My Identity Number was used without my knowledge, and nobody seems to care.

I have never been a Telkom customer and have never had any Telkom products or services.

On 4 November 2026, while browsing the Telkom website to apply for a deal, I entered my *** and was greeted with a "Welcome back, existing customer" message. However, the name displayed was not mine.

On 5 November, I contacted Telkom's call centre and was informed that my *** was indeed on their system but linked to someone else's details. I was advised to visit a Telkom branch.

At the branch, consultants verified my original identity document and confirmed that someone else's details were linked to my ***. Their first suggestion was to simply update the system with my name. I refused, explaining that I wanted to know how someone else had managed to obtain a Telkom product using my identity.

Their response? It was "just a prepaid SIM card" that had apparently been cancelled in 2025.

I don't care whether it was a prepaid SIM or a contract. HOW was someone able to use my *** without my knowledge or consent?

The consultants then sent me back to the call centre, despite me explaining that I had already called that morning. When I asked to use a landline at the branch, I was told no and expected to use my own phone and airtime. I even had to remind them that I WAS NOT a Telkom customer, which was the entire reason I was there!

When I called again, the agent searched my *** three times and repeatedly claimed there was no profile. Only after I asked the branch consultant to confirm what they had shown me did the agent finally acknowledge the profile. I was then told it was linked to someone in Bisho and that my only option was to obtain a police affidavit and submit it to Telkom.

Not once could anyone explain how this happened, what verification was done when the SIM was registered, or what Telkom intended to do to investigate it.

The consultants were cold, unfriendly and dismissive, repeatedly brushing off my concerns with "it's just a prepaid SIM".

Telkom, this is NOT just a prepaid SIM. This is the unauthorised use of someone's identity!

I want answers, a proper investigation and written confirmation of what steps are being taken to protect my identity. I should not have to fight my way through your call centre and branches to get someone to take potential identity ***** seriously.