Sponsored

Mncedisi Mayekiso, Managing Executive: Direct Sale - Public and Private Sector

Vodacom Business, through RT29, empowers municipalities and government departments to create secure, connected, and citizen-centric environments—bringing smart city visions to life with advanced digital infrastructure and innovation. Importantly, RT29 was ratified by National Treasury following a rigorous and highly technical vetting process to ensure that all participating suppliers meet strict standards of credibility, capability, and compliance. This assurance allows municipalities to procure with confidence, knowing they are engaging partners who have been thoroughly evaluated and approved.

“Our participation in RT29 streamlines and accelerates the procurement of integrated ICT solutions by removing traditional barriers such as lengthy tender processes and fragmented vendor engagements,” says Mncedisi Mayekiso, Vodacom Business’ Managing Executive: Direct Sales - Private and Public Sector. “It acts as a true catalyst for smart city enablement by fast-tracking access to IoT, cloud, connectivity, and data analytics solutions. These technologies foster interoperability across departments and municipalities, support digital transformation initiatives, and enable rapid, scalable deployments of infrastructure such as surveillance, environmental monitoring, and utility management.

“Vodacom Business has rolled out smart metering solutions across several regions, including Sol Plaatje Municipality, Naledi Municipality, Mogale Municipality, and Matzikama local municipalities,” says Mncedisi Mayekiso. “Municipalities have integrated smart metering into their infrastructure upgrade programmes, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—delivering reduced manual labour, improved billing accuracy, and greater citizen engagement.” He adds: “Mobile connectivity and next generation networks form the digital backbone of public services, enabling real-time, highspeed, and inclusive access to systems, data, and communication tools.

“Vodacom’s approach combines strategic partnerships with hyperscale providers and our own Virtual Data Centre to help government platforms manage fluctuating data demands while ensuring robust, multilayered security to protect sensitive citizen data and critical infrastructure,” says Mncedisi Mayekiso. High-speed networks power IoT deployments and enable edge connectivity, bringing processing closer to the data source for faster, more efficient operations. Digital services significantly enhance critical incident management and emergency response systems. For example, real-time Computer- Aided Dispatch (CAD) for ambulance services uses connected technology to track requests from call logging to patient delivery.

“IoT solutions leverage the network for secure, real-time video transmission, enabling live monitoring during emergencies. Cloud frameworks support traffic management through connected infrastructure, IoT sensors, and edge computing—delivering real-time data to identify patterns, optimise routes, improve road safety, and guide city infrastructure investments. These solutions are integrated with citizen-focused services like the Citizen Engagement app, which enables two-way communication, allowing residents to log service requests and track their resolution.”

Vodacom Business also helps municipalities comply with PoPIA and defend against cyber threats through consulting, compliance tools, and advanced defence mechanisms, while continuously reviewing regulatory posture. In addition, partnerships with third-party providers deliver integrated security awareness and data-driven human risk reporting. As municipalities transform, Vodacom Business ensures its platforms remain streamlined and designed to safeguard citizen data.

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