The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are taking aim at South Africa’s major mobile networks, calling for an immediate end to the expiration of prepaid airtime and data bundles. The party argues that consumers should retain full access to what they’ve paid for—without arbitrary time limits cutting off their usage.
In a bold statement, the EFF slammed expiration policies as exploitative, accusing network providers of profiteering at the expense of the country’s most vulnerable mobile users.
“If you buy electricity or groceries, they don’t vanish after 30 days—why should your data?” asked an EFF spokesperson. “South Africans are being robbed through expiration policies that have no moral or economic justification.”
This renewed push follows growing public frustration over mobile data costs and expiry rules that often see consumers losing unused airtime and data, even when paid for in full. The EFF argues that these policies disproportionately affect low-income users, many of whom rely on prepaid services.
The party has vowed to take the fight to Parliament and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), demanding regulatory reforms that would protect consumer rights in the telecommunications space.
Telecoms Under Pressure
South Africa’s major operators—Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C—have in recent years faced criticism and regulatory pressure to relax expiry rules. Some now offer roll-over options or longer validity periods, but the EFF wants a total removal of all expiration mandates.
Consumer advocacy groups have welcomed the EFF’s stance, saying it highlights an issue that has long gone unchecked in the telecoms industry.
What’s at Stake?
If successful, the EFF’s campaign could force sweeping changes in how mobile data and airtime are sold, reshaping digital access for millions of South Africans.
