By Fiona Wakelin
South Africa’s progress depends on inclusive innovation and strong partnerships. Videsha Proothveerajh, Director of Vodacom Business, shares how technology is driving real change across communities and industries Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa called for a South Africa that works for all – one that is inclusive, innovative, and resilient. Achieving this vision requires a collective effort across all sectors of society. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential, as such partnerships play a pivotal role in driving national progress.
“At Vodacom Business, we have long championed this approach, recognising that the challenges our nation faces are too complex for any single entity to tackle alone. By combining the strengths of both sectors with the power of digital technology, we can improve service delivery, unlock economic potential, and drive meaningful innovation,” says Videsha Proothveerajh, Director of Vodacom Business
Tackling Infrastructure Challenges
Infrastructure challenges pose significant threats to economic growth and social stability in South Africa. In particular, a secure, reliable water supply is an urgent priority. The private sector can innovate and partner with government to help resolve this crisis. “Vodacom Business is working with municipalities to manage the consumption and delivery of services, such as water and electricity, through digital technology. Our smart utilities management system makes use of connected smart meters to provide real-time information on consumption. This can also help to improve accurate billing and revenue collection for residents and has been extended to include fleet management. These solutions not only improve service delivery but also help mitigate financial losses where inefficiencies can be costly,” Proothveerajh explains.
Enabling Citizen Engagement
Digital platforms are also instrumental in fostering citizen engagement, accountability, and inclusivity, she adds. “Vodacom Business has been at the forefront of enabling digital democracy through our e-government solutions. By providing technology that streamlines service delivery, facilitates communication between citizens and government, and improves access to essential information, we are helping to create a more engaged and informed society.”
For example, the Citizen Engagement app enables two-way communication and collaboration between citizens and municipalities, including logging service requests and tracking their progress. Such initiatives empower communities and ensure that governance is not only top-down but also responsive to the needs of the people. “As we look to the future, these digital engagement tools will be crucial in strengthening the social contract between government and citizens.”
Empowering Small Businesses for Economic Growth
To achieve economic growth, increased support is needed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and for the informal economy, which sustains millions of jobs and livelihoods across South Africa. This includes streamlining funding for small businesses, unlocking venture capital for high-growth start-ups, and developing a regulatory environment that enables rather than restricts informal enterprises. “Significantly, many of these businesses struggle to scale due to limited access to digital tools and financial assistance, hindering their meaningful contributions to our economy. At Vodacom Business, we are providing these enterprises with the resources they need to thrive in the digital age. Our tailored solutions for SMEs include mobile, fixed, IoT, cloud, and hosting services, which are designed to boost business productivity and growth. Vodacom’s dedication to financial inclusion through mobile money services is empowering entrepreneurs and allowing them to access financial services that were previously out of reach,” says Proothveerajh.
Digitalisation As a Force of Change
Digitalisation can enhance critical industry sectors and change lives, from smart agriculture solutions that improve food security to telemedicine platforms that drive access to essential healthcare. “By investing in connectivity and digital solutions that address key societal issues, we can ensure that no one is left behind in South Africa’s development journey. But to achieve this, we need continued collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society to overcome challenges and accelerate progress. At Vodacom Business, we remain a committed partner in helping to build a nation that works for all.”
Helping South African Cities Get Smarter
Imagine a city where your water and electricity usage is tracked in real time, your service complaints are quickly resolved through an app, and ambulances arrive faster because they are digitally dispatched. This vision of a connected, efficient, and responsive city isn’t a dream for the distant future – it’s already becoming a reality in parts of South Africa, thanks to digital innovation from Vodacom Business.
“We aim to use our experience and expertise in understanding government needs to achieve their smart city goals. Through a partnership with the National Treasury, we are part of a five-year national contract that brings cutting-edge digital solutions to municipalities across the country. This includes digitalising utilities management, healthcare, education and security, streamlining operations, enhancing efficiencies and improving the lives of citizens,” says Dinah Kheswa, Acting Managing Executive: Public Enterprise.
Vodacom Business offers a smart utilities management system, which uses connected smart meters to give real-time insights into consumption. This not only helps municipalities manage supply and reduce waste, but also helps residents receive accurate bills and improved service. The system has been extended to include fleet management, helping cities maintain their vehicles more efficiently, reducing costs and increasing asset lifespan.
For residents needing to report issues or track service requests, Vodacom Business has developed and deployed the Citizen Engagement app. It opens up two-way communication and collaboration between citizens and municipalities, making it easier to log complaints, monitor progress, and stay informed. Technology has been effectively leveraged as a solution for improving critical access to healthcare. The cloud-based Stock Visibility Solution by Vodacom Business helps health facilities monitor medication supplies to avoid shortages, while the AitaHealth mobile platform empowers community health workers to deliver preventative care directly to homes.
Other digital initiatives from Vodacom Business to support healthcare delivery include a Computer Aided Dispatch system, which improves ambulance response times by tracking each request from the start of the call to delivery of the patient at their destination. In the education space, Vodacom Business has developed digital solutions to streamline admissions and improve communication and visibility between schools, district management and provincial offices. Vodacom’s e-learning tools are helping teachers and learners stay connected, whether in the classroom or at home, and contribute to better educational outcomes.
Public safety is another area where technology from Vodacom Business is making an impact. Internet of Things (IoT) solutions such as firearm tracking, geo-fencing, and body-worn cameras equip law enforcement and security personnel to respond to critical situations in real time, prevent illicit activities and keep communities safer. “By enabling the growth of smart cities, we are turning public services into public successes and supporting the government to utilise the power of technology to better serve citizens and create an inclusive digital society in South Africa,” concludes Kheswa.
Vodacom Business Enhances Public Safety With IoT-enabled Asset Management
An estimated 1 800 government-issued firearms are being lost or stolen every year, according to the latest reports. If these types of assets enter the illicit market and land in the wrong hands, they can pose a significant risk to citizen safety and the country at large. Protecting, monitoring and ensuring the authorised use of service firearms is therefore critical.
“In an era where the public sector increasingly relies on technology to enhance efficiency, reliability and accountability, Vodacom Business is providing digital tools to help manage these important assets and enhance public safety,” says Peter Malebye, Chief of Sales at Vodacom Business. “These Internet of Things (IoT) solutions enable law enforcement and security agencies to track and monitor assets and ensure a trail of accountability as they move through the system. The technology streamlines and digitises record-keeping and provides real-time insights into the status of inventory.”
Vodacom Business’s IoT security solution, called ‘Peacemaker’, developed in partnership with IoT.nxt, is a comprehensive firearm management system. It tracks, monitors, and traces weapons to help prevent theft, unauthorised use, and loss. Tracking items in real-time provides continuous visibility of firearms, offering reliable information on location, status, and usage, such as gunshots. This feature aids in protecting these assets, facilitates quicker recovery of lost or stolen firearms, and deters unauthorised use.
The Peacemaker data enables thorough monitoring, analysis, evaluation, and decision-making. By tracking firearm movements and usage, authorities can identify trends, improve procurement and planning, enhance patrolling, and optimise resource use. This information allows for proactive risk reduction, such as flagging unusual activity for investigation to prevent illegal diversion of firearms. “Importantly, the IoT platform ensures secure, reliable connectivity from the device to the management system. The data is collected and stored in a centralised system, enabling records to be updated and shared seamlessly on a secure private cloud, increasing the effectiveness of public sector asset management,” explains Malebye.
In addition to individual firearms, Vodacom Business’s IoT solutions provide opportunities to track, monitor, and maintain transparency on other essential public sector assets, including vehicles, equipment, and personnel. This technology offers a real-time overview of these assets, enabling agencies to allocate resources efficiently and respond swiftly to incidents, thereby potentially saving lives. “As IoT technologies continue to evolve, their impact will only grow, with new possibilities to protect and serve the public and make a positive difference to society. Vodacom Business remains committed to being a trusted partner of the public sector and businesses of every size. Working together can help to open new opportunities through technology and build a digital society that leaves no one behind,” concludes Malebye.
The Rollout of Smart Meters In Naledi Municipality: A game Changer For Utility management
The Naledi Local Municipality in the North West Province of South Africa has undergone a transformative change with the rollout of smart meters. This initiative, spearheaded by a collaboration between the municipality, Vodacom, smart meter provider Ontech, and IoT solution specialists Macrocomm, has significantly improved the municipality’s ability to manage its electricity supply and revenue collection.
The RT 29 Smart Metering Project was established to assist municipalities in revenue collection, protection, and generation, paving the way for improved utility management and accelerated service delivery. The project involved the deployment of over 6 000 smart meters across the Naledi municipality, with a particular focus on overcoming meter tampering and bypassing.
According to Modisenyane Thompson Segapo, the Municipal Manager of Naledi Local Municipality, “We have already deployed 6 000 meters. We know they’re tamper-free. We have more than a thousand meters that were bypassed just in the Vryburg area.” This deployment has been instrumental in addressing the high levels of electricity losses, which previously stood at 26%, far above the norm of 5%.
The introduction of smart meters has had a profound impact on the Naledi Local Municipality. One of the most significant benefits has been the improvement in revenue collection. Clifton J. Groep, the Mayor of Naledi Local Municipality, highlighted this by stating, “In the past, the municipality was bleeding in terms of electricity sales. This technology has changed our lives as a municipality for the better. It helps us with accurate billing.” The smart meters have also enhanced the municipality’s ability to detect and prevent tampering. Mayor Groep noted, “Meters are so advanced it helps us to detect before anyone tampers with the meter, the meter will notify us so that we block and minimise any losses.” This capability has been a game changer, reducing the financial strain caused by electricity theft and enabling the municipality to maintain payments on its Eskom account.
Vodacom played a pivotal role in the successful rollout of smart meters in Naledi. The tech-co’s involvement extended beyond providing the necessary technology; it also included developing an app that allows residents to procure electricity through their banking systems. Kagiso Maruping, the Chief Financial Officer of Naledi Local Municipality, explained, “When this project came to effect, the Vodacom team had already developed an app for people to procure electricity through their banking systems. And it is the safest app that we can get in terms of procuring, in terms of purchasing electricity.”
Peter Malebye, Vodacom Business Chief of Sales, highlighted the importance of collaboration in the project’s success: “The problem that smart metering is addressing is a big challenge. It’s not going to take one company, it’s going to take an ecosystem that is well experienced in their part. So it’s all about collaboration.” Divhane Munyai, Director of Technical Services at Naledi Local Municipality, praised the partnership between the municipality, Ontech, Macrocom, and Vodacom: “We went to Macrocom and said, ‘Allow us to lead. And then you guys follow, we’ll show you where the meters are missing.’ It was a beautiful collaboration between Naledi Local Municipality, Ontech, Macrocom, and Vodacom.”
Svi Moodley, Group Chief Executive Officer of Macrocom, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the project’s focus on sustainability and economic development: “The other important thing that Macrocom has done is to focus on ensuring that we take people from the local communities, train them, create a whole training programme so that people will have sustainable jobs going forward.” The rollout of smart meters in Naledi Local Municipality has been a resounding success, bringing about significant improvements in utility management and revenue collection. This initiative has not only addressed the municipality’s financial challenges but also paved the way for future advancements in service delivery.
