OTP SMS in South Africa — How It Works
Our Verify API sends a time-limited one-time password (OTP) to any South Africa mobile number via SMS or WhatsApp. The code expires automatically, the status is confirmed via webhook, and the number is never stored beyond the session.
- Code expires in 5–10 minutes (configurable)
- Webhook confirms delivery and validation
- Supports SMS and WhatsApp channels
- Routes directly to Vodacom, MTN South Africa, Cell C, Telkom Mobile
Sender ID for OTP in South Africa
OTP messages in South Africa should use a short alphanumeric sender ID (e.g. "MyApp") for maximum trust. Alphanumeric sender IDs are supported on all major South African networks. Registration must be done via a licensed aggregator. ICASA does not operate a centralized sender-ID registry — approval is network-level.
Integration in 3 Lines
Our REST endpoint accepts a phone number in E.164 format (+27XXXXXXXXX) and returns an OTP session ID. Verify the code by calling the confirm endpoint with the session ID and user-entered code.
- POST /v1/verify/send — sends the OTP
- POST /v1/verify/check — validates user input
- GET /v1/verify/{id} — checks session status