Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005)RegulationsNumbering Plan Amendment Regulations, 2020Reasons Document, 20201. Implementation of the Short Code "116" for Child Helpline Services |
| 1.1. | The third (“3rd”) Annual CRASA General Meeting held on 24 - 28 March 2014 in Lesotho, resolved that CRASA Member States were to harmonize and reserve a three (3) digit code “116” for the provision of Child Helpline services. |
The abovementioned resolution provides for the following pertaining to the short code “116”:
| (a) | Member States were required to consider the allocation of the short code “116” to give access to Child Helplines services run by organizations dedicated to the welfare of children and accredited by the Ministry responsible for children in their respective countries; |
| (b) | Member States that have existing Child Helplines services operating on a variety of telephone numbers needed to consider introducing the “116” number in parallel to other numbers being used; |
| (c) | Member States were required to consider providing free of charge communication services to persons using Child Helpline services in order to assist a child in distress; and |
| (d) | Member States were required to conduct education campaigns to promote awareness of these numbers. |
| 1.2. | The abovementioned Resolution was subsequently tabled before Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers responsible for Communications, Postal and ICT services in Mangochi, Malawi on 24 November 20141. |
| 1.3. | In determining and assessing the applicability of the abovementioned resolution for implementation in South Africa, the Authority considered, in part, the following factors: |
| (a) | the legislative mandate: |
Section 4(3)(i) of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act No 13 of 2000 (“ICASA Act”), as amended and cited as follows:
the Authority ”May attend conferences convened by the relevant United Nations Specialized Agencies and any other bodies and, where applicable, must implement any decisions adopted by such Agencies and other bodies to which the Republic is a party”.
Section 4(3)(i) provides the Authority with, not only, the legislative mandate but the discretion to apply such resolutions subject to applicability.
| (b) | the status of the existing Child Help line services: |
South Africa has a Child helpline utilizing the ten-digit number; 0800 055 555.
The ten-digit number is provided free of charge to the caller, subject to the toll-free framework, and is provisioned utilizing call location-based services for optimal routing and response to calls.
The ten-digit number has been in existence for sixteen (16) years and is well vested in the minds of children who are taught this number from early childhood.
Notwithstanding the institute embodied in the current ten-digit number, a shorter number will be easier to memorize considering the intended users of the code.
| (c) | Global harmonisation trend of the short codes “116” or “116 111” for Child Helpline services: |
In 2009 the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) published supplement 5 to the ITU Recommendation e.164 “the Recommendation”. The Recommendation was published with the aim of inviting Regulators to consider available mechanisms that may assist to arrive at a globally harmonized national short number for helplines for and about children. To arrive at this objective the Recommendation further invited Regulators to consider, amongst others:
| i. | the assignment of the short codes: “116” or “116 111” as a contact number for the provision of access to helplines run by organizations dedicated to the welfare of children; and |
| ii. | in the event of existing child helplines operating on a variety of numbers, ways and means of introducing either the number “116” or “116 111” in parallel to the other numbers being used. |
| (d) | An easily identifiable number for Non-South African users due to Regional and global harmonisation of the short code “116”: |
Over 14 countries in Africa have harmonized the use of the code “116” for Child Helpline Services. This brings the idea of a regionally harmonized code for Child Helpline services closer to realization.
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1 Media statement on the meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Communications, Postal and ICTs Mangochi, Malawi, 21st November 2014.