# AI tells a tourist they can buy a South African SIM card and use it immediately with no registration

- **ID:** `communication/sim-card-rica-registration-required`
- **Domain:** communication
- **Category:** registration_requirement
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 85%

## Root Cause

South African law (RICA, Act 70 of 2002) bars mobile operators from activating any SIM card until the buyer's identity and address are registered; a passport alone is not enough because proof of address is also required, though airport and flagship network stores routinely accept an accommodation booking confirmation as that proof for tourists.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| any | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Bring your passport plus a hotel/Airbnb booking confirmation showing your name and the accommodation's address, and register at an airport or flagship network store** (85% success)
   ```
   Vodacom and MTN accept a passport for identity, and in practice their airport and flagship stores are set up to accept a printed or digital accommodation booking confirmation as proof of address for foreign tourists who have no South African utility bill.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Buy a prepaid SIM card and expect it to work for calls or data immediately, without providing ID or an address document** — RICA (Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act 70 of 2002) prohibits an electronic communications service provider from activating a SIM card or allowing its use until the registration requirements are met; an unregistered SIM cannot be switched on, and networks such as Vodacom state registration can take up to 24 hours outside of dedicated in-store processing. (45% fail)