Abstract
Sustainable transformation of cities is only possible when conducted in a smart way. This research assessed the impact of rolling out free Wi-Fi networks and online services in Johannesburg, South Africa as it relates to the sustainable development of vulnerable communities. Informed by the early adopters of a free Wi-Fi network provided by the City of Johannesburg, participating in the Johannesburg digital ambassadors training programme, the research evaluated smart city enablement in the City of Johannesburg. The case study reviewed relevant smart city metrics and compared to the standard for sustainable development of communities (BS ISO 37120:2014), evaluate indicators for city services and quality of life to identify design criteria for future developments. The results from this study contribute to the enablement of smart city infrastructure development geared toward capacitating vulnerable and previously digitally disadvantaged communities.