SMART TOWNSHIPS
In 2021 the Department of Small Business Development – through its implementation agency , the Small Enterprise Development Agency ( Seda ) – put out a request for tenders to establish technology incubators and digital hubs in townships . Seda cited the fourth industrial revolution ( 4IR ) as one of the reasons for the tech incubators and digital hubs . There is no question that technology has the ability to respond to some of the challenges faced by township residents and those living in rural environments , including transforming them into more inclusive micro-economies .
At Gwakwani , a small , rural village located in the northern area of Limpopo which previously had significant issues with infrastructure , electricity , and telecommunications , including no access to technology , the introduction of basic 4IR technologies has resulted in a smart Internet-of-Things village that is operating successfully without municipal infrastructure . A partnership with the University of Johannesburg and Schneider Electric South Africa has reaped life-altering results for the local community including providing electricity and clean water . The first phase of the project included the installation of a solar powered water pumping station , a mini cellphone charging station , a security lighting system and a remote monitoring and communication system . The second phase of the project included the installation of solar lighting in households and the establishment of a local bakery which provides employment and bread to local residents .
However , it is the Stellenbosch township of Kayamandi that plans to be the first smart township in South Africa . In the latter half of 2022 the township embarked on a programme to implement a digital platform which is intended to serve as a catalyst for its digital vision . The idea behind smart
58 MARCH / APRIL 2023 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine