UMLAZI FEELs NET99’S WARMTH!

Thank you, Umlazi for an incredible, powerful and emotional welcome to South Africa’s second biggest township after Soweto.

Net Nine Nine’s invasion of Umlazi, like a new baby on earth, was overwhelming joyous, offered intense love, and a profound sense of transformation where the fibre network service provider was made to feel at home. 

The historic journey on 3 May 2025, started  with a feeling of anticipation and excitement, was met with a gradual realisation that life has been irrevocably changed when we adopted the first sections of Umlazi, who are currently having a feeling of glee with the super-fast internet connection. 

In a jamboree that blended the entire Umlazi community celebration with corporate ambition, Net Nine Nine made a grand entrance during the official launch at Musa’s Car Wash and Chesanyama at D-Section, into the local business scene.

The theme of the day was characterised by football’s Soweto Derby between two of South Africa’s biggest PSL teams, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, who met in a Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium on the day, and Net Nine Nine hosted an open-air big screen viewing event in the heart of Umlazi on a warm Saturday afternoon.

The launch drew a sizeable crowd of excited residents, eager not only to watch the high-stakes soccer match, but also to witness the birth of Net Nine Nine in Umlazi, which vows to invest in the community’s future where locals are to benefit from the network provider.

In fact, five schools – Swelihle Secondary School, Maphumuzana Primary School, Ekuthuthukeni Special School, Umgijimi Primary School and Zwelisithembiso Second School – are already repeating the rewards of Net Nine Nine being in their hood.

There was a vibrant mix of sports fever and togetherness when Net Nine Nine staff rolled up their sleeves at Musa’s Car Wash, flanked by the company’s Executives comprising Chief of Staff Nicholas Thipe, Chief Operations Officer Andrew Cohoe, Head of Marketing Richard Genlloud, and Huawei officials who graced the occasion, though not their first time in a township.

A massive big screen, connected to SuperSportTV, huge professional sound system, stadium-like seating arrangement under shades of gazebos, professional deejays, and disco lights, created a mini-soccer arena, with Net Nine Nine’s Zoleka Mashiane and Sizwe “Pastor Mbhombho” Magwaza drove the crowd into frenzy.

Umlazi is tech-driven with a sole aim of revolutionizing it with access to digital technology, which will create a moment of unity and make life easy for the people.

Back to the game which was clear as sunlight, there were oohs and aahs with every attempt to score, and groaning sounds when Pirates scored the winning goal to lead 2-1, and Chiefs fans felt betrayed towards the final whistle after one of theirs, Bradley Cross, was flashed with a red-card.

But after the game, the entire event ended with expressions of admiration for Net Nine Nine, and excitement uttered in response to what the ISP has done for their townships, where many alluded to fact that they haven’t had such fun in a while.

Thipe couldn’t hide his elation that over 60 000 homes in Umlazi will be connected with fibre internet, and schools will benefit, let alone the employment opportunities that Net99 had brought.

“It’s beautiful! The reception was very nice, the people have been waiting for us to come to their homes – it’s a historical moment. We’ve created employment to the young ones in Umlazi. They’re the ones who build the infrastructure, and the taxi operators have welcomed us by offering their workspace to brand and supply their clients with internet while waiting for their next journey. We were welcomed here despite the notion that it’s a difficult, politically challenged area.

“We as Net99, we’re thankful. We knew that we had to have Umlazi. This tells you the story, an indication that we’re not a fly by night. The store will operate like a regional office under Regional Manager, Robert Nene.”