there was a similar discussion on a mailing list i subscribe to recently… one of the members gave the following advice, which states one does not *have to* pay for the installation fee:

1. If she hasn’t ordered the line yet, make sure not to sign any 24month
contracts. The industry is changing rapidly at the moment; therefore it is
not worth limiting your options.

2. When ordering ask for a self-installation. All it requires is that you
collect the install disk from a Telkom shop and plug the telephone cable
into your modem when the exchange has been activated.
NB. You don’t have to pay a +-R400 installation fee.

3. Buy your own modem. Only about R350 or so. Haven’t looked in a while so
not sure exactly, but better than signing up for a 24month contract.