Justice Dept considers meeting mobile firms on Act
The operators have objected to Sections 40 and 62(6) of the Act which compelled them to capture their pre-paid subscribers’ details using a paper- based system as opposed to capturing such information electronically.
Justice deputy director-general Deon Rudman told I-Net Bridge that the government was cognisant of the concerns raised by the cellular operators.
To this end, he added, Minister Brigitte Mabandla or her deputy Johnny de Lange could meet the operators in a matter of days ahead of December 1 – a date originally set for the effective implementation of the paper-based system.
"We have always maintained that electronic capture is the way to go, it’s safer and efficient. The paper-trail is just problematic, that’s always been our position.
Singapore has also shifted from paper-based to electronic environment," Cell C head of regulatory affairs Karabo Motlana said.
He lauded the department for its plan to re-open the negotiations which would possibly pave the way for the postponement of the December 1 implementation date or allow the operators to effect the electronic solution in keeping records of their present and future subscribers.
MTN Group (MTN) also believes that an electronic process is the most appropriate method to register pre-paid customers, the company said, adding that it expects the system to benefit the group, law enforcement agencies as well as subscribers.
Vodacom executive director of corporate affairs Mthobi Tyamzashe noted that the mobile operators are tackling the issue collectively.
"All avenues to obtain some relief on the matter continue to be explored. In the meantime, Vodacom will do its best to comply with the law as it now stands," he said.
Vodacom, South Africa’s market leader, has 16 million users of which more than 13 million are pre-paid customers while smallest operator Cell C has two million pre-paid customers out of its total base of 2.5 million.
I-Net Bridge
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