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South Africa is preparing to strengthen its SIM card registration framework as the government and telecommunications industry seek to make every mobile number a more secure and trusted form of digital identity.
The proposed reforms aim to modernise the country’s SIM registration process for the first time since the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA) introduced mandatory SIM registration nearly two decades ago.
The initiative comes as mobile phone numbers increasingly serve as a critical layer of digital identity, providing access to banking services, digital payments, messaging platforms and other online services. As a result, they have become attractive targets for fraudsters and organised criminal networks.
Real-time identity verification proposed
The proposed framework, developed jointly by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and mobile network operators, introduces stronger identity verification through real-time validation against the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) database.
The objective is to ensure that individuals registering SIM cards are verified as the legitimate owners of the identities they present, bringing SIM registration standards closer to those already used by financial institutions.
According to Nomvuyiso Batyi, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Communications and Technology (ACT), the enhanced verification process will leverage existing arrangements between mobile operators and the Department of Home Affairs.
She explained that participating telecommunications companies will be able to authenticate customer identities directly against the national database, improving the integrity of the registration process.
Tackling evolving digital crime
Batyi noted that the industry believes the current RICA framework no longer adequately addresses today’s digital crime landscape.
She said the need for reform was driven by the sharp increase in sophisticated digital fraud, identity theft and financial crimes that have become more prevalent since 2019.
Authorities have linked improperly registered and pre-registered SIM cards to a range of criminal activities, including financial fraud, cybercrime and organised criminal operations.
Recent law enforcement operations have targeted individuals accused of selling illegally pre-registered SIM cards, highlighting weaknesses in the existing registration system.
Industry stakeholders also argue that anonymous communications facilitated by improperly registered SIM cards have contributed to money laundering and organised crime, concerns that gained additional prominence following South Africa’s grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Strengthening financial security
The proposed reforms extend beyond the telecommunications sector and are expected to deliver broader benefits for South Africa’s digital economy.
A more reliable mobile identity system could strengthen fraud prevention across banking and fintech platforms while providing law enforcement agencies with more effective tools to investigate cyber-enabled crimes.
Unlike the existing framework, which primarily requires customers to present identification documents when purchasing a SIM card, the proposed model focuses on verifying that the applicant is the legitimate owner of the identity being used.
Batyi said the legislative proposals submitted to the Department of Justice complement broader industry initiatives designed to improve the effectiveness and enforcement of RICA.
Government steps up enforcement
The reforms follow an urgent stakeholder meeting convened in March by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, bringing together telecommunications operators, regulators and law enforcement agencies to address vulnerabilities within South Africa’s SIM registration system.
According to the Department of Justice, improperly registered SIM cards have been linked to numerous criminal activities, including banking fraud, kidnappings, cash-in-transit robberies, contract killings and cybercrime.
Officials also expressed concern that weaknesses in the current registration process have enabled bulk SIM registrations using fraudulent identities, making criminal investigations more difficult.
Kubayi said authorities would intensify enforcement efforts, noting that existing legislation already provides for penalties of up to R5 million or imprisonment of up to 10 years for non-compliance.
She added that stricter enforcement is expected to begin from July 2026, supported by coordinated action involving the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority and other relevant agencies.
Supporting South Africa’s digital identity agenda
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber also indicated that the Department of Home Affairs’ identity verification infrastructure—already used extensively by banks—could play a key role in strengthening SIM registration while supporting the country’s broader digital identity strategy.
While telecommunications operators have yet to disclose the operational details of the new verification process, Batyi said consumers would receive further information through a coordinated public awareness campaign before implementation.
She emphasised that the reforms are intended to improve security without creating unnecessary barriers to mobile access.
According to Batyi, the industry’s long-term objective is to eliminate identity fraud in SIM registration, remove illegally pre-registered SIM cards from circulation and restore confidence in South Africa’s mobile identity ecosystem.
She also confirmed that the enhanced verification framework will continue to operate within the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), ensuring that personal data is collected, processed and protected in accordance with South Africa’s data protection laws.
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