Newly-appointed communications minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has said that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) is ready to receive complaints related to the theft of mobile phone data.<\/p>\n
Responding to oral questions, the minister made her maiden appearance in the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday in her new communications portfolio.<\/p>\n
The EFF’s Nkagisang Mokgotsi had asked whether the department has conducted an investigation into the alleged theft of customers’ mobile data.<\/p>\n
The minister, who had chaired hearings on the cost of data under the banner #DataMustFall, said Icasa was yet to receive complaints.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has established a complaints and compliance committee, in terms of section 17(a) of the Icasa Act number 13 of 2000, to investigate, \u00a0hear and, if appropriate, make a finding on all matters referred to the authority and complaints received by it.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo date, the authority has not received any information regarding the theft of data. However, upon receipt of such information, a detailed investigation will be conducted and a report can be available,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
MTN and Vodacom<\/strong><\/p>\n In an expose’ by MyBroadband<\/a><\/strong> earlier this year,\u00a0MTN confirmed that it was erroneously depleting data on LTE-connected phones.<\/p>\n MTN said the charges in question could affect less than 3% of MTN\u2019s customer base, and do not occur during 3G or 2G\/EDGE data sessions.<\/p>\n It subsequently fixed the issue – as confirmed by MyBroadband.<\/p>\n Vodacom has also come under fire for “disappearing airtime” with the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services announcing <\/a><\/strong>that it plans to investigate why\u00a0many Vodacom users\u2019 data suddenly disappeared over a week in August.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough the company has apologised to the customers and committed not only to refund them, but also to give them a 500MB bundle valid for three days, the Committee feels strongly that the matter should be investigated by an independent body,\u201d the ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n
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