Coal miner Seriti Resources' Seriti Power Community Trust has handed the Monyetla Free WiFi project, which will give more than 500 households in the Phola community access to free, unlimited, uncapped Internet, over.

The project, implemented by WiFi service provider Ikeja Wireless, will also make WiFi hotspots available throughout the community, thereby allowing people to easily connect to the Internet for free.

The project was done in close consultation with the Phola community and members have been encouraged to sign up to host a hotspot at their homes.

This will provide free Internet for each specific household and also play a vital role in providing digital access to their neighbours and friends, Seriti Resources says.

The project has received overwhelming support from the community, and more than 8 000 individuals pre-registered to host hotspots before the launch of the project.

The 500 households will be the first to enjoy seamless access to the Internet when the network launches.

“We are very proud to be able to improve the lives of the Phola community by providing unlimited access to information, education materials and platforms, online services, social media platforms and entertainment because this will open a world of opportunities,” says Seriti CEO Mike Teke.

“We ask the community to take care of this infrastructure so the plans we put in place today will continue to benefit people well into the future,” he adds.

This project is part of the first phase of the Seriti Power WiFi project, which will also be rolled out in Klarinet, Khutala and KwaGuqa. Seriti has committed to spend R151-million towards this project over a three-year period.

“The benefits of this project will have a direct positive impact on the lives of all Phola community members for a long time to come,” said Ikeja Wireless founder and CEO Peter Coetzee.

Meanwhile, the Seriti Power Community Trust also handed over the R545 Phola intersection project.

This project entailed pavement repairs and upgrades, as well as clearing walkways, and creating road markings that will allow pedestrians to walk safely, 23 new bus shelters, 16 new solar-powered high-mast lights, as well as repairing 47 existing municipality electrical high-mast lights to the value of R32-million.