While most people from deep rural villages only hear about the fourth industrial revolution, hundreds of villagers at Matangari happily move with the times, thanks to their visionary traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vho-Mutulagole Nyamande. Two weeks ago, he launched a community-advancement initiative that gives free Internet access to anyone in the village, 24/7.
In an interview with Limpopo Mirror on Friday, 12 May, Nyamande explained how the initiative was conceived. "Earlier this year, I was doing my routine patrol around my village when I came across an elderly pensioner. When I asked her where she was going, since it was late and becoming dark, she said she was going to the local shop to buy data for her grandson, who needed Internet access to do his homework. It was very painful to see, because the old lady was using her meagre social grant to buy the data. That night, I told myself I needed to do something about it."
Nyamande said that, for the next three days, he had personally driven to Thohoyandou and Louis Trichardt with members of his Khoro, approaching several service providers to ask if one of them would sponsor his village with free Internet services. "Although it was tough to convince most of them to plough back into the community, we were happy when Letaba Networks received us with a warm heart. This is a historic initiative that will help our people to get the latest information, while helping our kids to research schoolwork without burdening their parents with the cost of data."
He said Letaba Networks had immediately gone to work to install three Wi-Fi receiver facilities in different locations in the village. "With the three Wi-Fi facilities now in operation, we will add another two to make sure that my people do not have to walk long distances to access this free Internet service."
One of the local residents, Emmanuel Manyuwa, thanked Vhamusanda Vho-Nyamande, his Khoro and the sponsors for coming to their rescue. "We can now access any app free of charge, and there is no need to worry about the high cost of data," he said.