COMRiC

27/04/2026

32 years ago, South Africa chose freedom.
Today, the work of protecting it continues.

At COMRiC, every day is a commitment to the rule of law, accountability, and the integrity of the systems that serve all South Africans equally.

Happy Freedom Day. 🇿🇦

16/01/2026

🚨 Major win for telecommunications security in South Africa!

COMRiC welcomes the successful JMPD operation that resulted in the seizure of 7,000 illegal SIM cards, along with RICA machines, SpeedPoints, and other equipment used for unlawful activity.

These illegal SIM operations fuel identity theft, financial fraud, and cybercrime putting consumers and businesses at risk.

“This raid sends a strong message that illegal SIM activity will not be tolerated,” says Adv Thokozani Mvelase, CEO of COMRiC.

We commend the officers involved and remain committed to working with law enforcement to protect South Africa’s communications infrastructure. 💪
LawEnforcement JMPD ConsumerProtection TelecomsCrime

24/10/2025

3 days to transformation. 🔐 Our new website launches Monday with a fresh look that reflects our commitment to telecommunications security and risk management. Enhanced features. Clearer insights. Stronger connections. Get ready for the new COMRIC.

17/10/2025

No single telecom operator can fight cybercrime alone. COMRIC’s model is built on shared intelligence, cross-sector cooperation, and unified defence. From law enforcement to banking and regulators, collaboration shrinks the cybercriminal playbook. This October Cybersecurity Awareness Month commit to responsible reporting. If you see phishing, network abuse, or suspicious telecom activity, report it immediately. Together, we build a safer digital ecosystem.
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15/10/2025

As we embrace AI, cybercriminals are doing the same. COMRIC’s 2025 report warns of AI-powered phishing, misinformation, and behavioural manipulation becoming more advanced. Be proactive:

• Deploy behaviour-based anomaly detection
• Segment systems and apply zero-trust principles
• Keep software and AI models patched

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, remember technology evolves so must our defences.

13/10/2025

Telecom-related fraud continues to drain the system with South African industry losses estimated at R5.3 billion each year. Scam calls, fake recharge prompts, phishing SMSs they’re not just annoyances, they’re weapons of cybercrime. Never click on links in unknown SMSs or calls. Verify through official channels before acting. Use caller ID and spam filters. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s stop fraud where it starts. Together, we can choke off the scam pipeline.

09/10/2025

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and fraudsters are taking full advantage of our most personal device: the mobile phone. Social engineering scams are on the rise, exploiting trust, emotion, and speed to trick people into revealing personal data. In 2025, 58% of mobile banking fraud in South Africa was linked to SIM-swap attacks. Your SIM isn’t just a number it’s a key to your digital identity. Always verify SIM swap requests. Never share OTPs or personal data. Enable strong multi-factor authentication. Stay alert, stay protected. Let’s make SIM hijacking a thing of the past.

21/08/2025

Yesterday, COMRiC CEO Adv. Thokozani Mvelase sat down with SABC News to unpack the findings of the 2025 Telecommunications Sector Report. The numbers paint a stark picture: R5.3 billion lost to telecom-linked fraud in 2024, with nearly 60% of mobile banking fraud tied to SIM swap crimes. Add to that R7 billion in infrastructure damage from copper theft, battery theft, and sabotage, and the scale of the crisis becomes clear.

Adv. Mvelase stressed that telecoms crime is no longer a “silo challenge” — its impact cuts across banking, energy, and personal security, demanding a united response. Through COMRiC, operators are now sharing intelligence, collaborating with law enforcement, and leveraging AI-driven data analysis to identify syndicates and reduce fraud.

But this fight isn’t only for industry players. Consumers also have a role to play by staying vigilant about the information they share, resisting phishing attempts, and verifying communications with their service providers.

“We must move toward a consolidated security strategy for the sector and create stronger frameworks that protect both infrastructure and consumers,” said Adv. Mvelase.

Stay tuned for COMRiC’s upcoming consumer awareness campaigns, designed to empower South Africans to protect themselves from telecom-related crime.

Watch the full interview here:

This week the SABC news Channel is running a crime feature focusing on different types of crimes and their impacts.Let's take you where the Communication Ris...

22/07/2025

Today marks a major milestone for South Africa’s telecom sector. COMRiC has officially launched its first Sector Report, a groundbreaking publication that puts a spotlight on the state of telecom crime, risk, and resilience in the country.

Packed with insights, the 2025 Sector Report includes:
- A breakdown of key telecom threats, from cyberattacks to infrastructure sabotage.
- Emerging trends and technologies that are driving progress in the sector.
- Global comparisons with countries making headway against SIM fraud.
- Strategic recommendations to strengthen national cybersecurity.
- A bold call to action for greater collaboration across public and private sectors

The report reflects COMRiC’s role as a critical convenor in the fight against telecom crime — and sets the tone for a more secure, connected future.

16/07/2025

With more than 44 million South Africans online our communications infrastructure has never been more critical or under threat.
Last year four of five organisations were hit by ransomware up sharply from just over half the year before.

SIM box fraud is a growing danger disguising international calls as local traffic bypassing termination fees causing significant losses for operators and degrading call quality.

At COMRiC we believe fraud is not just a telecom issue but a risk that undermines trust in our digital economy. Our CEO Adv. Thokozani Mvelase warns that cybersecurity must be built into every communications system and calls for collaboration across telcos ISPs regulators and banks.

By sharing intelligence setting common AI oversight standards and investing in local cyber skills we can build a united front against these evolving threats.

Join us in this national call to action and help protect South Africa’s digital backbone. Read full article here:

South Africa’s communications systems are facing a growing threat that can no longer be ignored. As the country becomes more connected, with over 44-million people now online, the infrastructure that underpins our digital lives is increasingly being targeted by criminals. From SIM swap syndicates ...

15/07/2025

We’re excited to share that Adv. Thokozani Mvelase, Chief Executive Officer of COMRIC, will be speaking at the Connected Africa - Telecom Innovation & Excellence Awards. Join us under the theme Building a Connected Global Economy on 24 July 2025 at The Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. Be part of the conversation shaping Africa’s digital future, register today: https://connected-africa.com/summit/

Connected Africa 2023 | Transforming to Telco's of the Future | July 25, 2023 | Johannesburg | Conference by ICSA - International Center for Strategic Alliances