By Mulidzwi Rabelani

Rules and regulations for  the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA), are not being taken into consideration in Soshanguve’s block H where two men are turning the registration process into a profitable business.

In terms of the RICA act of 2009, it is compulsory for citizens and residents of South Africa to register their cell phone  SIM cards in order for them to be activated on the cellular networks . The law also states that no one must pay for the registration of their SIM card but proof of residence and a South African identity document are basic  requirements.

When contacted by JournExpress, the major cellular phone service providers referred us to the head of communications for RICA.They said RICA is a government act so government is responsible for giving answers to any queries..

when contacted RICA communication officer  Thapelo  Thathane said no one should pay anything to register, all one needs  is their proof of residence  and a valid  south african I.D,” when you RICA  any SIM card it doesn’t matter where you bought it, its free” he said.

The two men in question who claim that they working under RICA in Soshanguve do not require an ID document nor proof of residence provided you can memorize your ID number, have  R5 for registration and R5 for a sim pack you can be registered. One of the men went as far as saying that they are under RICA  and the terms of the RICA act state that one should pay if they register their SIM card that has been previously bought from other stores.