Vodacom has taken a significant step toward digital inclusion with the launch of the Blindshell Classic 2, a specialised button smartphone designed for the visually impaired.
Announced at its second Disability and Accessibility Conference, this initiative addresses affordability and accessibility challenges, making advanced mobile technology available on both prepaid and contract plans.
The move reinforces Vodacom’s commitment to creating an inclusive digital future in Africa.
“At Vodacom Group, true inclusion begins with understanding the daily realities of persons with disabilities and co-creating solutions that respond to their needs” said Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO.
“We are proud as a leading mobile network operator to host this conference for a second year, in which we reiterate the importance of embedding accessibility at an organisational level and showcasing the role technology can play through various products and services in promoting accessibility to change lives in Africa.”
The event featured a dynamic mix of keynote talks, panel discussions, and breakout sessions.
Speakers included: Joosub, Dr Praveena Sukhraj-Ely, Chief Director: Governance & Compliance, Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mothibi Ramusi, Chairman, ICASA, Rory Preddy, Microsoft AI Advocate, Bradley Carpenter, South African Medical Research Council as well as CEOs from Vodacom’s African markets.
Stephen Chege, Vodacom Group Chief Officer for Regulatory and External Affairs, added: “This conference serves as a vital platform to strengthen stakeholder relationships within the disability and accessibility sphere.
“By sharing best practices, listening to insights and feedback from the disability community and encouraging both the public and private sectors to work together, we can shape Africa’s accessibility agenda and inform initiatives that drive inclusion for people with disabilities.
“This includes supporting digital innovations that overcome accessibility barriers and reviewing organisational, and broader policies that ensure no one in Africa is left behind.”
Despite progress, people with disabilities across Africa continue to face barriers to full participation in society. According to the UN Disability and Development Report 2024, persons with disabilities remain disproportionately excluded from achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in health, education, and access to ICT. Vodacom has worked to address these challenges for more than two decades by embedding accessibility into its operations.
Alongside Safaricom Kenya, Vodacom’s markets in Tanzania, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, and Mozambique are actively contributing to the Group’s disability inclusion agenda.
Joosub concluded: “Empowering people through connectivity is central to Vodacom’s purpose-led strategy. Whether through assistive technologies, inclusive digital literacy programmes, or accessible customer service, we’re committed to closing the digital divide and enabling equitable participation for everyone.”
