Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, Chairperson of B20 South Africa’s Digital Transformation Task Force, was one of the speakers at an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) session held in Johannesburg on Friday, 18 July.
Mahanyele-Dabengwa was asked about the worrying number of South Africans currently without internet access and the barriers holding the country back from digital inclusion.
Mahanyele-Dabengwa, who is also the South Africa CEO and Executive Director at Naspers, was also questioned on the actions to be taken to transition the remainder of the population online.
Two key barriers hinder digital inclusion
In her detailed response, Mahanyele-Dabengwa admitted that while South Africa has made meaningful progress in digital policy and innovation – from pioneering TV White Space trials to implementing spectrum auctions with social obligations – the reality is that around 25% of our population remains offline.
She added that from her perspective, despite the significant advancements, two key barriers continue to hinder digital inclusion:
- Infrastructure availability – Many underserved communities, particularly in rural provinces like Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, still lack access to reliable broadband infrastructure.
- Affordability – Even where infrastructure exists, it’s often unaffordable for low-income households to access devices and data.
Cost is a concern
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa went on to mention that according to the GSMA, the single biggest barrier to internet use in South Africa is the cost of smart devices and mobile data.
To break it down further:
The poorest 20% of South Africans spend roughly 12% of their monthly income just to afford 1GB of data – six times higher than the global affordability benchmark of 2%.
This is simply unsustainable for widespread, equitable digital participation, added Mahanyele-Dabengwa.
Coverage gap
She also cited the current coverage gap, especially in rural and peri-urban communities, as a major obstacle.
Open Signal data shows that rural users in South Africa experience 15% slower download speeds and nearly double the signal outages compared to those in urban areas.
These infrastructure disparities mean that even when users can afford data, the experience is limited and unreliable.
What needs to be done?
Mahanyele-Dabengwa concluded by saying that to close these gaps and drive meaningful digital inclusion, we must act on three fronts:
- Promote affordability of devices and data
– Consider removing or reducing import taxes and VAT on entry-level digital devices.
– Introduce targeted incentives for telcos to reduce mobile broadband pricing in low-income markets.
2. Invest in last-mile infrastructure
– Expand rural connectivity through public-private partnerships.
– For example, Vodacom’s R430 million rural 4G project in the Eastern Cape brought mobile connectivity to 19 previously unserved villages.
– These are the kinds of investments we must scale nationally.
3. Streamline regulatory frameworks
– Fast-track spectrum licensing and simplify municipal-level approvals to accelerate network expansion.
– Empower smaller ISPs and community networks with flexible access to infrastructure and open access models.
Closing thoughts
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s comments underscore the urgency of closing South Africa’s digital gap, especially as the economy grows more reliant on digital access.
Her call to action stresses that connectivity is not a luxury, but a lifeline – and one that must be made available to all South Africans.
Do you currently have access to reliable internet access in your area?
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