Both the South African government and higher education institutions (HEIs) have recognised the benefits of information technology in expanding educational opportunities for the previously disadvantaged (DoE 2004). The use of information technology for educational purposes is regarded as a method of delivering information faster, better and more cheaply than any other kind of tool that has been used in education previously. Although the South African policy framework recognises the benefits of using information and communication technologies in expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged students, the use of technology as an educational tool has not gained the momentum it should have gained, partly because many distance education (DE) students in South Africa do not have access to basic technology (eg computers and telephones).

Studies on the use of information technology in education have focused mainly on the digital divide, that is, the imbalance in access to technology (Engelbrecht 2003; Kizito 2002). However, the lack of infrastructure for computers and telephones has led to the rapid growth of wireless infrastructure. By 2010, there were more than 500 million cell phone subscribers in Africa (Rao 2011). In South Africa alone, cell phone penetration is estimated at 98%. The majority of the students at the University of South Africa (Unisa) own or have access to a cell phone. Most of these cell phones have software features such as pictures, video, music, games, instant messaging and the Internet. Even the most basic cell phones have some of these features that enable them to be used in education for collaboration, tutoring, research, reading and writing purposes (Prensky 2004).

Other technologies such as radio, television, audio and video cassettes, CDs, DVDs and networked computers have been used successfully to support distance students. Some of these technologies (eg radio and cell phones) are particularly suitable for distance learning because they can reach students who live in remote areas. Furthermore, studies suggest that most Africans spend most of their time on social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, MXit and so on (Makoe 2009; Ford & Leinonen 2009; Rao 2011). This use of social media is even more striking given the low number of people connected to the Internet and the many hurdles they face in trying to go online.