EFF hails data rollover ruling but says South Africans are still paying too much

EFF hails data rollover ruling but says South Africans are still paying too much

For millions of South Africans who have watched their prepaid data vanish overnight, the announcement from communications regulator Icasa feels like long-overdue relief. But for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), it’s only a partial win and the battle over mobile data is far from finished.

Following the publication of Icasa’s updated End-User and Subscriber Service Charter Amendment Regulations in the Government Gazette on Friday, the EFF claimed the changes as the result of years of political pressure and activism, both inside Parliament and on the streets.

The amended rules require mobile networks to roll over certain unused voice, SMS and data bundles instead of allowing them to expire automatically. The regulations will come into force on 23 January 2027, a year after publication.

Why data expiry became such a flashpoint

South Africa’s prepaid mobile users, especially young people, the unemployed and rural communities have long complained about losing paid-for data simply because it wasn’t used within a short window. For many households, mobile data is not a luxury but the primary way to access education, job opportunities and government services.

The EFF says this practice amounted to exploitation, particularly of the poor. In a statement, the party described Icasa’s move as a “victory” after what it called a sustained and deliberate campaign to protect the constitutional right to access information.

On social media, reactions were mixed. Some users welcomed the change as a step in the right direction, while others questioned why it would take another year to implement and whether the rollover periods would be long enough to make a real difference.

‘The struggle is not over’

Despite welcoming the amendment, the EFF was quick to caution against celebrating too soon. The party argues that data prices in South Africa remain among the biggest barriers to digital inclusion.

While rollover rules soften the blow, the EFF says they do not address what it sees as the root problem: high data costs and pricing models that penalise people for being poor. The party has vowed to push next for longer rollover periods and more aggressive regulation of mobile data pricing.

A bigger digital challenge

The debate around data costs comes as South Africa continues to lag in digital skills and affordable internet access. During his Opening of Parliament address in July 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the problem, linking cheaper data and broadband access to the country’s ambitions in technology and the fourth industrial revolution.

Ramaphosa pointed to increased infrastructure investment and a stronger coordinating role for Infrastructure South Africa as part of the solution.

For now, Icasa’s ruling marks a meaningful shift in how mobile networks treat prepaid customers. But as the EFF and many frustrated consumers see it, the real test will be whether lower data prices, not just rolled-over megabytes, finally follow.

{Source: The Citizen}

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