Internet South Africa (ISA) held their AGM on 27 June 2024.
Members were invited to attend in person from Cape Town – GirlHype, Durban – Durban University of Technology, Johannesburg – Safe-Hub Soweto or online, via Zoom.
The executive committee for 2024/25 is:
Thoko Miya – Chair
William Stucke – Vice Chair
Wadzanai Chihombori-Ndlovu – Treasurer
Kodishang Tshwaane – Secretary
Sthembiso Xhakaza
Roland Giesler
Shaun Courtney
Jody Daniels
Mondli Mungwe
More MandaDear Internet South Africa Member,
By now you would have received a Call For Nominations for a new Executive Committee of your Chapter. We’ve indeed reached that time of the year, where we need to reflect on the past 12 months and discuss the future of the Chapter, at our Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The incumbent committee will be reporting back on the past year (2023/24).
Together with all the membership in attendance, we’ll be voting for a new Executive Committee and looking into the year ahead.
Please join us on Thursday, June 27 for our Annual General Meeting.
Please check your chapter notifications for online attendance details. Everyone is welcome and drinks and snacks will be provided to those attending in person.
We look forward to spending the afternoon with you.
Details:
Cape Town – GirlHype
Address: Waverly Business Park (Unit 2), Observatory
Durban – Durban University of Technology
Address: Ritson DC 1010, 7 Ritson Campus, Berea
Johannesburg – SafeHub Soweto
Address: Jabulani Multi-Purpose Centre, Reholweni St, Jabulani, Soweto
Online – Zoom
Meeting ID: 948 8662 7243
Passcode: 638666
Agenda:
15:00 Arrival, drinks and snacks
15:15 Zoom Channel will open and everyone to get settled
15:30 Meeting Officially Starts
AGM Pack:
Internet South Africa Constitution
Internet South Africa (ISA) held their AGM on 22 June 2023.
Members were invited to attend in person from Cape Town or Johannesburg or online, via Zoom.
The executive committee for 2023/24 is:
A copy of the presentation from the AGM can be viewed here.
Please join us on Thursday, June 22 for our Annual General Meeting.
We’ll discuss the past year, the year ahead and choose a new board.
Please check your chapter notifications for online attendance details. Everyone is welcome and drinks and snacks will be provided to those attending in person.
We look forward to spending the evening with you.
Details:
Venue 1: Protea Hotel, Wanderers
Venue 2: Fire and Ice, Cape Town
Zoom: Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
Schedule:
17:30-18:00 – Arrival, drinks and snacks
18:00 – Zoom Channel will open, everyone to get settled.
Voting:
Please remember to join the Whatsapp group here so that you can cast your vote for the executive committee on the night
The following people have been nominated as candidates for the board for 2023/24.
Elections will happen at this year’s AGM on 22 June.
The nominees are:
After graduating with an Elec Eng Masters, I’ve been in the internet game for nearly 30 years, since I founded one of SA’s first twelve ISPs. Having taken time off work as a volunteer in remote parts of the Eastern Cape and KZN, I went on to promote internet access across Africa and organised the initial funding for Schoolnet SA, 25 years ago. Back in the commercial world, as “Mr Data’ at MTN for 10 years, I launched the first mobile packet data services in South Africa, as well as 3G. I also started and ran a wholesale voice company. My studies on public Wi-Fi in the country with ICT Research Africa were widely quoted and I was sponsored to present the findings at the Internet Governance Forum in Mexico. I now head BMIT, an ICT Research company of 30 years, and we recently finalised the SA Connect Phase 2 Feasibility Study for government, which treasury approved but sadly government is delaying. I believe in a democratic, inclusive internet which should serve all South Africans and that we should promote the policies and approaches that work well. This includes increasing the role of civil society, and we need a stronger voice in saying how the internet should be governed. I chaired WAPA for 2 years and raised their profile from being seen as ‘cowboys’ to serious contributors to promoting broadband. I would love to serve on the ISOC committee and share the experience I do have, although I appreciate there is really amazing collective knowledge and talent within ISOC.
Shaun works in the Internet Service provider industry and has been involved in networking and computing for over 25 years with specific experience in interconnecting networks, regulation, security and DNS.
I am wholeheartedly committed to the mission of the Internet Society which are broadly speaking are three fold.
William was a founding member of ISOC-ZA, NameSpace and AfrISPA. He chaired all of them at some time. He’s currently on the Internet South Africa and SABEN Boards. He has contributed to the growth of the Internet in South Africa and in Africa in general for over 20 years.
He brings a wealth of experience and maturity to the ISA Board.
Originally from Ngqeleni Eastern Cape Province. She is a Lecture at MANCOSA, Cape Town Campus.
She completed both her BA and BA Honours at University of the Western Cape, Majoring in Language and Communication studies and IsiXhosa, she Completed Masters of Arts in African Languages at Rhodes University, and is currently pursuing PhD at the University of the Western Cape.
I want to be part of Internet Society board because the organization focuses also on reducing digital divide by ensuring that the under served communities and regions have access to benefits of the Internet. I want to contribute to initiatives aimed at providing connectivity, digital literacy, and technological resources to marginalized communities. I want to represent individuals from communities that may be left behind in the digital error if no one stands up and share ideas.
The Internet Society is dedicated to promoting an open, inclusive and internet for all, I will contribute to initiatives that ensures that the internet remains a global public resource that benefit people from diverse background regardless of their geographic location, economic status, or abilities.
Dr More Manda holds a PhD (Information Systems) from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Master of Information Technology from the University of Pretoria.
Dr Manda recently completed a an MBA at the Wits Business School. He has extensive experience in digital business, strategy, research and innovation management. Dr Manda is currently an Executive responsible for Strategy and Research and at the merSETA and a board member of Internet Society.
On the 1st of July he will be joining MINTEK as the Chief Technology Officer.
Dr Manda is a recipient of the 2018 Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) young scholar award. In 2018 he was also awarded the United Nations Government Fellowship.
I am eager to join the executive committee of the ISOC SA Chapter for the 2023/2024 term because it presents a valuable learning opportunity for me to delve into internet governance issues specific to South Africa. This experience will broaden my understanding of the intricacies involved in shaping the digital landscape of our country compared to other nations. By actively participating in discussions and initiatives, I will gain firsthand insights into the challenges faced by South Africans regarding internet access, digital rights, and cybersecurity. Being part of this committee will allow me to contribute my knowledge while expanding my own expertise, ultimately making a meaningful impact on the internet ecosystem in South Africa and Africa.
I am deeply passionate about advancing the development and accessibility of the internet in South Africa, and I bring a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to serving the needs of our digital community. With a background in South African Internet Governance, .ZA Domain Namespace Development, and website development within the Joomla CMS opensource groups, I have actively contributed to shaping the digital landscape in our country.
Furthermore, my involvement in the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies SMME’s in Tech Development Work Groups has given me valuable insights into the needs and challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises in the technology sector.
As a member of the Internet Society South Africa executive committee, my primary goal is to develop impactful programs that empower and strengthen emerging Internet Service Providers.
By focusing on the creation of viable products and services, we can not only bridge the digital divide but also foster sustainable employment opportunities within the new digital economy of South Africa and beyond.
In addition, I am passionate about mentoring and guiding the next generation, equipping them with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital era. Through my involvement in the Internet Society South Africa executive committee, I envision creating meaningful and lasting impacts that uplift individuals and communities. I firmly believe that the internet has the power to transform lives, enhance healthcare access, and unlock economic opportunities for communities in need.
I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share our vision of an inclusive and accessible internet for all. Together, we can mobilize resources, raise awareness, and drive positive change in our digital society. I am fully committed to working towards our objectives and causes, and I am eager to contribute my expertise to the Internet Society South Africa.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I am ready to dedicate my energy and knowledge to the important work ahead
Network Engineering is one of my superpowers and I’m passionate about making the internet accessible for all. I would like to see more participation in the Internet Society SA Chapter from other provinces or cities (besides JHB and CPT). I work on projects that make the internet in Africa more secure (e.g. Encryption, MANRS, etc) both professionally and as a hobby.
Being on the SA Chapter board allows me to have more impact with the work I do.
Alan has served in various leadership positions including Chairman of the Internet Society of South Africa (current), Founder and Treasurer of the .za Domain Name Authority, Co-Founder and Treasurer of the Public Interest Registry (A US based Internet registry operator) and Co-Founder of AfriNIC (The Regional Internet Registry Operator).
Alan is widely experienced in the telecoms regulations and all things Internet. He considers himself an Internet public servant and committed to this role over 25 years.
Awaiting bio
Internet South Africa (ISA) held their AGM on 11 May 2022.
Members were invited to attend in person from Cape Town or Johannesburg or online, via Zoom.
The board for 2021/22 is:
The minutes from the AGM can be viewed here and the full presentation can be watched on YouTube.
Project: Mooiplaas Wi-Fi Community Network
Client: Nyara Youth Development
Service Provider: Coenraad Loubser, Wish.org.za
Introduction
The coastline north of East London is known for its stunning views and vistas. Grasslands blend seamlessly into rainforest into bushveld. The reason for these beautiful vistas is due to the hilly terrain which meanders interchangeably from 300m above sea level to 150m above sea level for about 100 kilometers until you finally reach Mthatha. Should you rather decide to visit the coastal village of Haga Haga, you will drive a dramatic descent from 300m to sea level in about 45 minutes. This descent, while beautiful on the eye, makes connectivity a nightmare for the local population who have struggled for years to get access to basic network infrastructure.
One NPO decided to take matters into their own hands.
The Plan
Robyn from Nyara Youth Development contacted Coenraad Loubser from Wish at the end of 2021 looking for a partner to help set up a local community network in Nyara Village. She had raised initial funding through an international crowd funding website and had enough funds to buy the basic hardware.
The first thing to do was to find a local fibre provider and to identify high sites with line of sight to the local villages:
A few potential providers were identified and approached. Location was just as big a factor as a willingness to help. Local service providers came to test their links but could not help. Finally a business in East London agreed to become part of the project.
Next, an intermediary high-site needed to be found:
Over 20 potential sites were identified, but after visiting all of them only 4 were potentially viable. Of these, 2 were not willing to help and 1 was an existing municipal tower that would pose additional financial and administrative obstacles, which left the network with just one potentially viable option: a farm surrounded by a lot of tall trees.
The hardware
Normally surveying from a site takes less than an hour. Three days of surveying was required to find a suitable location on the farm. Finally, point-to-point microwave links were set up from the Business in the urban center, 20 km to the farm, and from there 15 km to Nyara Village.
The result
Nyara Village now has a 50Mbps Wi-Fi connection that is available to anyone to use.
At the moment connecting to the hotspot is free, as there is only a small zone in which the hotspot is active, but there are plans to expand the hotspot area and then charge a small fee via vouchers which will make the project sustainable in the long term.
How do LEO Satellites fit into the above?
While the above project took about 3 weeks, funding and resource availability, as well as the number of sites that needed to be visited, and people who had to be negotiated with, meant that it was executed over 11 months of elapsed time. Not to mention the availability of hardware in an industry still plagued by post-Covid shortages.
If LEOS had been readily available this time period could have been significantly reduced, the level of expertise needed wouldn’t have been so high, and more of the funding could have been used to install Wi-Fi hotspots.
Summary
Pros of having standard terrestrial backbones
Pros of LEO Satellites:
Further Reading:
Read more about Robyn and her journey here.
Also see how Internet South Africa supported Qokolweni Community Network.
Please join us on Wednesday May 11 for our Annual General Meeting.
We’ll discuss the past year, the year ahead and choose a new board.
Please check your chapter notifications for online attendance details. Everyone is welcome and drinks and snacks will be provided to those attending in person.
We look forward to spending the evening with you.
Details:
Venue 1: Protea Hotel, Wanderers
Venue 2: Fire and Ice, Cape Town
Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84209563957
Please RSVP here:
https://forms.gle/kzLQscW8VWne1ppR9
Schedule:
17:30-18:30 – Arrival, drinks and snacks
18:30: Zoom Channel will open, everyone to get settled.
AGM Pack:
Internet South Africa Constitution
Previous Minutes
Internet South Africa (ISA) held their AGM on 24 June 2021.
Members were invited to attend in person at the Protea Fire and Ice Hotel or online, via Zoom.
The following members were elected to the board and met the following week to select assignments.
The board for 2021/22 is:
The minutes from the AGM can be viewed here
Please join us on Thursday July 24 for our Annual General Meeting.
We’ll discuss the past year, the year ahead and choose a new board.
Please check your chapter notifications for online attendance details. Everyone is welcome and drinks and snacks will be provided to those attending in person.
We look forward to spending the evening with you.
Details:
Where: Protea Hotel Fire & Ice!, Cape Town
Date: July 24, 2021
Time: 17:30 for 18:30