Blocking Stolen Phones in South Africa

South Africa's three mobile phone operators have agreed to co-operate on sharing databases of stolen phones and baring them from use on all three networks. This agreement will make it easier for the companies - Cell C, MTN and Vodacom - to blacklist and disable stolen, lost and destroyed cell phones and for the police to trace and arrest those who steal cell phones or use them to further their criminal activities.

Until now stolen phones have been "grey" listed by MTN and Vodacom, which means that the sim cards were blocked but not the cell phone instruments. Criminals could simply change sim cards and continue using the phones. On the other hand Cell C has been blacklisting stolen or lost cellphones since its inception.

The National Commissioner, Commissioner Jackie Selebi, told a media conference in Pretoria that the combating of the theft of cellular phones requires an integrated and focused approach. "This initiative, in which the public and private sectors join forces to stop organized crime syndicates in their tracks, will render stolen, lost and damaged cellular phones inactive in the hands of the criminals", said Commissioner Selebi. "A stolen cell phone will from now on be useless to the criminal element as it will not be able to make or receive calls, even with a different sim card".

As President of the international policing agency, Interpol - which has 182 member countries - Commissioner Selebi, together with Business Against Crime, is hoping to extend the system to other countries in Africa to stop the flow of stolen phones in the Region. "Cell C is encouraged by, and fully supports, the partnership with BAC, SAPS and mobile cellular operators to help curb crime by blacklisting stolen or lost phones. We at Cell C believe our success is inseparable with the security and welfare of the communities around us -- particularly our customers. That's why our company has been blacklisting stolen or lost cell phones since 2001," said S'bu Mngadi, Chief Corporate & Strategy Officer, Cell C.

According to Kenny Fihla, chief executive of Business Against Crime, which helped to orchestrate today's agreement between the SAPS and the cell phone operators, stolen phones play an important part in commercial and organized crime."

Posted to the site on 18th April 2005