By Zipho Ndwayana
Several households in Extension 6 have been left without internet access after Fibertime installers failed to complete installations that began months ago, leaving community members frustrated as data costs continue to rise.
The affected residents say Fibertime installation crews visited their homes approximately two to three months ago, installing fibre infrastructure and promising to return the following day to complete the router installation. However, the crews moved to other areas of the extension without finishing the work.
“About two to three months ago, the guys who install these routers came to my house to install a board and wires. They told me they would return tomorrow to install the router and finish the process,” said one anonymous community member. “I have been waiting since I heard they moved to the other side of the extension (Ngasedamini), leaving us without any direction.”
The situation has created a two-tier system within Extension 6, where some households enjoy uncapped internet access for R5 per day while others continue to rely on expensive mobile data.
“Fibertime has been lifesaving because before I used almost R15 on mobile data daily,” said one connected resident.
Fibertime, founded by entrepreneur Allan Knott-Craig in collaboration with VulaCoin, launched an intensive installation project in Makhanda at the beginning of 2025. The company provides free equipment, including routers and Gizzu backup devices that maintain internet connectivity during load shedding.
Users purchase daily R5 vouchers at local spaza shops or via banking apps, with each voucher providing 24 hours of uncapped internet access to one device.
When contacted about the incomplete installations in Extension 6, Fibertime’s central office said they were unaware of the situation and committed to addressing it. However, affected residents remain without connectivity as data costs continue to increase.
The company has already connected over 1,000 homes across Extensions 5, 6, and 7, with fibre optic cables stretching from Fingo Village to Extension 7, including areas along Jacob Zuma Drive and near Nombulelo Secondary School.
