Concern over cellphone law
2009-09-18 15:21
Nelspruit - Illegal immigrants will soon find themselves unable to phone anyone when recently passed legislation that requires all cellphone SIM card holders to register begins to take effect.
The recently passed Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA) will mean in effect that hundreds of thousands of foreigners who don’t have a passport or a South African identity document won’t be able to register their SIM cards by December 2010.
Vodacom managing director, Shameel Joosub, said RICA will require mobile operators, service providers and SIM card retailers register all customers’ identity numbers and physical addresses (with proof and confirmation) on a secure database.
He said no new SIM cards will be activated before the buyer is registered.
Track down criminals
The new regulation was formulated to stop criminals using cellphones to commit crime. Because SIM cards aren’t matched up with the personal details of the people that bought them, police have difficulty tracking them down.
“The law aims to help law enforcement agencies to identify and track people who use cellphones for illegal activities,” said Joosub.
Existing subscribers have 15 months to register both their prepaid and contract SIM cards.
The law, passed on July 1, requires that a passport and proof of residence be produced to register a SIM card.
Anxiety
RICA has caused panic and anxiety among immigrant communities who could be cut off from the rest of the world.
“This comes at the time when I am struggling to get a passport so that I can be a legal immigrant. I am afraid I will lose touch with my family back home if I don’t have a SIM card and I can’t phone anymore,” said Mozambican farm worker, Armando Sithoye, 42.
“Cellphone communication makes our lives easier. Many of us only go home once a year and this is often the only way we can communicate with our families,” said Sithoye, who support six children back home.