CELL C

PARTNERSHIPS THE KEY TO SERVING SOUTH AFRICA AND HER PEOPLE

The South African government has tirelessly been working on building an equal society where those who had been previously disadvantaged are afforded opportunities that enable them to participate in the growing economy. The National Development Plan (NDP 2030) is a mandate to eliminate and reduce inequality by 2030 and is the blueprint towards this objective. It outlines, amongst other things, growing an inclusive economy, building the right capabilities, and leveraging off partnerships throughout society.

Empowering South Africans and Bridging the Gap

Partnerships between Public and Private Sectors, and the synergy this creates, are pivotal to ensuring that South Africa achieves her growth and development objectives – both economically and socially.

Phumzile Secondary School Learners with Cell C Sponsored Tablets

One of the starting points is investment in her people – by empowering them with the right resources, skills, capabilities and services that enable them to change their worlds and become active and thriving participants in growing the economy.

As a proudly South African corporate citizen, Cell C is motivated by the belief that commercial activities should be mutually beneficial to both supplier and the customer. We strive to imbue our products, promotions, and business strategies with a sense of responsibility towards the customers we serve.

Cell C has committed itself to bridging the digital divide by adopting a network strategy that uses key industry partnerships to improve network quality and delivering stable and quality connectivity to citizens so they can effectively connect to the digital world. This journey to improved connectivity has begun with good progress made in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and Limpopo. By the end of 2023 all provinces will realise the benefit of our quest to enhance the digital experience of our customers country wide.

As part of this network expansion strategy comes a retail promotion designed to allow customers currently on 2G devices to affordably transition to 3G and LTE-enabled smartphones. The monthly Fantastic High Speed Super Sale (FHSSS) leverages our partnerships with retailers across the country to offer highly discounted smartphones. Coupled with the bestin-class recharge rewards built into our All-in-One tariff plan, the FHSSS promotion softens the barrier to entry to customers for whom smartphone access was out of reach.

Throughout the year, we hold various promotions where customers who purchase qualifying products have a chance to “spin and win” prizes. However, it’s the thought process behind what prizes are on offer that we’d love more people to embrace. Rather than offering seemingly “frivolous” prizes, we prefer to reward customers with something meaningful that can truly change their world. Some of these prizes include utility vehicles such as bakkies, motorcycles, Uber-approved sedans and compact trucks. Other prizes offer empowering smart devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.

We’ve witnessed first-hand how prize winners suddenly have the means to monetise an idea – they suddenly have an ocean of possibility that was until then just too far out of reach. A bakkie can remove rubble, deliver furniture, drive a mechanic to people’s homes or place of work to perform minor repairs or services, moonlight for Takealot.com, among many more.

The world has been moving online and embracing digital migration

Khumbuzile Meyiwa: Cell C 2021 Toyota Corolla winner

with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and imminent Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR). Equitable access to relevant connectivity resources has become a key pillar to achieving longterm development goals. To bridge the digital divide that exists between the segments of our society, Cell C developed a low-cost LTE product – Home Connecta Flexi. This product allows customers to enjoy high speed LTE connectivity by purchasing prepaid bundles from as little as R45 for 4GB. Home Connecta Flexi can be used in a smartphone which allows customers to stay connected wherever the need takes them.

The Power of Partnerships in Connecting Communities and Building Capabilities

Digital access not only requires stable internet connectivity, but also digital infrastructure and digital tools, resources, and skills. Through partnerships, South Africa’s goals can be realised at a greater pace. Cell C has been playing its part by partnering with provincial departments to help connect learners and impart the necessary digital skills through various programmes such as the Data Science Academy and GirlCoder Clubs in partnership with GirlCode; which are aimed at imparting critical foundational technology and digital skills that meet the 4IR and approaching 5IR requirements such as robotics, coding, data science and programming. Building these foundational capabilities and skills at a young age is in line with the Government’s own objectives.

Over and above skills development, Cell C has commenced its school connectivity programme in partnership with provincial governments, targeting schools in rural and peri-urban areas and equipping them with digital labs that include all the necessary digital infrastructure such as tablets, laptops, projectors, printers, servers, and screens, to name a few.

Coupled with this is skills development where the schools are taught to operate the hardware and software through other Cell C programmes such as the Data Science Academy. Cell C has completed two schools so far: Rekhuditse Secondary School in Limpopo and Phumzile Secondary School in Mpumalanga. The remaining provinces will be covered between 2022 and 2025.

Further to the digital labs, Cell C has partnered with the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng Departments of Education to sponsor learners with digital tools for their higher education training. Many of our youth from underprivileged communities and families do not have the funds to access digital tools and the Public and Private Sector partnership aids in ensuring they are not left behind and/or excluded in the pursuit of their studies.

Left to right: Lucy Moyane, HOD of Education at MDE; Cllr. Lesetja Dikgale, Exec. Mayor Thembisile Hani LM; MEC Bonakele Majuba; Lethiwe Hlatswayo, Cell C; and Joshual Moela, Cell C

Partnering to Support Government Deliver on their Mandate

The National Treasury, an essential enabling engine for service delivery and economic activity in the country, put out a national requirement for mobile services. Cell C is proud to have been able to partner with more than 20 government entities and municipalities.

Cell C has designed comprehensive, customisable and easy to use mobile solutions that not only offer value, but also continuous up-time and inhouse management, digital access and control for the Public Sector.

We have demonstrated our support and service capabilities, our commitment to meeting the Public Sector’s requirements, provide the right solutions, the value and support necessary to assist in achieving its objective of cost efficiencies with their telecommunications needs.

When the Public and Private Sectors engage in meaningful partnerships, we collectively contribute to thriving and cohesive societies in which business can thrive and, in turn, bolster economic growth and social development, ultimately enabling Government to fully deliver on its mandate to deliver on the NDP 2030.

Percy Moleke and Joshua Moela with aviation students and GCRA bursars receiving sponsored digital tools