South Africa Launches Mobile Digital Lab in Phokeng — Rural Youth to Get Skills Training Despite 13M Still Offline

South Africa's Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, in partnership with Liquid Intelligent Technologies and the Royal Bafokeng Institute, launched a Mobile Digital Lab in Phokeng, North West Province on approximately May 26, 2026. The initiative targets rural and township youth aged 15–30 with hands-on training in digital skills, connectivity basics, and emerging technologies. The program is part of Minister Solly Malatsi's broader digital inclusion campaign launched this week, which also includes community WiFi hotspot expansions in underserved provinces and a renewed push to get Starlink operational in South Africa to extend rural coverage. The launch comes as South Africa confronts a paradox: while the country has 98.8% 4G coverage, approximately 13 million South Africans (~21%) remain offline — a usage gap driven by affordability, digital skills deficits, and device access barriers rather than lack of network signal. Tech Africa News noted the Phokeng lab is designed as a replicable model for deployment across North West Province's 22 municipalities.