Vodacom announces deactivation of Facebook free mode

by Limpho Nonkonyane

South Africa’s largest mobile operator company Vodacom announced that users would no longer access Facebook using the free mode from the 9th of April.

The idea of free mode was to keep users connected on Facebook without an internet connection or data. Users were able to chat with their friends and family, as well as engage with other people’s content. If they could not see people’s images, Facebook users did not mind as long as they stayed connected.

Facebook users who were under Vodacom could enjoy these perks under the Facebook Flex plan that kept them connected anywhere and at any time without data charges.

Online publication MDN News posted this announcement on X (previously known as Twitter), causing users to assume that this decision was made by the mobile operator due to their lawsuit with the inventor of the ‘Please Call Me’ concept Nkosana Makate, who sued the company for R29 billion.

Another user suggested that this change was because the mobile operator needed to pay Nkosana.

One user commented:

A user came to the defence of Nkosana, saying that Vodacom needed to give him the money they owed him.

Another user said:

Also see: Minister of Higher Education announces the deregistration of four private colleges