Subscribe

Final call to RICA

Kathryn McConnachie
By Kathryn McConnachie, Digital Media Editor at ITWeb.
Johannesburg, 29 Jun 2011

The Department of Communications (DOC) and the country's mobile operators have issued the final call for RICA registration.

At a press briefing held in Midrand today, deputy communications minister Obed Bapela reported that 95% of South Africans have completed the RICA SIM card registration process.

Bapela emphasised that the cut off will be midnight tomorrow, without exception.

"We know South Africans have a culture of leaving things to the last minute," said Bapela, adding that the mobile service providers have already been seeing long queues at their stores in the run-up to the deadline.

MTN reports that 98% of its contract customers have registered, while 96% of prepaid customers have completed the process. Vodacom has registered 98.4% and 93.6% of its contract and prepaid customers, respectively. Cell C also reports that 99% of its contract customers and 94% of its prepaid customers will not have to worry about being cut off.

Bapela also reiterated that the RICA process must be completed not only for mobile phone SIM cards, but for all data cards too.

"Lots of people weren't aware that all data cards need to registered, because from the beginning of the RICA campaign the emphasis had been on mobile phones," explained Bapela.

Karel Pienaar, MD of MTN SA, added that some gated communities are using SIM cards to operate their gates, and those SIM cards also need to be registered.

Mandatory measure

"This is a necessary law for SA to ensure that every citizen can communicate in a safe and secure environment," noted Bapela.

The registration of SIM cards is expected to stop criminals from using them to organise criminal activity.

"Cyber security is also a new problem facing all nations. No one knew that it would reach the magnitude that it has.

"But knowing exactly which SIM card belongs to who will help lessen such types of crime, while also helping police track down criminals," he said.

Privacy protected

Responding to privacy concerns as a result of the RICA information collected by the mobile operators, Bapela said everyone's privacy is "guaranteed and protected" and that severe action will be taken against any operators that do not comply.

Cell C CEO Lars Reichelt jokingly added that he "wouldn't want to share a jail cell" with the other operators, explaining that the RICA database is kept solely for that purpose and the information will remain otherwise untouched by the operators.

Responding to some complaints from customers who have completed the RICA process, but are still being told they are not registered, both MTN and Vodacom said the issue is most likely a delay between customers being registered in store and then on the system.

"We are not aware of any major system failures in that regard," said Vodacom COO Vuyani Jarana, adding that any such cases need to be followed up individually.

Pienaar also said MTN has bolstered its systems in anticipation of the final rush in order to minimise any delays.

The mobile operators also said they are not expecting any major loss of revenue from the RICA cut-off.

"We are still hoping that people will get their acts together before tomorrow night, but the majority of those who have not RICAed are most probably not using those SIM cards anymore," commented Reichelt.

Midnight rush

According to Bapela, the majority of the 5% of un-RICAed South Africans are in Gauteng.

All operators and the DOC again urged South Africans to check their RICA status and to complete registration of all of their SIM cards before tomorrow night.

MTN customers can check their status by dialling *131*4# or visiting the MTN Web site. Vodacom subscribers should SMS "RICA" to 31050. For Cell C, either dial *133*7422# or SMS "RICA" to 14579.

Most MTN stores will be open until midnight tomorrow. Vodacom outlets will also be open until 22:00 and Vodacom World will be open 24 hours. Cell C stores located near cinemas will also stay open until the midnight cut-off.

Share