Roaming in South Africa.

[andyg59]

Hi,

I already have an EE mobile on my friends account which is pay monthly.

I will be travelling to South Africa on 2nd November and need a contact number in South Africa.

I only need the phone so that I can be contacted and to send and receive text messages.

I was thinking of buying a cheap PAYG phone and a SIM card.

I was going to buy the phone and pack now, but wondered if I just kept it until the week before I went and then activated it and set up roaming would that be OK, or does the sim have to be activated straight away.

Also which phone would you recommend ( I will only need a cheap SIM package as I will only be using the phone when I get to the airport and in South Africa).

xxxx xxxxx

[Mod edit: Please do not post personal information on the public board. Thanks!]

[XRaySpeX]

1. EE has no contact nos. in S.A. It is a UK co.
2. As long as you use the PAYG SIM in UK to make calls or text before you leave it will be activated to use abroad.
3. Any pack on the PAYG SIM will not be usable in S.A.; it is only for UK & EU. As it is not in EU, you cannot use your usual UK allowances there but will need to pay the charges or buy roaming add-ons as set out in the PAYG option of https://ee.co.uk/help/help-new/roaming-costs/countries/south-africa .

[Chris_B]

@andyg59  You don’t need to activate roaming on a pay-as-you-go Sim card but what you will need is credit on your account to pay for the calls and text because a pack allowance will not be applicable whilst in South Africa.  If you want data you’ll need a data bundle add on. 
  You can purchase any cheap device you wish.  You will want to activate that sim and use it at least once in the UK before you leave the UK.   
Have a look at THIS  for costs within South Africa