GOVERNMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH TELECOMS An Evotel Production
Editor: Mathews Mpete
South Africa’s digital economy is growing at a pace faster than many expected.
Reliable internet has become just as essential as electricity and water. Prove me wrong if you disagree.
For households, internet access is a lifeline to education, employment, entertainment and communication. For businesses, especially those on Fibre-to-the-Business (FTTB) networks, connectivity is the heartbeat that keeps operations moving.
Yet, despite its importance, fibre infrastructure remains under threat, not from natural disasters but from intentional tampering and, at worst, criminal activity.
Tampering with Evotel’s fibre cables has become an increasingly disruptive problem, and the consequences extend far beyond the physical damage.
It triggers a chain of financial losses, service interruptions and operational setbacks that affect communities, companies and the broader economy.
Whether the disruption is caused by municipal contractors or criminals makes no difference. The fact remains: our clients suffer.
I want to express appreciation to those who continue to advocate for the protection of our infrastructure, including those who act as whistleblowers.
Each time a fibre cable is damaged, whether through vandalism, illegal excavation, cable theft attempts or irresponsible construction, Evotel must deploy technical teams, equipment and resources to restore services.
This is neither small nor inexpensive. It requires skilled labour, advanced testing tools, overtime work and costly replacement materials.
These expenses impact the entire value chain and can delay future infrastructure development, slowing down fibre rollouts in communities that urgently need connectivity.
When the network goes down, customers are frustrated, students miss online classes and people working remotely cannot meet deadlines.
As Evotel, we are committed to building safe, fast and reliable networks that empower communities.
But we cannot protect this infrastructure alone. We need your partnership.
Your awareness can save thousands of rands in repair costs, prevent days of service downtime and protect the livelihoods of businesses that rely on stable internet.
GOVERNMENT VOWS TO COLLABORATE WITH TELECOM LEADERS
Delivering remarks at the opening of the Africa Tech Festival 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, reaffirmed the nation’s strong commitment to advancing an inclusive and sustainable digital transformation agenda.
According to him, this aligns with global development priorities and the principles echoed at major multilateral forums such as the G20.
Gungubele emphasised that digital progress must serve as a catalyst for social inclusion, innovation, and shared economic growth. “Digital technologies must become the great equaliser,” he said.
“Communities in cities, townships and rural areas alike must have access to fast, reliable and affordable digital services.”
This is an area Evotel continues to invest in, as lives are being changed in areas across the country where we have laid down our infrastructure.
He outlined South Africa’s core commitments to accelerating the digital economy, noting that these priorities reflect global calls for resilient, future-ready digital ecosystems.
He outlined South Africa’s core commitments to accelerating the digital economy, noting that these priorities reflect global calls for resilient, future-ready digital ecosystems.
These include:
• Expanding broadband networks and speeding up nationwide 4G and 5G rollout
• Increasing accessibility to smart devices for households, schools and enterprises
• Scaling digital skills development for youth, workers and small business owners
• Strengthening cybersecurity and safeguarding the nation’s data
• Digitising public services
He further highlighted that South Africa continues to collaborate with industry leaders, public institutions and international partners to ensure digital innovation contributes to employment creation, economic competitiveness and more efficient public service delivery.
“South Africa must be a place where innovators prosper, where emerging enterprises grow, and where technology reduces barriers, cuts costs, shortens queues and brings essential services closer to every citizen,” he said.
Addressing delegates from across Africa and the global digital community, he reiterated that meaningful digital transformation requires coordinated action.
“Connectivity, skills development and innovation cannot advance in isolation,” he concluded.
“We share a collective duty, nationally and globally, to ensure that no citizen is left behind in the digital economy.”
EVOTEL UPS THE ANTE IN WELKOM!
A DAY OF SPORT, CULTURE & COMMUNITY
While football and netball took centre stage, the event also featured traditional African games, allowing local learners to celebrate their heritage while engaging in friendly competition. Schools from both the Evotel and NNN networks were invited, ensuring maximum participation from communities connected by the very fibre that Evotel has brought to the Welkom and Thabong area.
Learners were treated to goodie bags, fresh fruit, and refreshments, ensuring their energy stayed high throughout the day. The participating teams also received custombranded sports kits, proudly showcasing their school colours while reinforcing a sense of unity and pride.
VIP ATTENDANCE & MUNICIPAL SUPPORT
The day was made even more memorable with the arrival of several dignitaries and key government representatives, including the Municipal Manager (MM) of Welkom and local VIPs who came out in full force to support the learners.
Company executives also attended in solidarity, including:
Albert Oosthuysen – CEO, CYNK Group
Andrew Cohoe – COO
Nicholas Thipe – Chief of Staff
Evotel elevated the experience further with a full branding setup, turning the stadium into a vibrant visual showcase of the company’s presence and its ongoing commitment to community upliftment. Evotel staff spent the entire day supporting the schools, cheering on the teams, and engaging with local families.
Michelle Yunnie – Customer Experience Executive
Dricus Bosman – Head of HR
Richard Genlloud – Head of Marketing
Their presence underscored the significance of the collaboration between private sector partners and local schools.
FRIENDLY MATCHES & COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Adding to the festive atmosphere, Evotel and Net Nine Nine staff teams faced off against local municipal teams in friendly matches. The games generated loud cheers and laughter from the crowd, embodying the spirit of unity and partnership that defined the entire event.
CELEBRATING THE CHAMPIONS
Competition was fierce, and while the day was filled with joy, sportsmanship and talent, it was ultimately Thabong schools who secured the biggest victories—showing exceptional skill and determination.
NETBALL WINNERS
Thabong Primary School
Lehakoe Primary School
Mojaho Primary School
SOCCER WINNERS
Teto High School
Lephola Secondary School
Leseding Secondary School
LAST 8 SOCCER RESULTS
At the end of the day, every learner who participated walked away feeling victorious. Medals and trophies were awarded across categories, ensuring that the hard work, talent, and passion of the young athletes were celebrated in full.
A DAY TO REMEMBER
The 2025 Diski99 Cup was more than a sports tournament—it was a demonstration of connection, community, and commitment. It showcased what becomes possible when multiple entities unite behind one purpose: giving children a platform to shine.
Evotel’s presence in Welkom has always been about more than fibre infrastructure. It has been about empowerment, access, upliftment, and supporting the communities it connects. On this day, that mission was made visible in the most powerful way.
The event was a triumph of humanity, teamwork and future-building. A day the children—and the community—will never forget.
Teto High School (6) 1–1 (5) ThutaGauta
Lebogang 0–2 Leseding
Lephola High School 1–0 Nanabolela Secondary School
Letsete Senior Secondary (3) 0–0 (5) ThutaGauta High School (Best Losers)
Net99 Masters 0–4 Reitz Park Masters
SEMI-FINALS
Teto High School 1–0 Leseding High School
Lephola High School (4) 0–0 (3) ThutaGauta High School
A STORY OF COURAGE, RECOVERY AND PURPOSE
Tucked away in the bustling suburb of Florida, Roodepoort, stands a remarkable sanctuary that has become a lifeline to vulnerable women and children.
Wings of Inspiration Care Centre is not just a shelter. It is a living, breathing community where resilience is rebuilt daily and where hope is treated as a basic necessity.
Inside this haven, 70 children find safety, warmth and the opportunity to grow beyond their circumstances.
Located on Karee Street in Helderkruin, Roodepoort, Wings of Inspiration is also far more than a refuge. By day, it transforms into a vibrant daycare centre offering affordable childcare, sometimes for as little as families can afford, giving local households access to quality early education.
Alongside the children are 42 adults who also call the shelter home. Many of them work in the daycare centre, creating a symbiotic environment where support, purpose and healing intersect.
Responsibilities are shared, routines are followed and dignity is restored through meaningful roles.
This model has turned Wings of Inspiration into more than a temporary escape. It has become a foundation on which people rebuild their lives.
Evotel, South Africa’s leading open-access fibre network operator, has walked this journey with the centre for several years, extending its support far beyond simply connecting the buildings with fast, free
What makes this centre truly exceptional is the family structure that sustains it. During a recent visit, the Evotel team, who donated school stationery including books, pens, colouring materials, boards, magazines and toys, witnessed this structure first-hand
The company has become a dependable pillar in the centre’s growth, a corporate partner whose support has tangible human
On 5 November 2025, this commitment was demonstrated once again when Evotel delivered a sedan filled with educational resources.
For Haidi Harms, the centre manager and daycare principal, the moment was overwhelming: a mix of gratitude, relief and hope.
Evotel’s involvement has helped create an environment where children not only feel safe but are also equipped with the academic tools they need to thrive. Many of the shelter’s learners are now matriculating successfully, proof that consistent support can change life trajectories.
Harms herself embodies the spirit of Wings of Inspiration. Having lived at the centre for four years, she openly shared her journey from a painful marital breakdown to battling crystal meth addiction and ultimately reclaiming her life through the shelter’s support.
Her vulnerability has become her strength, using her past not as a source of shame but as a lesson for the children and families she serves.
Her leadership is deeply personal. She understands what brokenness feels like, and she knows what rebuilding requires.
Evotel’s involvement is a powerful example of what happens when technology companies extend their impact beyond connectivity. Fibre network operators sit at the heart of South Africa’s digital future, and that future must include the communities in which they lay their cables.
Supporting shelters, schools and grassroots programmes does more than uplift individuals; it builds stronger digital citizens. Wings of Inspiration stands today as a testament to the power of community, compassion and meaningful corporate partnership.
With Evotel’s ongoing support, the centre continues to nurture resilience, restore dignity and shape futures.
LOOKING BACK WITH GRATITUDE: MARKETING MANAGER NADIA SMITH ON EVOTEL’S 10 YEARS
As this year comes to a close, it also marks something incredibly special for us — Evotel turned 10!
In 2015, Evotel started with a simple idea and a lot of determination. We were a small team with a big belief: that great internet, backed by real service, could genuinely change people’s lives. Ten years later, looking back on this journey is both humbling and emotional.
We’ve grown through seasons of huge change. We’ve survived a global pandemic that pushed every business to its limits. We’ve rebranded, expanded, moved into bigger offices, and today, Evotel is proudly live in 21 areas across South Africa. But growth like this doesn’t happen without people standing shoulder to shoulder through every high and low.
To our clients — thank you for trusting us with your homes, your work, your streaming nights, and your businesses.
To our contractors and suppliers — thank you for showing up, often behind the scenes, and making the work possible.
And to our friends, partners, and supporters — thank you for believing in Evotel, even in the early days.
Most of all, we want to thank every single employee who has ever worked at Evotel. Past and present. Every role mattered. Every contribution counted. You laid the bricks, one by one, that built the company we are today. Evotel exists because of you.
Evotel Marketing Manager Nadia Smith says:
“Although I’ve personally only been part of the Evotel journey for the past four years, I’ve watched — and been part of — a steady shift toward becoming better, faster, and smarter. We’ve learned by listening, by adapting, and by being willing to change when something isn’t good enough.”
“One of our greatest strengths is that we do what many larger corporations struggle to do — we move quickly. We see the gaps, we fill them, and we make decisions with our customers in mind. That agility keeps us human, responsive, and connected to the people we serve.”
“At our core, Evotel is about connection — not just fibre lines in the ground, but people. We care deeply about the communities we operate in, about connecting schools, learners, families, and businesses.”
“Access to the internet means access to education, opportunity, information, and entertainment. It opens doors, creates choices, and changes futures.”
Service has always been - and will always beEvotel’s heartbeat.
Smith also says: “Technology will always move forward, but service is what people remember. If you take care of your customers, everything else follows.”
“That focus has helped us build real, lasting trust, reflected in Evotel’s consistent place in the Top 5 Fibre ISPs on HelloPeter over the years. We don’t take that lightly — it represents thousands of real interactions and a team that genuinely cares about getting it right.”
As we head into the festive season, we’re reminded of what truly matters: slowing down, reconnecting, and looking ahead with hope. Christmas is a time for gratitude, and we are deeply grateful for every person who has been part of the Evotel story so far.
From our family to yours, we wish you a Christmas filled with warmth, rest, and hope, and a New Year full of opportunity.
We look forward to the next decade — continuing to grow, to serve, to connect more people, and to do even better in the years ahead.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to connecting and servicing you in the new year and beyond.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH –OCTOBER 2025
Evotel proudly recognises its Employee of the Month for October 2025, celebrating a remarkable individual whose journey reflects resilience, commitment, and an unwavering passion for people. Growing up between Johannesburg and Nelspruit, she experienced the energy of the city alongside the warmth of a close-knit community. Some of her fondest memories trace back to sunlit family trips to the beaches of Ponta do Ouro—moments that shaped her appreciation for connection, balance, and joy.
Raised on the values of respect, responsibility, and hard work, she carried these principles into adulthood. Although she once dreamed of becoming a pediatrician, her path took a different turn when she pursued basic bookkeeping after school—a challenge she undertook to prove to herself that she could exceed expectations. Earning distinctions and ranking among the top in her class affirmed her determination and self-belief.
Her professional journey began in the logistics industry as an Operations Administrator, where she learned the importance of customer service and working with diverse teams. A growing fascination with the technology sector eventually drew her toward the fibre industry— an arena she admired for its role in powering communication, innovation, and growth.
Evotel’s strong reputation in the fibre space is what first captured her attention. From her very first day, she was welcomed into a collaborative environment where dedication and teamwork form the backbone of the organisation. Although adjusting to new systems and processes presented early challenges, she overcame them through curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to learn from colleagues. Skills gained from previous roles— communication, attention to detail, problemsolving, and the ability to perform under pressure—quickly became key strengths in her HR role.
Today, her work revolves around supporting employees across the business and ensuring smooth HR operations. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, and she takes pride in contributing to an environment where staff feel supported, heard, and empowered. Among her proudest achievements is her role in streamlining Evotel’s migration to a new HR system, a project that improved efficiency and enhanced the overall employee experience.
Her time at Evotel has shaped both her professional and personal growth. She has become more confident, more adaptable, and more solution-driven, learning along the way that teamwork truly amplifies success. She describes Evotel’s culture as collaborative and passionate—an environment where individuals strive for excellence while supporting one another.
Being named Employee of the Month was an honour that deeply moved her. She attributes the recognition to her consistency, dedication, and commitment to going the extra mile for both staff and the organisation. The award serves as both a personal affirmation and a professional motivator, inspiring her to continue growing, take on new challenges, and contribute meaningfully to Evotel’s vision.
Looking ahead, she aims to further strengthen HR initiatives that enhance employee experience, while also focusing on expanding her skills beyond the workplace. She encourages new employees to be proactive, open to learning, and generous with support— qualities that have clearly guided her own success.
She expresses heartfelt gratitude to her mentor, Johan Barkhuizen, whose guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in her development. His influence has played a significant role in shaping the confident, capable professional she has become.
Evotel congratulates her on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates the dedication, warmth, and excellence she brings to the company each day.
