SIM cards suspended on cellular networks.
At the end of May, operators indicated there were at least eight million South Africans who still had to comply with the Act. The initial deadline for registration was at the end of December, but this was pushed out by six months.
Mobile networks have warned that contract subscribers, who do not register, would still be liable for their monthly payments, even if they cannot use their cellphones. Prepaid users have a six-month grace period to comply after being cut off.
The department says mobile operators will be on site with vans to assist in this campaign at the Baragwanath Taxi Rank, in Diepkloof, Soweto. Networks have already spent millions registering subscribers and urging South Africans to comply.
Deputy communications minister Obed Bapela will interact with commuters, taxi drivers, community members and Soweto residents. He will also hand out flyers informing citizens about the importance of registering SIM cards and its deadline.
Earlier this week, Bapela said: “Failure to comply with the deadline will result in SIMs being locked. Those who have not registered will not be able to make or receive calls, and will not be able to send SMSes or use data.”
RICA applies to both prepaid and contract subscribers, and it is obligatory for all cellphone and other data users to comply.
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