SHE nearly fainted when she got a Vodacom data bill for R43 000!
So Metro FM talk show host, Criselda Dudumashe (formerly Kananda), took her issue to social media.
On her Facebook page midweek, Criselda posted: Dear Vodacom, I’m waiting for the investigation which was supposed to (be complete) seven days ago. How did my data get to R43 000?DataMustFall#Leaturahle.
On Thursday, Sunday Sun contacted Criselda, who said Vodacom had resolved the problem – and she had paid R13 000 to keep her phone connected.
She said: “They’ve sorted it out. They managed to reduce it. I don’t know if they managed to help because I’m Criselda – or because I’m a concerned customer.
“I think this is just unfair, especially to those people who don’t know their rights. What if I didn’t contact them about the R43 000? They were going to shut my phone down.
“I had to pay them R13 000 to keep my phone going! Remember, the incident happened in August and now it’s close to the end of September.”
She went on: “I second the motion that data must fall. We just can’t have these kind of rates in a developing country.
“Our children and people in general rely on smartphones and data when they’re doing their homework and for job applications.”
Criselda’s R43 000 data bill added to the campaign by former Metro FM DJ-turned-businessman, Tbo Touch.
His battle against the high cost of data in South Africa is gaining momentum.
Also known under his real name, Thabo Molefe, Touch has launched a campaign to reduce data prices in the country.
This week he addressed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services.
Vodacom spokesperson, Londi Sibisi, told the People’s Paper Criselda’s high data bill was as a result of international roaming data costs.
“We’ve offered the customer a discount and believe the customer is happy with the outcome,” she said.
Tbo Touch could not be reached for comment.