Vodacom CEO Calls for Biometric SIM Registration as Criminals ‘Game’ Rica System
South Africa’s pioneering SIM card registration law, Rica, is being systematically exploited by criminal networks, prompting a leading telecoms executive to call for an urgent overhaul incorporating biometric identification.
Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub has declared the current system outdated, stating that a more sophisticated framework is needed to close security gaps that have become a breeding ground for serious crime.
A System Left Behind
In an interview with TechCentral, Joosub reflected on how South Africa’s early adoption of the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (Rica) has backfired. “We were one of the first countries to implement Rica, but we’ve fallen behind,” Joosub stated. “People have learned to manipulate the system.”
His concerns were amplified on the same day by former MTN Zambia CEO Farhad Khan, now a telecommunications consultant. Writing in his personal capacity, Khan warned that the Rica system has become a “gaping hole” in the nation’s crime-fighting arsenal.
The Shadow Network Enabling Crime
How exactly is a well-intentioned law being manipulated? The answer lies in the millions of anonymous or fraudulently registered SIM cards in circulation. Khan detailed how these enable a parallel “shadow communications network” used to coordinate contract killings, kidnappings, and extortion rackets with near-total impunity.
The users of these untraceable “burner phones” operate in the dark, their identities shielded by the very system designed to reveal them.
Joosub acknowledged the staggering scale of the problem, revealing a critical disconnect. Telecom providers collectively sell over 10 million SIM cards monthly—a figure that, when annualized, vastly exceeds South Africa’s population. This sheer volume of new activations highlights a system that is clearly being gamed.
The Path Forward: Biometrics and Digital ID
So, what is the solution? For both Joosub and Khan, the answer lies in linking SIM cards to verified, unforgeable identities. Khan pointed to successful implementations in countries like India and Nigeria, where linking SIMs to biometric data has drastically reduced anonymity for criminals.
Joosub confirmed that this is the direction South Africa is now exploring. “In many countries, we already have biometric registration. There’s a lot of work being done with the authorities in defining what that looks like,” he said. “We’re now getting to the phase where we actually push forward and implement.”
He emphasized that a move toward state-backed digital IDs would be transformative. “Implementing a proper customer registration process becomes critical. As we move toward digital IDs, this can play a big role—it can also eliminate fraud to a large degree because you’ll have customers properly registered.”
Building a Stronger Security Framework
This isn’t just a theoretical exercise. Joosub indicated that collaboration with the Department of Justice and other authorities is already underway. A revitalized Rica framework, fortified with biometrics and digital ID integration, promises a future where law enforcement has reliable access to accurate subscriber data.
Such a system could strike a powerful blow against fraud, disrupt criminal enterprises, and begin the process of restoring public trust in telecommunications regulation. The race is on to build a digital moat that criminals cannot cross.
Source: TechCentral