RICA law changed?

Hi guys, the first instance happened in April, and I just pushed it aside, but another event happened a few days ago, that made me find out more.

In April, I purchased a Vodacom Simcard from the Vodashop at O R Tambo Airport, and I arrived in the country with my proof of ID, and proof of residence all ready to purchase a Sim card, only to be told by the woman who served me, it's not needed, it's already done, I was pleasantly surprised, but I brushed it off, and I thought it was just more of a convenience to those entering SA.

However a few days ago, I paid for virtual mail forwarding address, and they gave me an address somewhere in Johannesburg, and I thought I'd try my luck and get a Nexus VOIP account, and use my Vodacom number, which still works, even in NZ, and virtual address.

I registered for an 010 number (Despite, I'm from Cape Town originally), and the next day I got an email saying my service had been activated.

I was suprised. I was expecting, a CSR to email me, and ask for proof of residence, and Passport scan, and not for my service to be activated so soon.

The VOIP account works here too, although I need to reroute my ATA device through an SA vpn.

So has something changed?

They gave you an illegal Pre-RICA'd SIM, Cart Blanche had a whole story about it 2 weeks ago.

You don't have to get rid of it if you dont want to, also you can contact the authorities and tell then about it.

Seems fairly common these days...

The resellers of the sim cards on prepaid get revenue on their activated sim cards. If I sell a starter pack to you, you have to get it Rica'd in order for you to make use of the sim card (and for me to get revenue from it).
What people are doing illegally is selling pre-Rica'd sim Cards so that they will get the revenue for it.

I suggest you report it, but to who?

Report it?

Why should I?

The practice of requiring such proof for such a purchase is barbaric.

I for one am glad that massive companies, like Vodacom are taking risks and selling connection packs without simcards.

Only ones profiting from Rica, are ANC connected companies.

and implementing those stupid laws, only introduced more syndicates.

Yeah okay, so it's "illegal" but most of the guys raided are these small almost seedy cellphone shops.

Vodashop at O R Tambo, is a flagship official Vodacom store in plain site of officals, and in a heavily policed area. This is unbelievable..

PaulB_ said:

Yeah okay, so it's "illegal" but most of the guys raided are these small almost seedy cellphone shops.

Vodashop at O R Tambo, is a flagship official Vodacom store in plain site of officals, and in a heavily policed area. This is unbelievable..

Click to expand...

Not really,

They're a franchise so can still do "dodgy" stuff and get away with it.