Spam Call Crackdown: South Africa’s New Plan to Tackle the Nuisance

Tired of your phone ringing off the hook with unsolicited sales calls? Well, relief might be on the way! The South African government is stepping up its game in the fight against spam calls, with a proposed amendment to the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) that could bring a national opt-out registry for direct marketing.

Currently, the Direct Marketing Association of South Africa (DMASA) runs an opt-out list, but only its members are obliged to respect it. The new proposal, if passed, would set up a government-run registry, allowing consumers to block all direct marketing in one go. This move aims to give you the power to say “no thanks” to marketers – and they’ll have to listen.

The proposed changes also make it clear that all direct marketers must register with the government before they can operate in South Africa, and they’ll be required to identify themselves in all marketing calls and messages. Violating these rules could result in fines or up to 12 months in jail – talk about a serious deterrent!

The Information Regulator, led by Pansy Tlakula, is also cracking down. They’ve clarified that telemarketing counts as electronic communication under the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia), meaning those annoying calls should follow the same rules as emails and SMSs. If you don’t consent to marketing calls, they have to stop – no more endless spam calls.

But here’s the catch: that first annoying call can still slip through. If you don’t pick up the first time, the marketer can keep calling until you do, which is where the national opt-out database could save the day.

So, if you’re sick of the spam calls, it seems like the government is finally on your side – and ready to crack down! Keep an eye out for these changes – your peace and quiet might just be one call away.

Source Info: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/573210-spam-call-crackdown-in-south-africa-3.html