The Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Diko, has delivered a scathing rebuke to South Africa’s mobile network operators, declaring that there is absolutely no technical justification for mobile data to expire for consumers. Her blunt remarks came during a high-stakes oversight visit by committee members to MTN’s headquarters in Roodepoort, where legislators sought firsthand clarity on the industry’s resistance to new consumer-friendly regulations.
The visit unfolded against the backdrop of a fierce legal battle, with MTN and Vodacom having launched separate court challenges against the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) new data expiry and rollover rules. The regulations, set to take effect in January 2027, would mandate the automatic rollover of unused data bundles at no cost to consumers—a move operators argue exceeds ICASA’s legal powers and could stifle competition and drive up prices.
Diko, however, was unmoved by the operators’ arguments. “Data is not a physical commodity. It does not rot, spoil, or perish like perishable goods,” she asserted during the oversight engagement. “There is no technical reason why a megabyte purchased today should be rendered unusable tomorrow. This is purely a commercial decision designed to maximise profits at the expense of consumers who are already struggling in a difficult economic climate.”
The committee’s visit was intended to scrutinise MTN’s compliance with existing regulations and to understand the operator’s stance on the proposed rules. Diko emphasised that Parliament would not stand idly by while corporates undermined legislative efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable consumers. She called on ICASA to remain steadfast in defending the regulations and urged the operators to withdraw their legal challenges, warning that the committee would consider further interventions if the industry continued to resist meaningful reform. The confrontation signals an escalating showdown between the legislative branch and the telecommunications giants over the future of data pricing and consumer rights in South Africa.
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