cheapest mobile PAYG when in South Africa?

pigeonpie

I'm going to the World Cup in July. My brother lives in SA and says he can get me a local SIM on MTN eg as below
http://www.mtn.co.za/FindaPlan/Pages/MTNOneRate.aspx

They are the operator which many non affluent SA residents use, so they may be the cheapest. I can't find anything comparable on Vodacom's website.

Does anyone know if a local SIM in a UK unlocked phone would be the best way to go or is there any international SIM or UK PAYG SIM we can buy here that would be better? 2 of us are going so we'll need 2 SIMs.
The usage would be calls to SA local landlines and mobiles/cellphones on vodacom and MTN (don't think cell C?), texts and possibly small data usage (eg if lost check map online). Don't think we would call the UK.

Here we are with voda and their SA roaming rate is non Passport so is exorbitant.
many thanks for advice.

jon_r_2

I can advise on this post having just returned from a 2 week break in Cape Town.The rates on the MTN website are the same as Vodacom,these 2 companies are the biggest though i heard that Vodacom does have better coverage.This info will be useful for anyone going out to South Africa.

You can take any cheapy unlocked phone out there as i did,but as a visitor you do now have to register your passport details before the sim will work.This must be done at a Vodacom or MTN store.

Pidgeon Pie and others, ask anyone who lives out there to register the sims in their name for you and if poss load them with the minimum credit approx £5,as this will save you alot of time and hassle etc when you get out there.From then on topping up is no problem, just buy vouchers at any outlet.

If you are an 02 user take out the I.T.S.for £2.99 a month this gives you texts at ratio of 1 to 4 ie if your text allowance is 500 you will get 125 out there.Call rates per minute are 60p(normal rate a whopping £1.50 to call otherwise) and 40p to receive.(75p otherwise)this is well worth doing plus the 30 day period starts when you want,so ring them say 2 days before you go.This option is not too bad if you mainly text and dont want the hassle of buying a local sim.

IMPORTANT Make sure your voicemail is switched off or you pay heavily for the use of this.Browsing will cost a fortune!

MTN is the partner for 02 users VODACOM for Vodaphone if you are uncertain what to do contact your phone operator,before you travel,but above all make sure you are set up for roaming they may have a deal,similar to the 02 one,so worth enquiring about.

I hope all this info is helpful.