About us
DIGITAL COUNCIL AFRICA: TRANSFORMING AFRICA'S DIGITAL FOOTPRINT
The Digital Council Africa is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to leveraging digital infrastructure to enhance African citizens’ quality of life and maintain global competitiveness. Established in 2010 as the FTTx Council Africa, the association fosters dialogue among stakeholders to maximize the societal benefits of digital access and promote equality, inclusivity, and digital adoption.
Our Mission and Commitment
EQUALITY AND INCLUSIVITY: Our mission is to ensure all Africans have access to quality connectivity and we do so by facilitating dialogue between the public and private sectors, solving complex issues through collaborative policy development and adoption and finding innovative solutions.
We support and work with both the public and private sectors on policy and regulatory matters, promoting best practices and standards, and encouraging broad-based investment in digital skills to improve lives across Africa.
Who We Serve
The Digital Council Africa engages a diverse range of stakeholders, including:
– Government
– Private companies and investors
– Regulatory bodies
– Industry organisations
– End users and consumers
Focus Areas
Our initiatives focus on several key areas:
– Mechanisms to achieve social and digital inclusion
– Building an industry conducive to growing investment
– Developing skills in the digital infrastructure sector
– Creating employment in the technology sector
– Ensuring privacy and trust in digital innovations
– Policy development
We believe that digital transformation is about putting people first. By promoting digital access and connectivity, we strive to give African countries and their citizens the tools they need to thrive in the global marketplace. Through education and consultation, we aim to be the industry’s voice, advocating for a digitally inclusive and prosperous future for all Africans.
BOARD MEMBERS
ANDILE NGCABA
PRESIDENT
Andile Ngcaba is a South African businessman who has devoted most of his life and career to the field of technology, in particular communications. He is chairman, founder & majority shareholder of investment group Convergence Partners, an impact investment firm that seeks to accelerate communications access and ICT infrastructure development on the Continent, and therefore focusing on initiatives that increase availability of communications, broadband services and new technology offerings to the people of Africa.
JUANITA CLARK
CEO
With almost 20 years’ experience in the Telecomms industry, and having worked at multiple technology layers in the telecommunications industry, Juanita Clark is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the FTTH Council Africa, based in Midrand, South Africa. Juanita is also co-founder of the Fibre Optic Association Africa, a society for fibre optic professionals with a core focus on skills development.
THINUS MULDER
TREASURER
Thinus obtained a BCom Accounting Honours degree and a Certificate in the Theory of Accounting from the University of Pretoria in 1989. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1992, Thinus has held various top positions with SARS, Standard Bank, and the JSE-listed AST Group, where he was the Financial Director. In 2005, he joined the Imperial Group as Financial Director of the Lindsay Saker Group and became Managing Director two years later. He was also a member of the main board of the Imperial Motor Division and served on a number of Audit Committees in the Imperial Group, including the Regent Insurance Group. He joined Dark Fibre Africa Group [Thinus Mulder] (DFA) in 2008 as the CFO and Executive Director and was appointed as the CEO in 2015, a position he held to September 2021. He was leading the boards of all the DFA group companies, including MCT, Conduct, SADV and SqwidNet. He joined the Board of Herotel in March 2022 and was appointed the Chairperson of the Board in June 2022. He is the Treasurer of the DCA.
Alex Masu
BOARD MEMBER
Alex Masu heads up the Africa and Middle East Network Investments team for Meta, which is responsible for driving infrastructure investment for subsea cables, terrestrial fibre and the enablement of carrier-neutral colocation sites. This team is currently responsible for executing the 2Africa cable system, which is currently
the most extensive subsea fibre optic cable system in the world – connecting Africa, Europe and the Middle East with 46 landings in 33 countries. He was previously an Executive Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at the Vodacom Group, where he led the corporate finance and capital raise efforts for the Global Partnership Ethiopia consortium bid (including Safaricom, Vodacom, Vodafone, Sumitomo and CDC) for a new telco licence in Ethiopia. Amongst other deals, he was also responsible for acquiring Vodafone’s current global IoT platform.
Alex earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Cape Town.
MORWESI RAMPHENYANE
BOARD MEMBER
Morwesi is a seasoned Telecoms professional with experience acquired over 20 years in the sector. She is currently the Chief Administration Officer responsible for Human Resource, Legal and Procurement & Supply Chain Management for Openserve. She was previously responsible for the Network Operations in KZN, Free State and the NorthernCape as Chief Regional Officer and improved on network efficiencies and connectivity in the regions. In her career at Telkom/Openserve, she also previously headed Network Procurement and successfully lead packet optical transport network negotiations with strategic partners. She is passionate about the power of connectivity as an enabler for economic growth, social progress and business collaborations that change people’s lives.
DIETLOF MARE
BOARD MEMBER
Dietlof Mare is the CEO of Vumatel, South Africa’s leading open access fibre to the home (FTTH) operator, a position he has held since May 2018. To date, he has been a driving force behind the company’s focus on and commitment to bringing better connectivity, through fibre networks, to all South Africans. Under his leadership, the fibre network operator launched a world-first of its kind prepaid platform for fibre-to-the-home services for lower income communities and has since its inception, connected homes across five such communities.
Charis Jenkins
BOARD MEMBER
Charis Jenkins has over 15 years of experience in strategic communications,
public policy advocacy, intergovernmental relations, and regulatory affairs. As the Senior Manager of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Africa at SBA Communications Corporation, she leads the development and implementation of regulatory strategies to advance telecommunications infrastructure
and promote inclusive digital connectivity across SBA’s markets in Africa. Prior to joining SBA, Charis served as an Intergovernmental and International Relations Advisor at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA),
where she worked with national and international stakeholders to advance local government priorities. Her career also includes experience in both development, and corporate communications, with a focus on stakeholder
engagement at the Department Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, respectively. Charis holds an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School, a Bachelor of Public Administration Honours, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.
ANDREW BARENDSE
BOARD MEMBER
Andrew Barendse is a seasoned executive, academic and board member. As an executive, he is the managing executive for regulatory affairs and public policy at Vodacom SA, and, a former group executive of government relations & public policy at Telkom. As an academic, he is a visiting adjunct professor at the LINK Centre, and, a former assistant professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. As a board member, he is a non-executive director of MAST (Vodacom Tower Company), and, a former non-executive director of Telkom International, and, of the International Institute of Communications. Andrew holds advanced degrees in economics (PhD from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands), legal studies (Master of Legal Studies from Washington State University in St Louis Missouri), and, business administration (Master of Business Administration from the University of Cape Town).
JAN-JAN BEZUIDENHOUT
BOARD MEMBER
Jan-Jan Bezuidenhout is the deputy CEO of MetroFibre Neworx and has served on its board and executive committee since 2013. MetroFibre Networx is a carrier class Ethernet (CE 2.0) infrastructure company, that provides highly managed fibre optic broadband connectivity in South Africa. Prior to his appointment at MetroFibre, Jan-Jan spent 13 years as an investment professional originating and executing private equity and mezzanine transactions for large financial institutions in the telecommunications, media, technology, infrastructure, and consumer sectors.
VALENCIA RISABA
BOARD MEMBER
Valencia is an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa. A seasoned commercial lawyer and capable manager with over 15 years of experience, 8 of which were in the Telecoms industry, she currently heads up Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Services at Liquid Telecom South Africa. She has served in legal and Regulatory roles in both the public and private sector, having worked in various capacities for a large State-Owned Entity (Eskom), and has a proven track record in the Telecoms sector in South Africa and African markets such as Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. Key areas of expertise include Commercial Law, Legal due diligence in major funding transactions, Labour law, Regulation, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Governance. Valencia holds BProc and LLB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Higher Diploma in Corporate Law as well as a Masters’ degree in Business Leadership from UNISA.
ABONGILE MASHELE
BOARD MEMBER
A graduate of the UCT and the Wits School of Government, Abongile has a keen interest in issues of public policy, particularly communications regulatory policy. She formed part of the first cohort of the Public Policy Partnership Program Fellows funded by the Mellon Foundation and the Woodrow Wilson School of Governance. She is passionate about public service and major highlights in her career have been her involvement in the review and development of SA Broadcasting, overseeing drafting and adoption of the country’s National Youth Policy, as well as research focusing on content regulation in South Africa. She served as the Chief Operations officer at the Film and Publications Board of South Africa, and acted as a CEO of this institution from January 2020 to July 2021. Her areas of specialisation in her previous role included Audio Visual Policy, Online Content Regulation, assessing the impact of media material on consumers (particularly children), and Online Child protection in South Africa. She is also a seasoned manager who has been integrally involved in strategic planning and execution. She is currently the lead for Govt Affairs and Public Policy for Google in SA. She is a mother of 3, her greatest source of joy and purpose.
SHANE CHORLEY
BOARD MEMBER
Meet Christopher Shane Chorley,the visionary Chief Executive Officer steering the ship at Frogfoot Networks. With a profound passion for technological advancement and a keen understanding of the telecommunications landscape, Shane has played a pivotal role in shaping Frogfoot’s remarkable journey. Joining Frogfoot in 2016 as Head of Sales and Marketing, Shane’s impact was immediate and extensive, smart planning and unwavering determination, he steered Frogfoot’s transformation into one of South Africa’s leading open-access fibre network providers. Today, under his guidance, Frogfoot proudly connects over 190 wholesale providers, empowers 13,000 businesses, and brings the power of seamless connectivity to 135,000 residential customers.
Jorge Mendes
BOARD MEMBER
Jorge Mendes is the Chief Executive Officer of Cell C Ltd, and is an accomplished and visionary C-Suite Executive with a proven track record of success in driving company growth and profitability. With close to 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and a wealth of knowledge in implementing consumer-centric strategies, he has consistently displayed exceptional leadership skills by fostering the growth of high-performing teams. He is a passionate advocate for people-centricity, recognizing that a company’s success is rooted in the well-being and growth of its employees. By leading with charisma, energy, and authenticity, Jorge creates an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.
Prior to joining Cell C, he was the Chief Officer: Consumer Business at Vodacom South Africa, where he was responsible for driving sustainable growth across the business as well as forging partnerships beyond telco locally and globally. He led the successful development and implementation of cross-functional operating models which increased efficiency, improved market share, established network leadership and enhanced performance across distribution channels.
With a broad global perspective, Jorge has consistently achieved remarkable results in executive roles across diverse markets, displaying his exceptional ability to establish market presence and leadership in both greenfield markets and more mature markets. Whether entering new territories or driving rapid business expansion in established markets, Jorge has demonstrated his prowess in navigating different business landscapes and delivering impressive outcomes.
Jorge holds a strong educational background, having completed the Advanced Executive Development Program at Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership and the Senior Executive Program Africa at Harvard Business School.
Graham De Vries
BOARD MEMBER
Graham de Vries is the Chief Corporate Services Officer for MTN SA and part of the Executive Committee of MTN SA since 2015. In that capacity he is responsible for Commercial Legal, Regulatory Affairs and the Privacy Office as well as issues pertaining to Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment.
He has over 25 years of experience in legal and regulatory issues in the ICT industry, including the areas of compliance and competition law. He served as the General Manager of Regulatory Affairs at MTN SA preceding his appointment as the CCSO focusing on the management of stakeholder relationships and regulatory matters. Prior to joining MTN, he practiced as an attorney at Hofmeyr van der Merwe specialising in commercial law.
Graham de Vries holds B.Com (cum laude) and LLB degrees from the North-West University.
Alpheus Mangale
BOARD MEMBER
Alpheus Mangale is the Group CEO of SEACOM, Africa’s leading telecommunications and managed services provider. SEACOM launched Africa’s first broadband submarine cable system along the continent’s Eastern and Southern coasts in 2009. Today, SEACOM’s focus is beyond connectivity with a suite of Business Solutions and Services. Alpheus is a seasoned senior executive, with over 25 years of diverse industry experience, spanning the telecommunications, financial services, technology, and the public sectors. Prior to joining SEACOM, Alpheus was the Group Chief Engineering Officer for Standard Bank, a position he held for five years. He was responsible for daily operations, strategic direction, and financial oversight of the overall group engineering function. Leading a team of over 12,000 staff across 20 countries. Alpheus spent 16 years at Dimension Data (now known as NTT Data), including as chief technology officer, chief operating officer and Sales & Client Experience Director for Africa and the Middle East region. He also previously led Cisco Systems in South Africa and was chief enterprise officer at MTN South Africa Alpheus served on several boards, such as the MTN Foundation, Cisco Systems South Africa, Standard Bank Namibia, and Dimension Data Middle East & Africa. He is currently the Independent Non-Executive Director at ABSA Group. Born in Soweto and currently living in Johannesburg with his family, Alpheus has successfully bridged his rich heritage with a global professional footprint.
Sandile Dube
BOARD MEMBER
Sandile Dube joined Equinix in November 2023. In his role, Sandile is responsible for leading Equinix’s South African entry strategy, working closely with existing global customers and new local South African businesses and organizations to support their ambitions and leverage the huge growth and connectivity potential on the African continent. Before joining Equinix, Sandile was the Managing Director of Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE) South Africa where he drove remarkable success in a challenging economic market. Prior to his most recent role at HPE, Sandile was the Country Manager for Sales and Channel after a successful tenure as
a Sales Executive at Britehouse, a division of Dimension Data. Sandile also served in the board of directors during his tenure at HPE South Africa. He brings a wealth of expertise to EQUINIX, accumulated over two decades in the ICT market. Sandile holds executive certifications from renowned institutions including IE Business School in Madrid and Stellenbosch Business School in Belville, northern Cape Town.
Eldon Lalla
BOARD MEMBER
Eldon Lalla has 20 years of collective experience in telecommunications of which the last 7 years has been with ATC. Eldon serves as Director of Business Development within the ATC Africa region, to apply his expertise to formulate and execute upon commercial deals across multiple markets in Africa, that align to the shareholder’s objectives for both ATC and its customers.
Prior to joining ATC, Eldon held various roles in public and private organizations, within the ambit of product management, innovation and business development in the ICT and banking arenas. Academically, Eldon holds a BSC in Electronic Engineering, a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). With a deep respect for the importance of education, Eldon appreciates the opportunity to tutor students in mathematics in his spare time.
With a value system that is focused on the well-being of his family and community, and an additional focus on the importance of ICT as a contributor to economic wellbeing at a personal, country and continental level, Eldon continues to seek opportunities for purpose-filled endeavors. In that regard, Eldon is extremely excited and humbled by the opportunity to join the board of the DCA, where with like-minded peers, the DCA will continue to drive connectivity across Africa.
Advisory Committees
Purpose and Benefits of Advisory Committees
Advisory Committees function to support members and the organisation with topical content and aims to stimulate dialogue on a specific topic. Advisory Committees are commissioned for specific purposes on an ad-hoc basis, as and when needed, to address industry specific issues.
Formation of committees are strongly encouraged, as is ongoing dialogue of sector specific conversations. However, Committees must remain open, transparent and independent, not promote specific companies and/or products, and have a specific mandate it wishes to pursue. Under the leadership of an elected Chair, with support from the Vice Chair, Advisory Committees are responsible for discussing specific standpoints of the organisation and deliver supporting documents on relevant topics as required from time to time. The efforts support the work of the Digital Council Africa and allows for the organisation to become more efficient by applying the specialised skills and interests of members. It allows the organisation to do more detailed work and ensure that the view of the organisation (on a particular topic) is agreed upon. Responsibilities within a particular committee is delegated to willing participants according to skills and interests of members.
Purpose and Benefits of Advisory Committees
Advisory Committees function to support members and the organisation with topical content and aims to stimulate dialogue on a specific topic. Advisory Committees are commissioned for specific purposes on an ad-hoc basis, as and when needed, to address industry specific issues.
Formation of committees are strongly encouraged, as is ongoing dialogue of sector specific conversations. However, Committees must remain open, transparent and independent, not promote specific companies and/or products, and have a specific mandate it wishes to pursue. Under the leadership of an elected Chair, with support from the Vice Chair, Advisory Committees are responsible for discussing specific standpoints of the organisation and deliver supporting documents on relevant topics as required from time to time. The efforts support the work of the Digital Council Africa and allows for the organisation to become more efficient by applying the specialised skills and interests of members. It allows the organisation to do more detailed work and ensure that the view of the organisation (on a particular topic) is agreed upon. Responsibilities within a particular committee is delegated to willing participants according to skills and interests of members.
ALLIANCES & PARTNERSHIPS
CISPE is a non-profit trade association for infrastructure as a service (IaaS) cloud providers in Europe. It was established to aid IaaS providers in explaining their business model to policymakers.
Leading South Africa's inclusive digital transformation journey by creating an enabling environment for a digital society to foster socio-economic growth. The DCDT plays a crucial role in fostering broader economic and social participation by all citizens through
digital transformation, underpinned by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)
The Department focuses on creating a South Africa where citizens can enjoy greater economic and social prosperity, higher levels of health, well-being, and safety through leveraging the 4IR. The adoption of advanced 4IR technologies brings both economic and
social advantages, transforming how we relate as individuals, groups, and organisations across the globe.
FCGA
The Digital Council Africa is one of five separate but closely cooperating organizations representing the Fibre to the Home Industry in regions across the world. Europe, the Americas, Middle East and North Africa, and Asia-Pacific signed an MOU to strengthen this collaboration to extend high speed broadband connectivity across the globe. The Fibre to the Home Council Global Alliance (FCGA) meets regularly to collaborate on general topics of interest within the fibre community, including publishing a Global Definition of Terms.
Harambee is a not-for-profit social enterprise that collaborates with partners to address the challenge of youth unemployment. Our partners, who share our commitment to scalable results, include government, the private sector, civil society, and over 3.8 million
youth. We work to unlock jobs and dismantle the barriers keeping millions of young South Africans unemployed. Our vision is a growing economy and a society that works, powered by the potential of young people.
Harambee is an anchor partner in SA Youth, a breakthrough platform that brings together many partners to create a single national network. This network allows young people to access a wide range of job and skill opportunities, and enables opportunity
holders to connect with young, engaged job-seekers—for free!
The Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) is a public entity established under the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998).
Their mission is to strategically lead the MICT sector skills development system in support of meaningful economic participation of our beneficiaries, improving socio-economic conditions.
The MICT SETA plays a pivotal role in achieving South Africa's skills development and economic growth within its sub-sectors: Advertising, Film and Electronic Media, Electronics, Information Technology, and Telecommunications.
The NBF is a non-profit organisation that champions and coordinates development programmes, projects, and initiatives from inception to implementation through public and private sector partnerships for the economic development of Africa. Through signed MoUs with the African Union, NEPAD Agency, and the SADC Secretariat, among others, the NBF and its public-private sector stakeholders implement interventions that complement the development efforts by governments across the continent. The NBF is the interim Secretariat of the SADC Business Council and the Strategic Water Partners Network.
SALGA is an autonomous association of all 257 South African local governments, comprising a national association with one national office and nine provincial offices.
SALGA has a strategic role in representing the interests of local government within the broader system of government, supporting its members to fulfil their developmental obligations. As a full partner in government, SALGA actively participates in the intergovernmental
relations system, provides common policy positions on numerous issues, voices local government interests, and offers solutions to the challenges facing local government.
ICT SMME Chamber
The ICT SMME Chamber is an astute NGO that plays a critical role in engaging with government and other ICT stakeholders, and lobbying on behalf of small ICT businesses for their development and sector transformation. The ICT SMME Chamber supports the aims of
the BBBEE ICT Sector Council and its associated ICT Charter.
The SMME sector accounts for 14% of total employment and contributes 42% of GDP. The Chamber believes that SMMEs have the potential to improve these numbers by creating jobs and contributing to the fiscus through taxes and duties. Our advisory services and
products offered to both SMMEs and the ICT business community enable the Chamber to maximise and regularise communication between these key stakeholders.
The Collective X is a not-for-profit organisation that has cultivated an expansive and well-coordinated ecosystem dedicated to fostering collaboration, concentrated efforts, and targeted solutions to amplify digital skills throughout South Africa. Our success
lies in our professional team's ability to mobilise diverse organisations, from micro to large enterprises, including training providers, employers, and major technology vendors.
A cornerstone of our impact is our longstanding and collaborative partnership with the South African government. Our active involvement in shaping the national digital skills strategy and influencing policy decisions underscores our commitment to making a meaningful
difference.
BECOME A MEMBER
Join the Digital Council Africa for a Competitive Edge
As a member of the DCA, you gain a competitive advantage by staying informed and represented at the government level. Our organisation keeps busy professionals updated on important industry trends, new legislative rulings, and technological advancements. Our primary platform for this is our annual conference, which features C-level speakers and top-tier OEMs and distributors, ensuring you remain at the forefront of industry developments.
Who Should Join?
We welcome companies, business entities, non-profit organisations, and academic institutions involved in the development, production, deployment, service, maintenance, or analysis of digital networks and components. The DCA believes in the transformative power of digital access and adoption to enhance the quality of life for African citizens and increase global competitiveness.
Member Benefits
Actively participate in accelerating Africa’s digital economy and support the development and deployment of digital networks and applications that benefit all Southern African citizens.
The Digital Council Africa, as well as our partners, conducts market research on a variety of topics and often hosts industry events where market data is discussed and presented in the form of a detailed analysis of these statistics.
The DCA annually conducts research into the top African markets and follows market trends of the operators deploying fibre optic infrastructure.
By joining the DCA you are able to meet leaders in the industry and benefit from new contacts, open discussions and new insights!
Contribute articles, whitepapers, special offers, and product launches to our bi-monthly newsletter at no cost.
All our members are invited to actively participate in the working groups and influence industry standards.
Enjoy access to CONNECT, our annual members and partner conference, as well as exclusive events like our golf days.
To become a member, complete the application form for Board of Directors approval. Once approved, new members are formally introduced and can immediately start enjoying the benefits.
For more details on becoming a member, please email reesha@digitalcouncil.africa.
We commend our member companies for their contributions to broadband penetration and advancing Africa’s digital agenda!
APPLY
PLATINUM
ZAR 249,000.00
- Annual (excl. VAT)
- Corporate Membership
- Large Multi-National Organisations and Operators
- This membership automatically receives a seat on the Digital Council Board of Directors
GOLD
ZAR 149,000.00
- Annual (excl. VAT)
- Corporate Membership
- Medium Multi-National Organisations and Operators
-
-
SILVER
ZAR 69,900.00
- Annual (excl. VAT)
- Corporate Membership
- Large Organisatiaons South Africa only
-
BRONZE
ZAR 39,900.00
- Annual (excl. VAT)
- Corporate Membership
- Medium Enterprises
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SMME | INSTITUTIONAL | INDIVIDUAL
ZAR 12,500.00
- Annual (excl. VAT)
- Corporate Membership
- SMME Small and Micro Enterprises
- Institutional Academic Institutions and Research Firms
- One-man businesses or consultants
MEMBER DIRECTORY
EQUIPMENT MONITORING
The main objective of this page is to find ways to deter the theft of equipment and to empower owners of equipment to safeguard themselves and their employees from possible dangerous incidents. For more information, please read our white page on Theft of Equipment in the Fibre Industry.
OFFICIAL DIGITAL COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
WEBINARS
2024
WEBINARS
2023
