Project Isizwe: Alan Knott-Craig Jr. resurfaces
Alan Knott-Craig Jr, former head of Mxit and World of Avatar (and before that iBurst), has resurfaced as the founder of Project Isizwe.
Project Isizwe is a non-profit organisation with the stated goal of bringing free Internet to Africa.
News of the organisation emerged at a recent press briefing held by the City of Tshwane in Centurion for its new free Wi-Fi project.
Knott-Craig was involved in rolling out free Wi-Fi in Stellenbosch through Mxit prior to his sudden departure from the company in October 2012.
From Mxit to Project Isizwe
Speaking at the media briefing for the Tshwane free Wi-Fi project, Knott-Craig told attendees that a few months ago he found himself in the position of so many South Africans: young and unemployed.
Knott-Craig said that while he was deciding what to do next he decided that he wanted to make a difference, and so from the Stellenbosch free Wi-Fi project, Project Isizwe was born in April 2013.
He explained that he originally anticipated that he would run Project Isizwe on the side while managing another for-profit venture, but said that Isizwe has grown to demand most of his time.
Asked where else in Africa Project Isizwe is in discussions to roll out free Wi-Fi, Knott-Craig said that they are talking to local governments in Namibia and Zambia.
However, Tshwane is going to be the first city on the whole continent to roll out free Wi-Fi aimed at citizens that can’t afford it, Knott-Craig said.
He said that he has been impressed by the eagerness and the vision shown by the metropolitan municipality.
When asked by journalists why other African cities had not embarked on a project similar to Tshwane’s, Knott-Craig said that his unemployment might have something to do with it.
“There are not many people who know the system that aren’t working like me,” he said.
More free Wi-Fi and Alan Knott-Craig Jr. news
Alan Knott-Craig Jnr leaves Mxit
Free Stellenbosch WiFi second phase now live
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