Hellkom flyer initiative for townships [Archive]

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MaD

15-10-2004, 08:05 PM

Hi all,
I would like to know if anyone here can translate from English into Xhosa, Zulu and the other major SA languages. I am busy having a flyer created which outlines the facts on the Hellkom site for those who don't have access to the internet because of Government and Telkom's infinite greed. It will be a double sided black and white A5 flyer with the information South Africa's people needs to know. The country is suffering and the economy is taking a beating because business is being turned away every day due to the high barriers of entry. Telkom is a huge reason, if not the main one, that large companies don't come and settle in SA - why would they if those services cost them next to nothing where they are based now? We have the people, we have the infrastructure, we have the skills - now SA needs investment - and Government needs to change their attitude and force Telkom to lower prices in a big way for internet access and voice calls.

The overpricing has gone on for long enough and it's about time we get the message to the people who can't afford to call their family for longer than 5 minutes, and spend their money on Lotto tickets in the hope of winning back something, even if only R100. Most of the country cannot afford a Telkom line so they have turned to Prepaid cellular phones - another ripoff. They will henceforth be made aware of how they are being shafted by Government - it's their right to know how their right to communication is being abused.

Any translators? I would like to get these flyers out as soon as possible.

Where others have progress, we have Telkom.
Hellkom website - www.hellkom.co.za

kaspaas

16-10-2004, 08:14 AM

Can't help with the translation, but another thought:

I'm part of 3 small companies (20 people) pooling together overhead functions (admin etc).

We would love to appoint another person, but can't due to financial constraints.

But if our Telkom bill could be halved (read: Telkom rates were competitive with our international trading partners), we would save enough cash to appoint another 2 people to grow our enterprises faster.

I know of other enterprises in the same situation.

A very practical example of how Telkom is fostering unemployment!

South Africa needs World Class Broadband at World Competitive Prices.

Chris

16-10-2004, 03:58 PM

MaD, I know some Xhosa so I can help a bit, but not to complicated.
e-mail cjrooney@worldonline.co.za

Counting down...
123 days till the end of Hellkom

donn

18-10-2004, 12:21 AM

Go for it! I wish I could help with translation. Please could you put the pamphlets on your web site in PDF form, so they can be easily printed out without losing quality.

Perhaps the trade unions could help with translation and distribution? Or maybe we could get Internet Solutions or Sentech to sponsor them [;)]

<hr noshade size="1">
Donn Edwards <div align="right">MyWireless (http://privacy.4mg.com/MyWireless.html): Diva-style reliability, dial-up performance (or worse (http://privacy.4mg.com/MyWireless.html#WAITING))</div id="right">
“If our government ever goes bad, as sometimes happens in a democracy... As we extrapolate our [surveillance] technologies into the future, if the incumbency has that political advantage over their opposition, then if a bad government ever comes to power, it may be the last government we ever elect.” See http://privacy.4mg.com

mbs

18-10-2004, 01:15 AM

If you want the flyer thing to have any real impact, it's my very strong recommendation that you tone down any negatives you may include concerning Government, irrespective of the language employed. Rather position the content as being an attempt to assist Government in ensuring service delivery for its citizenry, and target the Telkom/Sentech cabal as the sondebokke. There are two sound reasons for this preferred approach - the majority of township residents are Government-aligned (even though not necessarily sympathetic), and the unions are Government 'partners'. Whilst this approach may be unpalatable and stick in your craw, a non-emotive situational assessment will cause you to realise that this is the best approach towards achieving your objectives...

ipodmusicman

18-10-2004, 11:08 AM

Wow, imagine getting it right to get the people who can't afford a telephone line, to back Hellkom! MaD, must the translator be able to translate any technical termanology? I mean, can I ask my domestic to help with the translation into Xhosa?

Spamtheman

18-10-2004, 03:36 PM

I think the important facts to point out are those that directly people whether or not they have a phoneline installed. Things like Telkom's effect on inflation and job creation, a couple actuall examples (like kaaspaas's) would probably help too.

Nickste

18-10-2004, 06:33 PM

MAD: I can ask the Xhosa teacher at school to help with Xhosa translation. There is another teacher who can speak zulu - at what level, i am unsure, but will give it a bash.

email address in signature.

Chow, Nick

Nick Smit
broadband@nicksmit dot za dot net

MaD

19-10-2004, 04:31 PM

I will be uploading the flyer to the Hellkom site in a while and we can chat in this thread what we should put in, take out etc and can also keep tab on the progress.. shot for the help!!

Where others have progress, we have Telkom.
Hellkom website - www.hellkom.co.za

Sneeky

19-10-2004, 07:23 PM

Great idea MaD!

LethalChicken

20-10-2004, 09:33 AM

You can ask some computer science varsity students. They will most likely do it for free and will have enough of a computer knowledge to not lose any of the technical stuff in translation

We are Telkom - Resistance is Futile - You will be Assimilated

MaD

20-10-2004, 09:53 AM

OK its up! Heavily work-in-progress but hopefully it will be finished sooner rather than later [;)]

http://www.hellkom.co.za/flyer/

Where others have progress, we have Telkom.
Hellkom website - www.hellkom.co.za

LethalChicken

20-10-2004, 10:17 AM

MaD: to play devils advocate here ... you do realize if your pamphlet does get the major circulation and the readership that you would like, and if people do take it seriously then they might take 'mass action' steps ... and in any such situation people could get hurt or worse ...

what I'm saying is that if you want a revolution, you must be prepared to face the consequences ...

... but then again I could just be talking out of my backside and they will either be ignored or telkom will get really worried and change it's evil ways [;)] ...

We are Telkom - Resistance is Futile - You will be Assimilated

MaD

20-10-2004, 10:39 AM

The absolute *last* thing anyone would want is for anyone to get hurt, but if there is mass action then that shows one that people are unhappy and things need to be fixed.

Its easy to word the flyer in a way to infuriate people (not the intention) and its equally easy to word it to just bring across the message to the people, which is what its aim is.. [;)]

Where others have progress, we have Telkom.
Hellkom website - www.hellkom.co.za

LethalChicken

20-10-2004, 12:15 PM

just have to remember that one person will usually be logical and rational ... any sort of mass of people is rarely rational on any level

We are Telkom - Resistance is Futile - You will be Assimilated

Karnaugh

23-10-2004, 10:03 AM

Black background is expensive - lots of ink, invert the colours...

Nickste

23-10-2004, 10:25 AM

agreed.

Nick Smit
broadband@nicksmit dot za dot net

nocilah

24-10-2004, 02:22 PM

ink is ink... when it comes to printing they go by numbers... the more you print the cheaper per unit...
Flyers are cheap as long as it is kept to one colour. Black ink on yellow paper is possibly the most effective...
I think yellow paper stock will be more then your usual white stock.

myWireless 128, 64, 48, 16 - depends on its mood.

LethalChicken

24-10-2004, 03:12 PM

Would be interesting if someone were to hack the telkom site and put that flyer on the home page ....

But ofcourse that would be highly illegal and immoral and I would personally strongly discourage and condemn any and all such activity (And I did not have sexual relations with that woman ... it was her sister)

We are Telkom - Resistance is Futile - You will be Assimilated

nocilah

24-10-2004, 10:49 PM

hmmm now that would be interesting wouldnt it? Ofcourse it would be illegal like you said... yup

myWireless 128, 64, 48, 16 - depends on its mood.

Decotey

14-11-2004, 09:22 PM

any update on flyers? have they gone out?

MaD

27-11-2004, 12:03 AM

At the moment im *still* getting quotes for the flyers in quantities of around 20,000 - 30,000 (the price differences are huge) so we'll see what happens. Sponsors would of course be great but this is being funded most likely from a bank loan by the looks of it so it may take a little bit longer than expected.. but happen it will, and very soon.

Where others have progress, we have Telkom.
Hellkom website - www.hellkom.co.za

Decotey

28-11-2004, 02:48 AM

Be careful of Telkom's lawyers.

Debbie

07-05-2005, 02:05 PM

ic see my latest comments on "causing a scene can be fun" in the Consumersim thread.

dominic

07-05-2005, 02:08 PM

Be careful of Telkom's lawyers.will happily vet the text if required :)

Debbie

07-05-2005, 02:13 PM

Great dominic, we will definitely need a lawyer to give it the once over before it goes out.