From L – R : Mr Gerard Naidoo Executive Head: Property Estate Management at MAST and Advocate Linda Zama Deputy Chairperson of Ingonyama Trust Board during the signing ceremony between MAST and Ingonyama Trust.
MONDAY, 14 APRIL 2025
Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa — The Ingonyama Trust Board is proud to announce a landmark agreement with MAST, the largest tower owner and operator in South Africa. This strategic partnership marks a major step toward bridging the digital divide in rural KwaZulu-Natal by rolling out cellular telephone towers across Ingonyama Trust land. As the legal landowner of trust land in the province, the Ingonyama Trust is committed to empowering traditional council areas through enhanced digital infrastructure.
This initiative will significantly boost connectivity in communities that have historically been underserved, enabling broader access to wireless internet and digital services.
“This is a landmark agreement because it helps communities on traditional land to have reliable cellular telephone infrastructure. This will allow us to communicate effectively with each other, give school learners an opportunity to complete their studies, and enhance businesses through this initiative,” said the Deputy Chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board.
“There are places where you find that there is no cellular network coverage because there are no towers. What is important is that this relationship will continue until we are able to do other things jointly, such as installing WiFi in rural schools.”
She went on to urge members of the communities to ensure they protect this infrastructure from vandals who steal batteries and other vital components of the cellular phone towers.
The rollout of cellular towers will also bring tangible economic benefits, with rental income from tower installations being allocated directly to the affected traditional councils. These funds will support local development efforts and further the Trust’s mission of unlocking rural land for the benefit of its people.
This partnership reflects the Trust’s dedication to emancipating rural communities from technological challenges and equipping them with access to relevant, up-to-date information in an increasingly digital world.
