A new service is offering students who are involved in #FeesMustFall protests the ability to request free data bundles from Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and Telkom.<\/p>\n
The system is a donation-based service, where people can fund airtime for students who are requesting free data.<\/p>\n
The initiative, started by Ruark Ferreira from Ekaya, states: \u201cThe students on the ground need to document this movement to the world\u201d.<\/p>\n
It added that the high cost of mobile data is a constraint to many students, which may limit their ability to use media to show the world what is happening.<\/p>\n
A call for free data also came from the Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula, who tweeted: \u201cDear MTN, Vodacom, and Cell C, today would be a good day for FREE DATA to help students document the history they’re writing\u201d.<\/p>\n
Donors are requested to complete a basic Google form, after which they can see data requests from students.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou then login to your Internet banking or mobile banking app and buy a 100MB data bundle for one (or more if you can) student. Once you’re done, you add a “Yes” next to their entry so we don\u2019t double donate to one student.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ferreira said the system is safe, as no money is paid to a third party. \u201cDonors manually use online banking to buy airtime for the students,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said the system, which was launched on 22 October, has resulted in\u00a0around 2,000 mobile data\u00a0donations. Requests for data are also rapidly flowing in.<\/p>\n
The student request form is available here<\/a><\/strong>, while the donor application form is available here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n How funding for university students has dwindled in South Africa<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on universities in South Africa<\/h3>\n