Johannesburg - In the digital age of social media networks, it is almost impossible to go a day without surfing the net.
The #DataMustFall campaign that did the rounds for most of last year challenged the high costs of data in South Africa that apparently infringe on this “right”.
With the cost of data here still high, young people are increasingly resorting to wi-fi for free connectivity.
For many, it has become somewhat of a basic human right, so it is no surprise to see the number of people flocking to free hotspots in public areas and spending hours there to surf the net. Most of it is provided by the City of Joburg.
But what do people really get up to on the net? The Sunday Independent spoke to young people in the Joburg CBD and Soweto, who huddle around hotspots for connectivity.
For Khensani Ntsagwisi, from Orlando East, wi-fi helps her with job-hunting. “I’ve been getting my connectivity at the Rea Vaya station for six months now. Data costs a lot of money and doesn’t last long. Wi-fi is much more convenient for me.”
Others, like Thando Bloss, 19, admit to sticking around for several hours. He uses the wi-fi for school purposes. “I use it to check up on missing tutorials from class, and also to prepare for my preliminary exams,” says the Grade 12 pupil from Willow Crescent Secondary School.
Bloss sits for about five hours for connectivity. “I don’t have the money to buy airtime or data so I come all the way from Zone 6 once a week to use the free wi-fi.
“I wouldn’t be able to get the tutorials on data alone. Data would only last me for about an hour and from there I would need to buy again and again. So the wi-fi here is very convenient.”
Tebogo Tswinki, also from Orlando East, updates his software. “Using Facebook and Instagram can be quite expensive when using my own data. So I usually sit here for about an hour, depending on how strong the signal is,” he says.
Tswinki echoes the cries of data being expensive: “On a normal day, I use about 500 MB of data. While there are internet cafés available around, the wi-fi here is always better. I also use it for market research.”
Lloyd Maseko, 42, doesn’t only use the net for social media. He also uses it to download porn. “I use the free wi-fi on my way to work for social media, to catch up on the news, and I download porn as well,” he say candidly. “Sometimes when the signal is weak (to download porn), I just chat with people.”
Bradley Manala mainly uses the free wi-fi at Noordgesig Rea Vaya bus station to check what jobs are there online.
Joburg CBD also has a high number of youngsters flooding wi-fi hotspots.
Among them is Katlego Kgasibe, 18, a student. “When I sit here (Library Gardens) for most of my day, it is for educational purposes and I usually download question papers.
“I come to the CBD when I don’t have data.
“I buy 1Gig of data which lasts me for about two weeks. When I’m not using wi-fi for educational purposes, I use it for social media,” Kgasibe says.
Bradley Manala, 28, is a frequent visitor at the Noordgesig Rea Vaya.
“I supported the #DataMustFall campaign because data is expensive.
“The wi-fi here is very helpful during weekends and public holidays when one is free. I use it for job-searching. I am currently working but I am looking for another job so I‘m usually on Gumtree and OLX,” he says.
“The signal does, however, become slow and weak when there is a group of us here trying to connect. It can become difficult to connect. I surf as much I need to and go.”
The users acknowledge there are drawbacks to internet use. On one hand, it contains vast amounts of information that can be easily accessed. On the other hand, they say, individuals could become vulnerable to scams, misinformation and exploitation.