IHS South Africa, a telecom tower company, has partnered with non-profit Project Isizwe to provide free, uncapped public Wi-Fi in KwaMashu, Durban. The initiative aims to support local residents, students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs by promoting education, job creation, and community development in an area where about 21% of the population lacks internet access and youth unemployment is at 60%.
“This initiative is not just about providing internet – it’s about empowering a community with essential resources for education, economic growth, and comprehensive digital inclusion,” said IHS South Africa CEO Sandile Msimango.
Ahead of the Wi-Fi launch, Social Coding, an IHS partner, conducted a five-day digital skills training for ten unemployed youths, covering virtual reality, mobile app development, exhibition management, communication, customer service, and troubleshooting. The program will soon extend to local primary schools with a robotics showcase to engage younger learners.
Msimango emphasized the importance of equipping young people with digital skills to become technology ambassadors in their communities.
Founded in 2013, Project Isizwe collaborates with funders, government, and ISPs to deploy public Wi-Fi in low-income areas, connecting millions of South Africans to reliable internet access.
