Several government ministers and senior officials will hold a public Imbizo in the Free State later this week, during which another of the underserviced area licensees (USALs) will launch its consortium.
Minister of communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, along with the minister of home affairs, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, minister of education, Naledi Pandor as well as provincial MECs and senior officials from all levels of government will visit the Lejweleputswa District as part of the government`s National Imbizo Week programme.
The Imbizo is designed as a forum for members of the public to raise issues, suggestions and make proposals on how the people can work with government towards building a better nation.
One of the USAL licensees, the Bokamoso Consortium project - operating as B-Tel - will use the occasion to launch its service to the people of the district.
Bokamoso is one of several USALs to be granted a licence as part of the Department of Communications` drive to promote access to information and communication technologies in rural areas, in order to bridge the digital divide.
The consortium will also receive a R5 million grant from the Universal Service Fund in order to assist it with the setting-up of its telecommunications infrastructure.
The Imbizo will be held on 8 April at 11am at the Meloding Stadium in Virginia in the Free State`s Lejweleputswa District.
The following day, Matsepe-Casaburri will hand over computers and printers to the Viljoenskroon Library. These have been made available through the communication department`s Research Unit Fund as part of its broader strategy to increase ICT usage for social development.
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