Ntselamanzi community goes digital with free internet access and Wi-Fi

By Samkele Letese

Residents of Ntselamanzi, a sprawling rural community at the outskirts of Alice can now enjoy free internet access and WIFI with the launch of a digital hub at the community recently. The internet hub sponsored by the Calabar Foundation and Sifunda Kunye Educational Project in conjunction with Bridging the Gap Hub, is part of efforts to bridge the digital divide in rural communities.In his speech during the presentation of the internet hub to the community, the executive director of the Calabar Foundation and Sifunda Kunye, Ali Pauluhn, said Ntselamanzi was one of the lucky communities and five partner schools across the Eastern Cape that have benefitted from its technology and computer labs adding that the foundation has identified some potential schools where it will be building computer labs in the future.”

The Nkonkobe Economic Development Agency (NEDA) plans to link up the Ntselamanzi hub to its business support centre to enable the youth and other community members’ leverage on the facility to acquire skills and knowledge to grow the local economy. Head of the NEDA, Mandisi Mani said “Sifunda Kunye already have an internship program in place and “we are going to offer those interns an opportunity to get practical experience through working with the project”.

In the meantime, the German Development Corporation (GIZ) has pledged its commitment to partner with NEDA to support local enterprises in Ntselamanzi. GIZ representative, Mr. Khai Webber who was present at the unveiling of the Ntselamanzi internet hub said that the corporation would be willing to provide business support for locals on a fortnightly basis.
Among dignitaries that graced the handing over ceremony were the founder of the Bridging the Gap hub, Lwazi Mbambo and Mr. Morne Tesnar of Delyn Security which pledged to offer free security services to the hub. Earlier in his remark Mbambo had thanked the Sifunda Kunye project for making it possible Ntselamanzi to join the club of townships with free internet access and WIFI. He said the hub will be of great service to the many students of Fort Hare University and Lovedale College who reside in Ntselamanzi