Digital inclusion takes centre stage at Soweto technology event

ABT Telecoms, in partnership with South West Gauteng College hosted the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) on May 15 at George Tabor Campus, Dube.

The event brought together thought leaders, industry experts, and young people to explore the transformative impact of digital technologies.

The 2026 WTISD theme highlighted how digital technologies are essential tools that empower communities, bridge inequalities, and create sustainable opportunities in a rapidly evolving global economy.

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Speaking to Urban News, ABT Telecoms solution architect and marketing manager, Thando Luthuli, said the event aimed to help students and the broader Soweto community to understand the importance of an interconnected digital world and what it means for their future.

“If you understand how data and information are stored, you will realise that everything has moved digitally.

“So, if you do not have access to data and connectivity, you are being left out of important conversations and knowledge platforms.

“We now learn through internet-based education portals, and there are hybrid learning systems even at universities, so if you are outside that conversation, you are at a significant disadvantage,” said Luthuli.

He further stated that he wants people to understand the pathways into the digital space, not only as consumers of technology, but also as creators, curators, and managers of it.

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Luthuli said this includes learning how to develop programmes and applications, as well as how to repair devices such as cellphones that receive and process digital information.

Speaking to students and attendees at the event, Institutional SRC President, Lethabo Tshimole, said they have gathered under a theme that speaks directly to the reality of their generation: ‘Digital Lifelines – Strengthening Resilience in a Connected World.

Tshimole said this theme reminds them that technology is no longer something they use only when they need it.

“Technology has become a lifeline, a bridge that connects us to opportunity, to information, to each other, and to the future we are building.

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“For many young people in South Africa, access to digital tools determines access to progress. It determines whether a student can submit an assignment, apply for NSFAS, search for a job, or start a business. Digital inclusion is not a privilege for the few; it is a right that must be extended to all,” explains Tshimole.

He further stated that technology is not replacing us; it is empowering us. It is giving us the tools to rewrite our stories, uplift our communities, and shape a South Africa that is connected, competitive, and inclusive.