Almost 60 million SIM cards in SA registered under false identities every year

JOHANNESBURG - Almost 60 million SIM cards in South Africa are registered under false identities every year.

A prepaid voucher manufacturer, Secuti-Tech SA, said this was a cause for concern because it made it difficult for law enforcement to trace criminal activities.

The company said there was limited information available that identified the extent to which unregistered SIM cards were used for serious crimes.

Secuti-Tech’s spokesperson, Noelene January, said there needed to be measures taken to ensure that SIM cards were not tampered with.

"Implementing tamper-proof packaging will prevent bulk fraudulent registration of SIM cards and provide law enforcement with accurate data for investigations. This is not merely about meeting legal obligations; it's an essential tool for protecting our communities."