Elukwatini Internet Kiosk closes digital divide
Friday, 27 September 2013
Finance MEC Madala Masuku cutting a ribbon with Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality Mayor Busi Shiba at the launch of the internet kiosk
The official ceremony to hand over 10 computers, all with free internet service was held at the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality on Friday, 27 September 2013.
MEC for Finance, Mr Madala Masuku said the internet facility “presents an opportunity to expedite growth and development in our communities, especially rural communities who never had a fair chance of accessing online government services”.
According to the study conducted by the Provincial Government 39.8 per cent of households in Mpumalanga had at least one member who had access to or used the internet either at home, work, place of study, or Internet cafés.
The Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality has the lowest penetration of information and communication technology amongst local municipalities averaging 20 percent with the highest being Govan Mbeki in the Gert Sibande District.
According to Census 2011, the proportion of households with access to internet increased drastically between 2007 and 2011.
“In 2007, 3.7 per cent of households in Mpumalanga had access to or used the internet compared to 7.2 per cent of South African households.
“By 2011, Mpumalanga's proportion of households with access to internet increased to 31.4 per cent of households and that of South Africa to 35.2 per cent.
Illustratively, this means at least one member of 337 993 households in Mpumalanga had access to or used the internet either at home, work, place of study, or Internet cafés,” said MEC Masuku.
MEC Masuku thanked, the Executive Mayor of Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality, Cllr Busi Shiba and her team for providing the building and agreeing to manage the facility on behalf of the community.
The Department of Finance will provide technical support to the internet centre.
Sabelo Mogola, a grade nine learner at Takheni High School highly praised the great work by the department and all stakeholders involved.
Sabelo said, “We really appreciate the kind gesture by MEC Masuku and all who made this possible for us, I for one having to grow up in an area seemingly so laid back like this one, it’s really a privilege that from now on I will be able to learn and get information right here at my door-step without having to travel long hours to town for the only available internet café. We thank you so much and hope this will also assist us to improve our intelligence before matric
For more information, contact:
Letshela Jonas on 013 766 4323 / 079 500 0154
Issued by Communications, Department of Finance, Mpumalanga Provincial Government