COMRiC has welcomed a successful intelligence-led operation conducted by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, which resulted in the recovery of 7,000 SIM cards, four SpeedPoints devices, four modern SIM card RICA machines, two handheld scanners, and a laptop allegedly used for unlawful telecommunications activity.
One suspect has been arrested and charged under the Electronic Communications Act 25 of 2002 and the ICASA Act 13 of 2000.
The scale of this seizure highlights the seriousness of illegal SIM operations and the risk they pose to South Africa’s digital and financial security. Criminal syndicates use unlawfully activated SIM cards to support identity theft, financial fraud, cybercrime, and the evasion of regulatory controls meant to safeguard consumers.
“This raid sends a strong message that illegal SIM activity will not be tolerated,” said Adv. Thokozani Mvelase CFE (FP) SA, CEO of COMRiC. “These networks undermine national security, compromise consumer protection, and damage trust in the telecommunications sector. We commend the officers involved and reaffirm our commitment to working with law enforcement to protect the country’s communications infrastructure.”
As an industry association bringing together key stakeholders across South Africa’s telecommunications ecosystem, COMRiC remains focused on strengthening resilience, reducing criminal activity in the sector, and supporting business continuity for the benefit of consumers, businesses, and government.
Continued vigilance and intelligence sharing are essential to staying ahead of fast-evolving criminal operations and ensuring that South Africa’s telecommunications environment remains safe, stable, and trusted.
Tags: #Telecommunications #CyberSecurity #RiskManagement #JMPD #SIMSwap #COMRiC #LawEnforcement #SouthAfrica