On Wednesday I was in Diepsloot, which roughly translates from Afrikaans, as “deep ditch”. The densely populated township is situated north of Johannesburg. “Sloot”, as the locals call it, is close to Steyn City, the prestigious residential area in Johannesburg north.
Apart from rows upon rows of modest houses and dusty streets, there isn’t much at Sloot, but the place is vibrant. I could hear laughter and loud music in contrast to the evident poverty.
Emtee’s hit song Ghetto Hero was blaring nearby. “I want, I want to be a ghetto hero, yeah... Something like Steve Biko,” the lyrics say.
Itireleng Street in Sloot is full of young hopeful heroes. They soon gather around and sing along. “Zero to hero. The story of my life. I make the ghetto smile,” sing the Emtee fans.
I soon noticed the loud music was from a VW Citi Golf parked in the street. Sure, the young people looked happy, but I could not help speculating if singing and dancing in the street were all there was for them.
I pondered if these young people were likely to transcend from “ghetto heroes” to “digital economy heroes”? Was it remotely possible that their energy and creativity in a digital economy could transform lives for the better?
I think young people in Sloot, like in any other township, have a chance to become heroes in the digital economy.
The aptly named Itireleng Street, (Do it Yourself Street), is a typical township thoroughfare full of young people with little to do. As in many townships, young people are excluded from the digital economy and are probably not even aware of the opportunities that exist.
The so-called digital divide, the gap between those who have access to technology and the internet and those who do not, is a glaring disaster in Sloot, and other townships.
I believe that the broadband operators of SA are deliberately widening this digital divide. It is a mistake to assume that providing broadband infrastructure solutions for townships and rural areas is not financially viable.
The huge numbers of potential customers that live in townships and rural areas surely should enable innovative service providers to make a profit.
As 2022 draws to a close, I can only hope that local innovators find affordable solutions for broadband in townships and rural areas. SA cannot afford to leave so many young people out of the digital economy.
I am aware that some local companies are doing their bit to connect townships and rural areas to the digital world, but much more needs to be done.
For example, there’s Fibrepoynt — a subsidiary of global company Poynting Antennas — partnered with Thabure Towerco and Phuthanang Youth Trust to deploy a pilot network in Central Western Jabavu, Soweto. The network provides the high-density township south of Johannesburg with a low-cost fixed-line internet solution for residential users.
Fibrepoynt manufactures and distributes solar-powered wireless broadband antennas, called HomePoynts, which enable the implementation of a telecom network infrastructure system to provide last-mile broadband data services in underserved high-density residential areas.
The system uses dedicated radio antenna systems to provide “spotlight Wi-Fi” to an area, offering a high-speed fixed and mobile last-mile internet solution typical of low-income townships and rural small towns.
After the success of the Soweto pilot, Fibrepoynt is now looking to expand its flagship network in Cosmo City in Johannesburg, to demonstrate the scalability and sustainability of its business model.
“We want to offer network owners either turnkey or partial (hardware) solutions to deploy cost-effective community Wi-Fi networks in underserved areas,” says Mpho Sefalafala, Fibrepoynt’s recently appointed CEO.
Deploying HomePoynt in townships and rural areas can create a digital literacy that can transform the lives of youth. It could empower these children to be more than just ghetto heroes.
Homepoynt can introduce young people to innovations that would otherwise not be possible. Moreover, young entrepreneurs can develop products and services to better their own communities. This is why SA’s private equity firms need to fund companies like Fibrepoynt and others that are trying to connect the masses to the digital economy.
There is hope because the Hlayisa Growth Fund, headed by former Nedbank chair Reuel Khoza is backing Ikeja Wireless.
Ikeja provides quality, low-cost internet access to Gugulethu, Langa, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Thembisa, Daveyton, Ebony Park, and 30 other townships and suburbs. Funding smaller operators like Ikeja and Fibrepoynt will ensure that townships like Sloot and rural areas do not remain isolated from the digital economy.
Such a move would likely create job opportunities and networks that empower the neglected communities. Ultimately, these same companies could produce real ghetto heroes who could be developers who create technical solutions to real ghetto problems.
• Lourie is the founder and editor of TechFinancials.
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