VODACOM - FOREIGN INVESTORS ??? VERY ... RISKY PEOPLE ...

<p>I am an Italian Investor living in South Africa owing a Family Firm legally established in the Country since 2011.<br />Travelling very often in and out the Country, I needed a SIM card to have a telephone number (not a 2 or 3 months temporary one), where all my South African Customers and Managers of the Governmental Entities would have had the possibility to reach me 24/7. I tried many times with "temporary" SIM cards but it did not work as it was necessary for my activities.<br />Therefore, I asked to my son in law (a South African Citizen) to help me and he signed a contract on his name with VODACOM, getting a SIM card that I am using since 2 years, exactly during the duration of the contract.<br />Now, being the contract expired, on last 20th March, my son in law and I went to the Vodacom shop in Century City (where he signed that contract 2 years ago), explaining the will of transferring the SIM card from his name to mine.<br />The lady serving us, Mrs. Caroline, understood the request and asked me to sign an application for that transfer of name, taking the copy of my passport and of the page with the legal VISA and got from me 3 months bank statements. I explained to her being the owner of the SA Firms mentioned on the Visa issued by the South African Consulate in Rome, which expiring date will be the 29th September 2019.<br />We did NOT talk about a new contract, nor I asked anything else than the transfer of the name of the SIM card. Easier that that ...<br />Well, after 5 days, I had been called from that shop to be informed that, on the opinion of Vodacom “responsible” managing my application, being my Visa a Visitor's one, I am not allowed to own and/or manage a South African Firm and consequently, not allowed to have their SIM card on my name ...<br />In Italy, “********ia non excusat” and I think that also in South Africa “ignorance is no excuse” and such a kind of … employees … should be sent to do some other works, instead of being allowed to do works with such a high responsibility providing a deep knowledge of the laws of the Country where they live and act and should not even think or try to go against or challenge the laws app**** by his/her Government.<br />On the 3 months bank statements I left at the shop, there is clearly recorded that I pay a rent for the house, that I have a contract with Telkom, that I regularly pay the insurance of the car and all other costs and expenses in cash, or through a debit card issued by a bank, where my account exists since 2015 … It seems that, on the opinion of that “responsible”, I even not have the right to have a South African bank account …<br />On top of all that, he/she not even knows if, once transferred the name of the SIM card, I will apply for a new contract, or if I only will buy airtime when and if I will need it …<br />Incredible ways of interpreting the laws by some South Africans, as if they do not like Foreigners and as they are not welcomed in the Country and, for that reason, they create difficulties to push them out of the Country …<br />Thank you !!!</p>