The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for stricter regulations on SIM card registration to combat rising crime rates in South Africa. The party argues that the lack of enforcement of the Rica Act, which mandates SIM card registration, is allowing criminals to operate with greater anonymity. They propose measures to strengthen Rica, including mandatory registration by retail outlets and tamper-proof packaging to prevent mass pre-registration by unauthorized entities.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for stricter SIM card registration rules to combat serious crimes, including kidnapping and extortion. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed a concerning statistic in response to a parliamentary question posed by DA MP Kabelo Kgobisa Ngcaba. Ngcaba, previously a member of the Justice and Constitutional Development portfolio committee, highlighted the alarming prevalence of unregistered SIM cards in South Africa.
The Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (Rica Act) was implemented to ensure all SIM cards are registered to their users, aiding law enforcement in tracing criminal activity and safeguarding citizens. However, the DA contends that the lack of proper enforcement of Rica is a significant contributing factor to the rise in violent crimes. Ngcaba argued that the ideal solution lies in strengthening legislative and regulatory measures rather than overburdening police resources with the task of tracking down illegal SIM card sales. She proposed measures such as mandated SIM card registration by retail outlets and tamper-proof packaging to deter mass pre-registration by unauthorized entities. Ngcaba emphasized the urgent need for action, particularly in light of the escalating rates of extortion, murder, and kidnapping. Securi-Tech, a manufacturing company specializing in security technology, echoed the DA's concerns, stating that the implementation of Rica is failing due to widespread non-compliance. They pointed to the staggering number of incorrectly registered prepaid SIM cards, estimated at 60 million annually. Securi-Tech plans to formally request an investigation into Rica's enforcement and the existing loopholes that allow SIM cards to remain unregistered. They also advocate for the introduction of tamper-proof SIM card packaging to minimize the impact of mass registration by unauthorized providers. The company draws attention to the global trend of implementing stricter SIM card registration measures, citing examples like Nigeria, the UAE, the Philippines, Sweden, and India. Some nations, they note, utilize biometric verification, directly linking SIM cards to a user's physical identity, thereby reducing anonymity for criminals and enhancing law enforcement capabilities. Securi-Tech underscores the growing role of mobile phones in financial transactions and the heightened risk of money laundering and illicit financial flows associated with unregistered SIM cards. The recent arrest of 29 individuals in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, for illegally registering SIM cards highlights the ongoing challenge of enforcing Rica regulations. Law enforcement seized computers, registration machines, and thousands of unregistered SIM cards during the operation
Crime Technology SIM Card Registration Rica Act Crime Extortion Kidnapping Law Enforcement Security Technology
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