With just a day left before mobile operators are forced to switch off customers that haven’t registered their Sim cards, only Telkom’s 8ta has completed the process.

Deputy communications minister Obed Bapela said on Wednesday after meeting with representatives of the country’s four mobile operators that 8ta had achieved 100% registration of both prepaid and contract subscribers.

Cellphone users are required to register their Sim cards in terms of the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act, better known as Rica.

Cell C has registered 99% of its contract customers and 92% of its prepaid users. MTN and Vodacom have registered 96% and 93,6% of their prepaid customers respectively and 98% and 98,4% of their contract subscribers.

Bapela said the figures have declined “impressively” since March. “Mobile operators have made the necessary arrangements to ensure that all SA citizens are registered seamlessly.”

Operators have warned that customers who have not registered by midnight on 30 June will be cut off. — Staff reporter, TechCentral