by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – MTN is empowering South African communities through renewable energy and connectivity.
This comes amid an increasingly digital world, where access to reliable electricity and the internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
Keabetswe Mabe, General Manager: Sustainability and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) at MTN SA, noted however, some communities in South Africa still lack both digital connectivity and access to sustainable energy.
“The reality of digital exclusion and energy poverty continues to limit access to vital opportunities in education, business and healthcare,” the executive said.
She noted was actively working to bridge the divide, through innovative initiatives such as the Orange Farm microgrid, which was paving the way toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The Orange Farm microgrid project, launched by MTN in collaboration with local stakeholders, is an ambitious and transformative initiative designed to address two of the most pressing challenges facing underserved communities.
These are energy poverty and digital exclusion.
Located in one of South Africa’s largest informal settlements, Orange Farm is home to thousands of people who struggle with limited access to infrastructure, the internet and no electricity.
Mabe said for many people living in informal settlements like Orange Farm, the digital divide remained a significant barrier to progress.
“Without reliable access to electricity or the internet, opportunities in education, business, and even healthcare are severely limited,” Mabe said.
By providing reliable, solar-powered electricity to 94 households in the Tjovitjo section of Orange Farm, the project enables residents to access the internet, participate in online learning, engage with digital healthcare services and improve their quality of life.
Students can now study using online resources, helping to overcome the limitations of traditional classroom-based education. Adults can also access job opportunities, vocational training, and skills development programmes, increasing their chances of improving their livelihoods.
These 94 households use an average of 22 kilowatts per month, and approximately 282 individuals are positively impacted. In January 2025 alone, a total of 900kg of CO2 emissions were reduced.
– CAJ News