In Conversation With Micheal Waters- MPL (DA Gauteng Spokesperson for e-Government)
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Access to reliable and affordable internet has increasingly become a basic necessity—central to education, job-seeking, entrepreneurship, and access to information. Yet, concerns are mounting that many township communities in Gauteng remain excluded from meaningful digital access due to delays in government rollout programmes.
Criticism has been directed at the Gauteng provincial government’s broadband commitments, particularly the Gauteng Broadband Network, which aims to connect public institutions such as schools, libraries, clinics, and community centres. The intention behind this initiative is to bridge the digital divide by ensuring that underserved communities have access to connectivity and digital opportunities.
However, recent performance reports suggest that key rollout targets have not been met. Fewer schools, libraries, and public sites than planned have been connected to internet infrastructure. This has direct consequences: learners struggle to access online educational resources, jobseekers are limited in applying for opportunities, and small businesses miss out on digital markets.
The issue speaks to a broader structural challenge in South Africa—unequal access to technology. While urban and affluent areas continue to benefit from high-speed connectivity, many township and peri-urban communities are still navigating limited or inconsistent access, often relying on expensive mobile data.
This gap is not just technological; it reinforces existing inequalities in education, employment, and economic participation. Without intervention, the digital divide risks becoming a long-term barrier to social mobility.
At a governance level, questions are being raised about implementation capacity, budget utilisation, and accountability in delivering on digital infrastructure promises. With connectivity now tied to economic growth and inclusion, delays in rollout are increasingly seen as more than just administrative failures—they are developmental setbacks.
As South Africa moves further into a digital economy, ensuring equitable access to the internet will be critical in determining who participates fully in society and who is left behind.
Criticism has been directed at the Gauteng provincial government’s broadband commitments, particularly the Gauteng Broadband Network, which aims to connect public institutions such as schools, libraries, clinics, and community centres. The intention behind this initiative is to bridge the digital divide by ensuring that underserved communities have access to connectivity and digital opportunities.
However, recent performance reports suggest that key rollout targets have not been met. Fewer schools, libraries, and public sites than planned have been connected to internet infrastructure. This has direct consequences: learners struggle to access online educational resources, jobseekers are limited in applying for opportunities, and small businesses miss out on digital markets.
The issue speaks to a broader structural challenge in South Africa—unequal access to technology. While urban and affluent areas continue to benefit from high-speed connectivity, many township and peri-urban communities are still navigating limited or inconsistent access, often relying on expensive mobile data.
This gap is not just technological; it reinforces existing inequalities in education, employment, and economic participation. Without intervention, the digital divide risks becoming a long-term barrier to social mobility.
At a governance level, questions are being raised about implementation capacity, budget utilisation, and accountability in delivering on digital infrastructure promises. With connectivity now tied to economic growth and inclusion, delays in rollout are increasingly seen as more than just administrative failures—they are developmental setbacks.
As South Africa moves further into a digital economy, ensuring equitable access to the internet will be critical in determining who participates fully in society and who is left behind.
