New Era of Connectivity, Safety and Digital Opportunity Arrives in Soweto
Initiative part of the City of Joburg's commitment to digital inclusion, safety and improved service delivery
The City of Joburg in partnership with a tech company is piloting the Smart Pole Project on Mpumelelo Street, in Slovo Park Soweto on Saturday 7 March 2026, to bring safety, connectivity and street lights to the community.
The launch will be attended by Gauteng MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene and MMC for Human Settlement Mlungisi Mabaso together with partners from Metropolitan Tech Company.
The smart pole is more than a street light. It is a multi-functional community hub engineered to serve the needs of the residents through:
High-speed 4/5G free wifi access
LED smart lighting.
CCTV surveillance for enhanced public safety
Emergency panic-button feature linked to response units
Infrastructure readiness for future environmental monitoring and surveillance
The City of Joburg said in a statement the initiative forms part of the City’s broader commitment to digital inclusion, improved service delivery and safer communities.
“With the activation of these poles, residents benefit from improved visibility at night, enhanced public safety measures, greater access to online government services, educational platforms and communication tools, ensuring that no one is left behind.
“The initial phase marks a significant step toward building smarter, safer settlements across Johannesburg.The Smart Pole infrastructure is designed to be scalable and adaptable enabling future deployment of environmental sensors and additional smart cities capabilities”.
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