Messages about free data have been circulating on various platforms. Photo: iStock
While many will be hoping that President Cyril Ramaphosa grants South Africans a public holiday after the Springboks retained the Rugby World Cup, there is no free data giveaway to celebrate the achievement.
This is according to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies who said they were aware of a message circulating on social media about free data.
Department spokesperson Tlangelani Manganyi has urged the public to take precautions against the message being circulated.
“The message circulating about the free data give away is false and misleading to the public. The South African government is striving to ensure that it brings about digital equilibrium in our society by ensuring that it embarks on various activities aimed at connecting the unconnected and leveraging opportunities for everyone to participate in the digital economy,” Manganyi said.
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While free Wi-Fi is sought after in public places, the department said it has been by far deliberate on digital inclusion by spearheading programmes such as South Africa Connect Phase 2, which seeks to Fastrack internet penetration in all public institutions and the community at large.
“The two-step approach towards the conclusion of Broadcast Digital Migration is another example of moving our country towards digital economy as this will see the out roll of the High Demand Frequency Spectrum and will result in the decrease of data cost.
“The department would like to warn the public to desist from participating in sharing the false information and caution against opening such links as there are fake and harmful,” it said.
The Springboks beat the All Blacks 12-11 in an incredible and tense Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Saturday. It was a record fourth Webb Ellis Cup for South Africa.
South Africans have been in celebration mode since, with many looking for souvenirs to remember the moment forever.
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