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South African Cellular Network USSD Codes

25 November 2019 | 0 comments | Posted by Che Kohler in Geek Chic

South African cellular network USSD codes

Even though we have all this new technology with Smartphones and apps, there are still some mobile services that continue to soldier on from the previous non-smart phone era and are still pretty useful today. One of those services is USSD or Unstructured Supplementary Service Data which is a technology that allows users to access various services through the use of shortcodes from any handset.

A USSD code usually consists of a number that starts with a * and end with a #, which will then instruct the device to provide you with a menu of options. These menus can give some of the most convenient life hacks and if you're new to it or have forgotten about these services.

USSD codes are pretty popular with South African network service providers, and below you can find a list of all their USSD services.


Cell C USSD codes

ServiceCodeCost
Change a Cell prepaid tariff*147#Free
Request GPRS/MMS setting*147#Free
Cell C call back*111*number#Free
Personalise Cell Call back*111*1#Free
Check your Cell C cell phone number*147#Free
Convert airtime to data bundles*147*4#Free
Cell C remaining airtime, SMS/MMS and data balance*101#Free
Load Cell C airtime voucher*102*pin#Free
Cancel call diverts##002#Free
Divert all calls**21*08414 followed by the last 9 digits of your phone number#Free
Divert calls when busy**67*08414 followed by the last 9 digits of your phone number#Free
Divert Calls to voice mail**62*08414 followed by the last 9 digits of your phone number#Free
Divert Calls to voicemail**61*08414 followed by the last 9 digits of your phone number#Free
Activate BIS service*147* Key in ‘5’Free
Deactivate BIS*147* Key in ‘5’Free
Block a lost SIM*147*6#Free
How to block/check subscriptions*133*1#Free

MTN USSD codes

ServiceCodeCost
Master Menu*141*0#Free
Balance Enquiry*141#Free
Buy*141*2#Free
MTN Me2U*141*3#Free
Change Price Plan*141*4#Free
Manage*141*5#Free
MTN Loyalty*141*9#Free
MTN Eazi Recharge*141*10#Free
Mobile Money*120*668#Free for MTN Subscribers
CallBack*121* (number)#Free
MTN Compass*120*555#R0.20 per 20 sec, some are charged at R1
MTN Loyalty*141*9#Free
MTN Directory Enquiries*200#R2 per successful request

Vodacom USSD codes

ServiceCodeCost
My Vodacom services*111#Free
Balance Enquiry Pre-paid*100#Free
Balance Enquiry Contract*111*502#Free
Recharge of prepaid account*100*01*Recharge PIN#Free
Call Me Service*140*number#Free
Please Recharge Me*140*02*number#Free
Data bundle transfer - Pre-Paid*111*1002#Free
Airtime transfer*111*072#Free
Airtime Advance*111*082#Free
Vodacom Paypoint*120*1234#Free
Promotions*111#Free
Entertainment*111#Free

Telkom Mobile (formally 8ta) USSD codes

ServicesUSSD CodeCost
Check Mobile Balance and get all your balances SMS’d to you*188#Free
Mo'Nice promotional bundles*123#Free
Mobile Account Menu (buy bundles, transfer airtime/data, manage spend limit, get device settings, change tariff, BIS)*180#Free
Check what your mobile number is*1#Free
Check what your IMSI is*2#Free
Check what your IMEI number is*#06#Free
Send a Call Me*140*mobile number#Free


Virgin Mobile USSD codes

Services USSD CodeCost
Virgin Mobile menu*100#Free
Get phone settings*103*1#Free
Check your own number – MSISDN query*103*2#Free
Change Virgin Mobile PIN*103*3#Free
Balance info after calls*103*4#Free
SIM Swap*103*5#Free
Manage airtime*104#Free
Check balance*101#Free
Airtime recharge*102* PIN #Free
Credit card recharge*104*3#Free
Transfer airtime*106#Free
Please CallMe Service*125*MSISDN#Free
Voice Mail*109#Free
RICA check*124#Free
Bundles*110#Free
Transfer airtime*106#Free
Recharge me*104*5#Free
Call handling*107#Free
Airtime advance activation*121*4#Free
Roaming call*108*MSISDN#Free

Rain Network USSD codes

The Rain network does not currently support any USSD codes as yet.


Master access menus & popular services

  • Vodacom – *111# (*135#)
  • MTN – *141*0# (*135#)
  • Cell C – *147#
  • Virgin Mobile – *100#
  • Telkom Mobile – *180#

Check airtime balance

  • Vodacom – *100# (*136#)
  • MTN – *141# (*136#)
  • Cell C – *101#
  • Virgin Mobile – *101#
  • Telkom Mobile – *188#

Load airtime to your account

  • Vodacom – *100*01*recharge PIN# (*136#)
  • MTN – *141*recharge PIN# (*136#)
  • Cell C – *102*recharge PIN#
  • Virgin Mobile – *102*recharge PIN#

Request your own number

  • Vodacom – *111*501#
  • MTN – *123*888#
  • Cell C – *147*100#
  • Virgin Mobile – *103*2#

Request airtime from another user

  • Vodacom – *140*02*mobile number#
  • MTN – *141*6328*mobile number#
  • Cell C – *102*3#
  • Virgin Mobile – *106#

Transfer airtime to another user

  • Vodacom – *111*072# (Use *111*1002# to transfer data)
  • MTN – *141*6328*mobile number*amount of airtime#
  • Cell C – *102*2#
  • Virgin Mobile – *106#

Request a call from another user

  • Vodacom – *140*mobile number#
  • MTN – *121*mobile number#
  • Cell C – *111*mobile number#
  • Virgin Mobile – *125*mobile number#

Tell us your story

Have you been frustrated when using for forgetting USSD codes for your network? Are there any USSD codes that you feel should be listed here? Let us know in the comments section below.  

Contact us

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If you require a more detailed guide on how to create your profile or your listing, then we highly recommend you check out the following articles. 

Recommended reading

If you enjoyed this post and have a little extra time to dive deeper down the rabbit hole, why not check out the following posts on mobile services.

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