To help curb truck hijackings in the Eastern Cape, Vodacom has set about a series of targeted network upgrades in the Addo region and along the R335, which connects Nelson Mandela Bay to KwaNojoli (Somerset East).
The move forms part of the company’s R500m network investment earmarked for the province in the current financial year.
Vodacom spends billions in capital expenditure locally each year, usually to build, update and maintain its network infrastructure in the country.
With a budget set at group level, Vodacom then does the work at country, province, district, town and city level.
For the year to end-March, the group spent R11.6bn on its network in SA, with an expectation to reach R12bn in the 2026 financial year.
This week, Vodacom Eastern Cape “reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating connectivity to serve the needs of local communities” through the upgrades.
SA’s largest mobile operator said it was prompted by a surge in truck hijackings on the Addo Road in Motherwell and an approach by Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber to investigate coverage gaps on this route.
Weak reception was repeatedly reported as a contributor to the area’s status as a crime hotspot, with the inability to call for help in critical moments “turning connectivity into a matter of public safety”.
In addition, while tracking systems offer some support, they often fail to transmit data reliably in low-network areas, leaving businesses and drivers vulnerable, the cellphone provider said.
In the last financial year, Vodacom said it invested more than R500m in improving network infrastructure, expanding broadband access, and rolling out renewable energy solutions, particularly in townships and deep rural areas in the province.
Part of the mission is for this investment to expand connectivity in deep rural areas. Rural internet connectivity in areas outside big centres such as Joburg, Cape Town and Durban remains a sore point in SA.
This is a theme seen in other parts of the country as well.
Last week, Vodacom said it would invest R620m to improve connectivity in deep rural areas and townships in Mpumalanga in the current financial year. In the 2024/25 financial year, the company invested more than R400m in the region.
Elsewhere, Vodacom has earmarked about R100m to build 106 new base station sites in deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
Zakhele Jiyane, managing executive of Vodacom Eastern Cape, said: “With stronger mobile networks, communities become better equipped to prevent and respond to crime, and local businesses gain more reliable access to digital tools and markets.
“For farmers, families, truck drivers and police officers in the Addo area, our infrastructure upgrades have enhanced communication, security, livelihoods, and peace of mind,” he said.
“As SA continues its digital journey, Vodacom Eastern Cape’s targeted investments show that when technology is deployed with purpose, it becomes a force for good.
“We are proud to assist with solving pressing social challenges, building stronger, safer communities and empowering individuals and businesses through the power of connectivity and ensuring no-one is left behind.”
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