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 SIM card violators face hefty fines
    Caiphus Kgosana
    July 01 2009 at 10:18AM 		Get IOL on your
mobile at m.iol.co.za

Cellphone companies that fail to comply with a new law that, from Wednesday, requires them to register all subscribers face a hefty fine of R100 000 for each day they are in violation.

This was revealed by Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, who also emphasised that the new Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication Related Information Act was aimed at dealing with criminals who were using cellphones to plan and execute crimes.

The fines will be imposed after an 18-month period, during which cellphone companies would be required to ensure compliance with the new law.

Radebe said the registration of SIM cards by cellphone operators would make it possible for the authorities to keep track of SIM cards used for criminal purposes.
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"The aim of the amendments is to assist law enforcement agencies in the investigation and combating of serious crimes, and to ensure that the identity and whereabouts of the owner of a SIM card who used a cellphone in the planning and execution of a crime is known," he said.

"If the particulars are not captured within that period, the service provider must terminate the service associated with the SIM card."

Radebe said the act allowed for the tapping of cellphone conversations only with the permission of a judge and only where there were grounds to suspect a crime was being committed.

In terms of the new law, all operators must record the names, ID numbers and addresses of all holders of SIM cards.

Cellphone operators have 18 months to record the details of SIM card holders, at the end of which they will have to deactivate the SIM cards of people whose ID numbers and proof of residence cannot be established or verified.

The country's three main operators - Vodacom, Cell C and MTN - have 51 million subscribers among them.


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muti
Showing page 1 of 4 comment pages, 31 total comments
32 Weeks ago IcI wrote :
As usual the ordinary guy will get shafted. Make's his life difficult, having to prove who he is through all the red tape.

The bad guy buys his card from a contact & carries on.

Oh, & wait, 45mil personal records in one database? How long until that is hacked & sold?
32 Weeks ago Sean wrote :
I have no problem with this new regulation if other checks and balances where in place. The government is trying to run before they can even crawl. They put all these wonderful high tech regulations in place, yet they don't even have enough detectives to solve a vast amount of unsolved cases, yet to mention how easy it is to lift dockets out of police stations. The government should instead focus on getting the basics right, and then worry about high tech regulations. They can't even get FICA right, I had an account which had an address from years ago.
32 Weeks ago Poesbek wrote :
Please see this as a work creation strategy ... you will now have to pay somebody who know somebody else working for a cell phone service provider to get a sim card (just like Nigeria) . They will line up outside all the big cell phone companies and wisper as you walk past...pssst wanna buy a sim card R500. Just like we do to get our electricity and water accounts and fines "paid" and phones fixed and passports and car licenses. Its called the African way lol.
32 Weeks ago Blakat wrote :
And what, exactly, do we do to register?
32 Weeks ago Jean wrote :
Some thing these "law makers" did not think about. How will all the soccer world cup visitors get simcards for use while they are here ?
32 Weeks ago Jean wrote :
I have now just decided...I am going to live in an informal residence. It will be about 45 shacks or dwellings in a northerly direction from that church with the high steeple and a chicken on top. What defines a formal or informal residence according to the law And what defines a house or shack as being one? Please, leave the "big brother" games and focus on the real needs of people and communities.
32 Weeks ago Bonga wrote :
I agree!
One reason one would complain about this would be if one has something mischiecous one is doing with his cellphone.Everyday I listen to whites complaining about crime and I even suggest they emmigrate to Kasie where they'll be more protected,but to think now they have a problem with a solution that is supposed to bring crime down,escapes the living daylights out of me.Am registering mine knowing fully well am contributing to the safety of my fellow beings not really supporting JZ though!
32 Weeks ago Yobo wrote :
Fica and Rica are preventive measures. You have to prove your identity for everything, and thats how it should be. Explain to me what exactly what is wrong with this law, and dont talk about logistics or human mistakes (i.e. recording township addresses...). Its to make criminal jobs harder. BTW: i just today (no jokes) received an SMS from a no. that i owed money, they gave bank details, and so on.... I tried to query by phoning, nobody asks. 2 years ago, when selling a car privately, i had 3 calls from, i asssume, criminals who wanted me to meet them at their choice of location. Obviously i did not. Also explain to me why dont you guys criticise USA and Europe for having the same laws. I bet People also complained, the 911 happened. I also am not defending the SA govt. but here they are doing something right.
32 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
This is Africa....

did anyone notice....?

Pre-Paid is the market; do you really think that the cell providers are going to cut their own legs off?
32 Weeks ago Anonymous wrote :
The state couldn't re-license firearm owners.... and so few people have those, so why does anyone think this will work?

The whole scheme is premised on the idea that the police will be able to go to the address listed against the cellphone to find the person there. Of course this is wishful thinking, as criminals are far smarter than that.

I am just amazed that the three cell companies had NOTHING to say in the drafting of this amendment!

@Yobo... You think that monitoring cellphones has ever made a society safer? Evidence? You have some?