Soweto Spaza Shops Get a Freedom Day Glow-Up – Plus Free WiFi for Everyone!

This Freedom Day, Soweto isn’t just reflecting on the past — it’s celebrating the future with a bold, community-driven makeover. Fourteen beloved spaza shops in the township just got a serious glow-up: brand-new looks and free WiFi for customers, thanks to a feel-good initiative from global ride-hailing app, inDrive.

Instead of flashy ads or billboards, inDrive chose to invest where it matters — in the heart of the community. The initiative brings free internet straight to the local shops that keep Soweto running, helping to close the digital gap and unlock new opportunities for learning, connection, and entrepreneurship.

“This isn’t about marketing — it’s about meaningful impact,” says Ashif Black, inDrive’s Country Representative in South Africa. “Spaza shops are more than just businesses; they’re lifelines in their communities. We’re proud to support them in a way that benefits both the shop owners and their loyal customers.”

And it’s not just the WiFi and fresh paint jobs turning heads. Local art legends and Soweto-born twin brothers, Fhatuwani and Justice Mukheli of I See A Different You, have added their signature style to the project with a bold new mural. Positioned at a key site in the township, the artwork is a tribute to movement, creativity, and the freedom to choose — themes that sit at the heart of both Soweto’s spirit and Freedom Day itself.

Now in its sixth year in South Africa, inDrive continues to build a brand rooted in fairness and freedom — from negotiable ride fares to low driver commissions, and now community initiatives like this one. The company’s mission is simple: challenge injustice and drive positive change wherever they operate.

“We wanted to give back in a way that feels real — a celebration of the incredible energy that already exists in Soweto,” the Mukheli brothers explain.

As South Africa marks 31 years of democracy, projects like this one are a powerful reminder that freedom isn’t just a history lesson — it’s about access to real opportunities, everyday resources, and the tools people need to build their future.