Joza residents have been unable to use the computers at Duna library since they were delivered over two years ago.
Joza residents have been unable to use the computers at Duna library since they were delivered over two years ago.
Thieves have repeatedly hijacked the opportunity for local library users to connect to the internet, but there is hope that this could change soon, writes Zintle Ngubeni. Joza residents have been stranded on the information highway for years.
Before Cacadu District Municipality had even delivered computers to Duna Public Library in 2010, thieves had stolen the high-speed ADSL lines that Telkom had installed.
A division in the municipality called Connect with Cacadu then delivered the computers and a second batch of ADSL cables were installed. They too were stolen. Telkom refused to install a third set of ADSL lines after that.
This left the library at an impasse, with dormant computers lying around unused. Pointing to a sign on the Duna computer screens which reads 'Do not sit here, this is still being fixed', librarian Sizwe Lutshaba said: "People keep asking us what the situation is with the computers, but he can't give them an answer."
However, after Grocott's Mail asked local information technology experts about alternatives to ADSL, Connect with Cacadu has indicated that they could possibly foot the bill for these costs. A sales representative at IT Solutions, Kevin Koekemoer, said that a satellite dish could be installed that would pick up a signal connecting the eight desktop computers to the internet.
Depending on the infrastructure, it could take a few weeks to set up, an IT Solutions sales representative said. Costs for the venture would vary depending on the chosen pricing plan and this would have to be negotiated with the Cacadu municipality. According to Ryno Schoeman of Rhodes University's IT Division, another option would be to get routers from MTN or Vodacom.
They would need wireless adapters for all the PCs and this option would be SIM card-operated, he explained. Grocott's Mail will keep Duna library users informed as more information becomes available.
