Vodacom Mpumalanga Region hosts roundtable

The Vodacom Mpumalanga Region hosted a roundtable event on Thursday November 30, during which the region’s new managing executive, Monde Ngcukana, was formally introduced to the media. He gave an insight on various issues, including the Vodacom Mpumalanga investment and expansion in urban, township and deep rural areas.

He highlighted the progress of the previous financial year, and future roll-out plans. The Vodacom Mpumalanga Region will spend over R450m on its network in the current financial year to ensure the delivery of best-in-class coverage and customer service, while expanding connectivity throughout the region.

This significant investment includes deploying more sites in urban, township and rural areas, and increasing network capacity and resilience, particularly during load-shedding.

“In achieving our purpose-led goal of ensuring digital inclusion for all, we are investing in network upgrades and deploying new sites to increase access to reliable connectivity. By keeping our customers connected to essential online services, from education and healthcare to financial services, we are helping to empower businesses, communities and individuals, especially in underserved areas of the region, and addressing the digital divide,” said Ngcukana.

As part of Vodacom Mpumalanga’s commitment to making a positive impact on the community it serves, the region was involved in several initiatives addressing education, digital literacy, community well-being and gender equality this past year.

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On Mandela Day, Ehlanzeni district visited a Vodacom-supported ICT Centre at an KaNyamazane Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre and invited 30 Grade 12 learners to participate in a digital skills development course, while Nkangala district and Gert Sibande district visited the Run’s Future Kids ECD centre and Moolman Primary School to revitalise and replant the gardens.

“The region also donated 130 hygiene packages to the Greater Rape Intervention Programme, an organisation that supports survivors of gender-based violence in Mpumalanga, and executed an internal food drive for Children in Distress that directly benefited 230 individuals. To foster digital inclusion and break gender stereotypes, Vodacom Mpumalanga hosted a #CodeLikeaGirl boot camp for 36 schoolgirls of Sofunda Secondary

School and Mkhulu Secondary School in Middelburg. Participants were taught coding and other digital skills, while developing confidence to pursue careers in the traditionally male-dominated field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We believe in using our capabilities to drive change and address societal concerns. Through our various projects, initiatives, investments and strategic partnerships with both the public and the private sector, we aim to connect everyone for a better future,” said Ngcukana.

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Base stations of local network providers are increasingly being targeted by thieves and vandals. The region reports an average of 87 criminal incidents at its base stations per month, with up to 93 sites experiencing vandalism, and an average of 66 batteries stolen monthly.

In response to these issues, Vodacom Mpumalanga has taken several security measures, including installing concrete containers or steel vaults for critical equipment and implementing remote monitoring, alarm systems and armed response units. In addition, aluminium is being used to substitute copper in certain equipment to deter copper theft.