Background
This project is designed to establish digital infrastructure and manage Wi-Fi access points throughout the Sand River catchment area. Its goal is to empower local communities by improving internet access, enhancing educational opportunities, and supporting conservation efforts.
The initiative has received ZAR661,494.27 from the TASC Foundation. Additionally, equipment valued at ZAR473,911.56 has been donated by the Connected Conservation Fund.
Wi-Fi hubs are being deployed at Traditional Authority Offices. Zanza Africa is responsible for installing the equipment, while K2C field monitors assist with support and educational outreach. The rollout is phased, beginning with three pilot sites and expanding to a total of five.
The project is expected to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, improve digital literacy, and increase access to online services. It also supports conservation initiatives and encourages community engagement, while strengthening collaboration with non-profit organizations and government programs.
The project targets 2,700 unique user engagements per month, 540 interactions with the landing page monthly, and 135 ad banner clicks each month. It also aims for a positive feedback rate of over 80% regarding the usefulness of the data, along with consistent monthly revenue generation and knowledge-sharing sessions.
This initiative promotes sustainable development, digital inclusion, and environmental stewardship within the Sand River catchment area.
Implementation Progress
The implementation of the Sand River Catchment Digital Hub has made notable progress, particularly at the Phiring Hub. The landing page is now live, and the IT centre has been successfully launched, serving as a focal point for community engagement. Local users have been actively utilizing the site for proposal writing, application submissions, and information gathering. Feedback collected from visitors has already informed improvements to the landing page, demonstrating a responsive and adaptive approach.
Zanza has received significant interest from organizations wanting to participate in their launch page advertising.
The current site in Phiring has also been attracting small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) that are seeking markets and opportunities for their goods, in addition to job applications and business plan development.
The second site is now set up at Setlhane, with plans to have it operational by December 1. There are already six laptops available for this site, which are co-funded by Vodacom.
