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To: Solly Malatsi, The Minister Of Communications and Digital Technologies and All Municipal Mayors
Minister Malatsi, provide Free Public Wi-Fi and Job Boards in Every Ward
We demand that the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, in partnership with all 257 municipalities, commit to installing free public Wi-Fi hotspots and physical job information boards in every ward across South Africa by June 2027.
Specifically, we call for:
1. Free Public Wi-Fi: At least 1 free Wi-Fi hotspot in a public, safe space in each ward - like libraries, community halls, or taxi ranks. Each hotspot must provide a minimum of 500MB of free data per user per day.
2. Ward Job Boards: A physical, weather-proof job board in each ward, updated weekly by the municipality. The board must list local government jobs, EPWP opportunities, learnerships, and private sector vacancies.
3. Maintenance and Accountability: Municipalities must publish a quarterly report showing hotspot uptime, data usage, and the number of jobs posted.
This is not a luxury. Data and information are the new tools for finding work and accessing opportunities. The government must treat internet access and job information as basic services, just like water and electricity.
Specifically, we call for:
1. Free Public Wi-Fi: At least 1 free Wi-Fi hotspot in a public, safe space in each ward - like libraries, community halls, or taxi ranks. Each hotspot must provide a minimum of 500MB of free data per user per day.
2. Ward Job Boards: A physical, weather-proof job board in each ward, updated weekly by the municipality. The board must list local government jobs, EPWP opportunities, learnerships, and private sector vacancies.
3. Maintenance and Accountability: Municipalities must publish a quarterly report showing hotspot uptime, data usage, and the number of jobs posted.
This is not a luxury. Data and information are the new tools for finding work and accessing opportunities. The government must treat internet access and job information as basic services, just like water and electricity.
Why is this important?
Right now, millions of young South Africans are locked out of opportunity simply because they cannot afford data.
The problem: Data poverty = Job poverty
In South Africa, 1GB of data costs more than a loaf of bread. For unemployed youth in townships and rural wards like Thabazimbi, this means choosing between buying food or applying for a job online. 62% of South Africans say they cannot afford enough data to look for work.
Government and companies now post 90% of jobs online. But if you don’t have Wi-Fi or data, you will never see them. At the same time, many people in our communities still rely on word-of-mouth and community notices for information. A physical job board brings opportunity directly to the people.
The impact: This will change lives in every ward
1. Jobs: Free Wi-Fi means a young person can apply for 10 jobs in a day instead of 1. Job boards mean even people without smartphones can see EPWP, municipal, and local business vacancies.
2. Education: Learners and students can do research, submit assignments, and apply for NSFAS and bursaries without spending their grant money on data.
3. Access to services: People can access SASSA, Home Affairs, and health information online for free.
4. Small businesses: Spaza owners and street vendors can do online banking, marketing, and orders without data costs eating into their profit.
This is about dignity and equality. Right now, opportunity only exists for people who can afford data. That is unfair.
The problem: Data poverty = Job poverty
In South Africa, 1GB of data costs more than a loaf of bread. For unemployed youth in townships and rural wards like Thabazimbi, this means choosing between buying food or applying for a job online. 62% of South Africans say they cannot afford enough data to look for work.
Government and companies now post 90% of jobs online. But if you don’t have Wi-Fi or data, you will never see them. At the same time, many people in our communities still rely on word-of-mouth and community notices for information. A physical job board brings opportunity directly to the people.
The impact: This will change lives in every ward
1. Jobs: Free Wi-Fi means a young person can apply for 10 jobs in a day instead of 1. Job boards mean even people without smartphones can see EPWP, municipal, and local business vacancies.
2. Education: Learners and students can do research, submit assignments, and apply for NSFAS and bursaries without spending their grant money on data.
3. Access to services: People can access SASSA, Home Affairs, and health information online for free.
4. Small businesses: Spaza owners and street vendors can do online banking, marketing, and orders without data costs eating into their profit.
This is about dignity and equality. Right now, opportunity only exists for people who can afford data. That is unfair.
