Thabong was a hive of activity on the long weekend of Women’s Day with the community of Welkom responding positively to Net Nine Nine’s passionate plea to take ownership of the fibre internet infrastructure that is being vandalised on a daily basis across the township.  

Net Nine Nine launched the first “Blow the whistle” campaign in Thabong this past weekend in an effort to curb network, tampering, infrastructure theft and intentional vandalism of its fibre network infrastructure. “Network damage is the biggest contributor to downtime on the network in the area, negatively affecting clients ability to reliably connect, says Head of marketing Richard Genlloud. Our hope is that this campaign will inspire our clients to play an active role in monitoring the network, and report tampering or damage so that maintenance and repair technicians can be dispatched in the fastest possible time.”

Net Nine Nine partnered with the 057 Chisanyama, and the Pule Maile Foundation to help educate residents on how they can assist in ensuring their internet connection remains stable.

Attendee’s of the event have vowed to keep an eye on the infrastructure during the Net Nine Nine “Shaya’Impempe” campaign where over 1000 whistles were donated to the people to use as an alert system when witnessing a crime bing committed.

The “Blow the Whistle” approach isn’t new in townships with the whistles model being used as a crime alert weapon to raise alarm to community members to pay attention and stop crime by informing the authorities when a crime is about to be unfold, or has already been committed.

The Sgangeni Grounds, just adjacent to Tswelopele Primary School, attracted over 1000 sports enthusiasts and political leaders to join in the whistle campaign where a Masters Football Tournament took place on Women’s Day, with James Ngake Street closed to traffic due to the day’s hectic proceedings.

The campaign was a resounding success and was graced with the presence of Free State Spokesperson, Shima Mahlatsi, Matjhabeng Municipality and ward Chairman, Lennox Mzwakhe  and Matjhabeng Sports Council President, Councillor Pule Maile.

Maile was key to the arrangements that saw Timmy’s Masters win the annual 057  Chisanyama Tournament, sponsored by Net Nine Nine, while Putswastene Masters walked away with silver, and Elvis took an individual prize of being Player of the Tournament.

The winner of the tournament pocketed a cool R10 000 and gold medals while R4000 cash prize and silver medals were reserved for second-placed team, and Kleinbooi “Styles” Taaibos was awarded a Recognition Award for his contribution to Free State football.    

Shima Mahlatsi cautioned people of Thabong that they will be left without any means of internet connection if they continue to allow the Net Nine Nine infrastructure to be destroyed “This network belongs to you, and here to enhance your standard of living”.

“I am disappointed to hear that the peace loving community of Thabong has resorted to tedious levels of crime of destroying our network connection. As a community, we are glad that this has been brought to our attention and we’ll ensure that none of these dull crimes continue. We will also mobilise and have our community policing forum (CPF) members on standby to support those who blow the whistle. It’s a simple exercise, we just need to protect the infrastructure that is in our yards, or on our pavements,” Mahlatsi quipped to the community.   

Pule Maile said sport is meant to unite the people hence they’ve opted for the Masters Tournament: “These are the bread winners at their respective homes. These are the people who pay monthly installments to have internet working for their family. They are the ones who will lift up the phone and call the police when they see crime happen.”

The South African police service was in attendance to support the “Blow the Whistle” campaign, and promised they will be on high alert to assist should tampering be reported to them.

It unfortunate to see people building informal fruit and vegetables stalls or informal housing from Net Nine Nine’s poles, as we know the positive impact that unimpaired access to the internet can have on the economy in towns like Thabong, and we know that while these acts may seem harmless they have lasting repercussions on residents ability to access work opportunities or learn new skills.

Tshepo Maphosho, Net Nine Nine’s Free State Regional Manager, helped educated the people of Thabong about the importance of every piece of equipment within the network, and informed the community how a single destroyed pole could temporarily disconnect everyone in the town.

“We don’t understand why our fibre network in the area keeps getting cut down, this is not like Eskom infrastructure, our network contains no precious metals that can be sold as scrap metal to earn money. Fibre cables are made of glass and plastic and neither have a value on the scrap market. I hope that soon the community will realise that there is more benefit to their lives with the network connected and supplying internet, then they can get from selling the poles or other fibre optic equipment.”

If you have access to the Net Nine Nine fibre network, you have been gifted one of the most affordable ways to connect to the internet across the whole of Africa, we need your assistance to report tampering so we can keep you online, help us ensure you are always able to connect to a world of opportunities.