The days of disappearing data and extra charges will soon come to an end, as the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has unveiled its new amendments.
From January 23 next year, South Africa’s telecomunications companies will be required to allow consumers to roll over expired mobile data bundles and airtime at least once, leaving prepaid users pleased.
As reported by SABC, ICASA Councillor Dikeledi Catherine Mushi has cautioned that bundles for seven days or less, including uncapped as well as free and promotional bundles, will be excluded.
“For that, we are trying to balance the market so that the market stays alive while consumers also enjoy the benefits, especially on the seven days. We were just cautious that, these are bundles that are your R5 bundles where somebody quickly wants to buy a bundle for the day to do an urgent call. We did not want to discourage investments and networks to now all of a sudden get rid of these bundles.”
ICASA has published new rule that compels Mobile networks to roll over unused data, voice and SMS bundles automatically at least once when they expire.
Bundles will be used in order of expiry. The bundle that expires first will be used first.
Users will be able to transfer…— Ndzavi Derrick .CBA (@NdzaviDerrick) January 26, 2026
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member, Sinawo Tambo shared pictures taken in May last year where EFF members were marching at the EFF VAT Victory, calling for an end to data and airtime expiry.
Images taken on the 19th May 2025 at the #EFFVATVictory March calling for an end to data and airtime expiry.
Today, 26 January 2026 ICASA concedes to the EFF Demand on Data Expiry, and Gazettes Regulations to that effect. #ThankYouEFF pic.twitter.com/JszP1mbNGf
— Sinawo Thambo (@Sinawo_Thambo) January 26, 2026
The party welcomed the decision by ICASA and shared that they deemed it a victory.
“This victory is the outcome of a long and deliberate campaign by the EFF, waged inside Parliament and beyond. The EFF consistently raised this matter since 2024 in the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, where we directly confronted ICASA and the Ministry on the irrationality and injustice of expiry mandates.
“We further escalated the struggle by engaging the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, locating the issue within the broader framework of consumer protection, market abuse, and monopolistic practices in the telecommunications sector.”
The EFF’s Statement on ICASA Concession on Data Expiry
-This victory is the outcome of a long and deliberate campaign by the EFF, waged inside Parliament and beyond. The EFF consistently raised this matter since 2024 in the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital… pic.twitter.com/yi7FibIBq1
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) January 26, 2026
The ANC also welcomed the publication of the End-User and subscriber Service Charter Amendment Regulations 2025, by ICASA.
STATEMENT ON ICASA’S CONSUMER-CENTRIC AMENDMENTS TO BUNDLE EXPIRY REGULATIONS pic.twitter.com/82r72yaDXo
— ANC Parliament (@ANCParliament) January 26, 2026
A X (formerly Twitter) user weighed in:
Because ICASA will amend regulation to close the loophole on data expiring, watch those children of Satan increase the price of data.
— Sentletse 🇿🇦🇷🇺🇵🇸🇱🇧 (@Sentletse) January 26, 2026
