The project is designed to support local residents, students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs by fostering community development, promoting education, and creating new employment opportunities in an area where approximately 21% of the population still lack internet access, youth unemployment exceeds 60%, and small businesses struggle with affordable digital tools.
“It’s about empowering a community with the essential resources needed for education, economic growth, and comprehensive digital inclusion,” said IHS South Africa’s CEO, Sandile Msimango.
The programme aims to narrow the digital divide and facilitate access to vital online services that can drive community upliftment.
A key component of the project involves developing digital skills among KwaMashu’s youth. Just before the public Wi-Fi launch, IHS South Africa’s partner, Social Coding, conducted a five-day training programme for ten unemployed local youths. The training covered a range of topics including virtual reality, mobile applications, exhibition management, effective communication, customer service, and technical troubleshooting, equipping participants with valuable digital skills and positioning them as potential technology ambassadors for their communities.
Following the training, efforts will extend to local primary schools, featuring a robotics showcase targeted at younger audiences to inspire interest in science and technology.
“Beyond facilitating connectivity, we need to provide young people with opportunities to acquire digital skills so they can serve as technology ambassadors and catalysts for community growth,” said Msimango.
Founded in 2013, Project Isizwe has partnered with funders, government agencies, and internet service providers to deploy public Wi-Fi hotspots in low-income areas across South Africa. The organisation states it has connected millions of South Africans to reliable, affordable internet, supporting access to education, information, and economic opportunities for underserved communities.
