Frogfoot Rise has appointed Sandile Mkhwanazi as Head of Community Relations,
strengthening the company’s focus on inclusive fibre rollouts and community-led
engagement as it expands its connectivity offering through its RISE initiative.
Mkhwanazi will bring his expertise in relationship building and deep understanding of
local communities to spearhead community engagement and stakeholder alignment
across fibre deployment projects. His role will ensure that infrastructure is introduced
responsibly and local communities are fully informed, involved and supported
throughout the rollout process.
“Successful fibre deployment is not just about engineering and infrastructure,” says
Mkhwanazi. “It’s about building strong relationships with communities so that people
understand how connectivity can benefit their homes, education and livelihoods. Our
goal is to ensure communities are part of the journey from the very beginning, so fibre
adds value and investment is meaningful.”
His work focuses particularly on neighbourhoods that have historically had limited
access to reliable broadband, where building trust and awareness is essential to the
success of new network infrastructure.
Mkhwanazi brings extensive experience in community engagement and rollout
activations, having managed pre-build awareness campaigns in both established and
previously unconnected communities. His approach centres on working closely with
residents, local leaders and community stakeholders to ensure that fibre deployment is
transparent, accessible and responsive to local needs.
Before joining Frogfoot, Mkhwanazi built a diverse career spanning agriculture,
education and community engagement. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture
and Oenology from Stellenbosch University, as well as a Certificate in Professional
Educational Development from the same institution. He has also completed the Senior
Leaders in the Wine Industry programme through Stellenbosch Business School Executive Development.
Earlier in his career, Mkhwanazi served as a lecturer at the Elsenburg Agricultural
Training Institute, where he contributed to the training and development of future
professionals in the agricultural sector. His experience across both academic and
community-facing environments has been fundamental to his collaborative approach to
stakeholder engagement and communication.
At Frogfoot, Mkhwanazi will support the continued growth of the RISE programme,
which aims to extend fibre connectivity into underserved areas while creating long-term
value for residents, businesses and local communities.
“Before fibre arrives in a community, you often see children standing outside school
fences trying to access the building’s Wi-Fi. When connectivity reaches their homes, that
changes completely. Suddenly they can learn, research and connect from their own safe
spaces. It’s a small change that makes a very big difference,” he said. “This is why I
believe that through engagement with communities, fibre infrastructure can deliver real
and lasting benefits.”
Frogfoot’s RISE initiative forms part of the company’s broader strategy to expand high-
quality broadband infrastructure across South Africa while promoting inclusive digital
access.