Zimbabweans and other foreigners staying in South Africa illegally have expressed fears that they may lose mobile phone services because of a recently enacted law that requires registration of cellphone SIM cards by all users.

Thousands of undocumented immigrants will have a problem registering their starter packs, as the new regulation requires that a passport and proof of residence be produced to complete the process under the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA).

The new law, which came into effect on July 1 this year, has caused panic and anxiety among the immigrant communities, who could be cut off from the rest of the world.

RICA requires mobile operators, service providers and SIM card retailers to register all customers’ identities, physical addresses (with proof and confirmation) on secure databases.

Some Zimbabwean immigrants who spoke to Mirror said they were racing against time to register their SIM cards, as non-compliance would result in deactivation of the lines. “This development is astonishing and we are now in a quandary, because I am staying in South Africa illegally and therefore I am afraid I will lose communication with my family back home,” said Mr Moses Moyo, a Zimbabwean illegal immigrant in Musina.

Many immigrants also lamented that their informal businesses would be dealt a serious blow if their SIM cards were deactivated.

“Cellphone communication is the heart of our informal trading businesses,” said Caroline Mvuri, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur who operates from Musina. She has no documents.

Existing subscribers have 18 months from the implementation date to register both their prepaid and contract SIM cards. According to RICA, no new SIM cards are being activated before registration.

The new regulation was formulated to curb crime as it has been discovered that most criminals use cellphones to execute their missions. Because their numbers are not documented, it becomes difficult to track them down.

Mobile phone networks have shown support for the government’s efforts to curb crime by advising their respective subscribers to register.

One of South Africa’s biggest cellular phone networks, Vodacom, says all customers on the country’s networks should comply with the law, as RICA is a new legal requirement. Vodacom South Africa’s managing director, Shameel Joosub, said: “The law aims to help law enforcement agencies to identify and track people using cellphones for illegal activities.”

He said foreign nationals who opt to use Vodacom’s pre-paid SIM cards while in South Africa are required to comply with the legislation.

If they do not have passports, they will be required to secure passports from their countries of origin or residence.