Friends of Free Internet demand ‘mahala’ internet in SA

A new civil society coalition called "Friends of Free Internet" has launched in South Africa, demanding that internet access be made completely free, or "mahala," for all citizens. We are backed by more than 80 organisations and argue that connectivity is a fundamental right and a public good that should be subsidised through higher taxes on private sector mobile operators. While we acknowledge government promises of free monthly data per household and the license conditions from the 2022 spectrum auction, we remain deeply sceptical. We accuse mobile corporations of putting profit before people and the state of consistently missing its connectivity targets. We insist that only sustained public pressure will force real change and bridge the country's persistent digital divide.