{
  "id": 12935511,
  "title": "AFTER THE BELL: Cold call conundrum — tell me, how many missed calls did you get today?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/after-the-bell-cold-call-conundrum-tell-me-how-many-missed-calls-did",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-08T19:32:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-08-cold-calls-and-spam-calls/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cold calling remains a lifeline for some consumers, but South Africa's crackdown on spam calls may struggle to reach those engaging in illegal practices. The National Consumer Commission aims to stop spam calls by allowing consumers to select categories they wish to avoid, which will then inform direct marketers to refrain from contacting them. However, the effectiveness of this plan is questionable, as unscrupulous operators may still find ways to bypass the regulations. Many callers likely obtained the recipients' information by breaching the Protection of Personal Information Act. The consequences for those caught breaching the rules are uncertain, with questions lingering about the commission's ability to identify and pursue violators. Despite these concerns, the Direct Marketing Association maintains a positive outlook on the new regulations, believing they will benefit the established companies while also targeting those who operate outside the legal boundaries.",
  "summary": "Cold calling remains a lifeline for some consumers, especially in rural areas, but South Africa’s spam call crackdown may struggle to reach illegal operators.",
  "key_points": [
    "South Africa aims to curb spam calls through consumer-selected categories.",
    "Unscrupulous operators may bypass regulations despite the plan.",
    "Direct Marketing Association optimistic about new rules."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}