Life in SA just isn’t complete without a cellphone it seems

30 June 2016 - 21:51 By Penwell Dlamini

There are more people with cellphones in South Africa than with television sets or radios. The Community Survey 2016 released by Statistics SA in Pretoria on Thursday showed that of the 16.9 million households‚ the number of these with cellphones had increased from 88.9% in 2011 to 93.8% in 2016.Interestingly‚ the number of people with landlines decreased from 14.5% to 11.5% in the same period.This was higher than the number of households with television sets which was 83.4% of households in 2016 - up from 74.5% in 2011.Of the 16.9 million households in the country‚ about 67.9% had a radio‚ a marginal increase from 67.5% in 2011.Multichoice must be laughing all the way to the bank as the number of households with DSTV increased from 25.8% to 41.4% in the past five years.Households with washing machines also increased from 31.5% to 40.7%.Those with electric stoves also surged from 77% to 84.4%. Households with computers were relatively low at 24.5%‚ although up from the 21.4% in 2011.The number of households with cars increased from 29.5% to 32.5%.Households with fridges also increased from 68.4% to 81.8%...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.