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Since the dawn of the internet, Africa has been on the back foot of technological development in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. This is due to a number of reasons, including a lack of infrastructure and resources. According to the International Monetary Fund, this has resulted in only 28 percent of the continent …
Limpopo University digital innovation lab to help job creation efforts
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will on Wednesday unveil the University of Limpopo Digital Innovation Lab (LDIL).
The LDIL is a strategic initiative designed to improve the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) skills in Limpopo and address unemployment.
LDIL is a Software Development Programme aimed at combating the high unemployment rate in Limpopo, with a curriculum that covers coding, programming fundamentals and digital social innovation.
Through a 10-month Software Development (SWD) initiative that introduces coding fundamentals and digital social innovation, the LDIL programme also seeks to empower 25 unemployed youth each year.
The programme also places a strong emphasis on providing unemployed youth with practical, real-world experience.
Dlamini Zuma, who is the University of Limpopo Chancellor, will deliver the keynote address at the official launch of the lab, which is in collaboration with Samsung Electronics South Africa and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).
“This historic event marks a significant step towards empowering women, youth and persons with disabilities and encouraging innovation in Limpopo to showcase and inspire similar innovative measures for other young people across the country,” the department said in a statement.
The event, which will see the official plaque unveiling and ribbon cutting, will take place at the university’s R-40 Conference Hall. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Tue, 03/05/2024 - 12:58
Infrastructure project funding under the spotlight
Partnership between the private sector and government, as well as its entities, with regard to the funding of infrastructure projects has taken centre stage at a Southern African Development Community (SADC) panel discussion.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), hosted a virtual discussion focusing on infrastructure.
“The participation of the private sector is key to the delivery of the infrastructure projects, [and] the issue of infrastructure funding is the key if we are to meet the goals set as South Africa and SADC, and the African continent,” Head of Infrastructure South Africa, Mameetsa Masemola, said during the discussion on Friday.
Masemola noted that the National Infrastructural Plan indicates that, just to close the current infrastructure investment gap, South Africa needs something in the region of R5.7 trillion, looking at the priority sectors, including water and sanitation, information and communications technology (ICT), energy, transport, and human settlements.
Masemola said the fiscus alone will not be able to carry and fund these projects, stressing a need to find mechanisms of bringing in the private sector to participate in the delivery of these infrastructure projects.
Highlighting the partnership between SADC and South Africa, the Water and Sanitation Deputy Director-General responsible for Provincial, Entity Governance and International Cooperation, Lindiwe Lusenga, described the collaborations with SADC in supporting the water projects as “excellent”.
Lusenga said partners are willing to put in the funds while also acknowledging the support the department has received from the institutions, including the Global Environmental Funds, and African Development Bank, who have funded feasibility studies for the Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project.
“There is [also] an appetite because of the commitment and the manner in which we intricately commit, and the instruments of governance that we have deployed to enable us to manage these projects, like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). At local level, the industry has come on board, particularly organised business like mining forums that has taken up and assisted the department in local projects,” Lusenga said.
While noting challenges when it comes to funding, SANRAL’s Head of Marketing and Communication, Vusi Mona said the entity has a wonderful working relationship with the region, working through the SANRAL platform.
“We have received a lot of support from the private sector,” Mona said.
Mona also stressed a need to have a matured conversations about how road infrastructure and infrastructure in general is funded.
He also stressed the need to have a serious discussion around the user pay principle, because “we are not going to develop infrastructure without a brazen principle”.
Infrastructure investment
Infrastructure investment is one of South Africa’s critical drivers of economic growth and it also promotes regional integration in the SADC region.
The investment is also a critical driver of future growth of the South African economy, and the provision of superior quality infrastructure allows an economy to be more efficient, improve productivity, and raise long-term growth and living standards.
SADC has made significant progress in regional infrastructure development, including reginal transport and communications systems, which are fundamental to cooperation in the SADC region.
The provision of superior quality infrastructure allows an economy to be more efficient, improves productivity, and raises long-term growth and living standards. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Fri, 02/23/2024 - 14:41
Government conducts travel survey
The Department of Transport has encouraged the public to participate in its annual travel survey on the accessibility of all transport systems to people with disabilities, elderly people, women and children.
“Parents of children are encouraged to complete the survey on behalf of their child, and assistants to persons with disabilities are also encouraged to do so, with the person with a disability who they assist,” the department said on Thursday.
The purpose of the travel survey is to benchmark progress in rolling out the White Paper on National Transport Policy 2021, which indicates that all forms of transport must be universally accessible.
“We invite anyone who receives this Survey who does not fall into the above categories, to please pass the link onto those who do. The link is: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/xum3p8pV
“This travel survey is run in partnership with the information and communications technology (ICT) ICT Subcommittee on Universally Accessible Transport, which meets with the Department of Transport quarterly,” the department said.
This year’s results will be shared with the Presidential Working Group for Persons with Disabilities. The President has endorsed a drive to speed up the process to make transport accessible to all. –SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 02/08/2024 - 14:35
Telkom’s investment to aid connectivity
Telecommunications provider Telkom says the R5.9 billion it had pledged during the last South African Investment Conference (SAIC) will contribute towards enhancing connectivity, especially as the country prepares for the national general elections this year.
The company is deploying 4G and 5G network infrastructure nationally.
At the fifth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) which was held in April 2023, Telkom announced that it would be investing R5.97 billion in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructure development across South Africa.
In a statement on Wednesday, the company said it wants to develop and enable solutions that enrich customers’ lives and enable growth in enterprises and small businesses.
Company CEO, Serame Taukobong, believes the investment contributes to South Africa’s economic development, productivity, and job creation.
He added that Telkom, which is a leading information and communications technology services provider, saw it fit to heed the President’s call for investment into the economy.
Government directly holds a 40.5% shareholding in Telkom with a further 15.3% shareholding through the Public Investment Corporation.
He said a remarkable partnership of national importance exists between Telkom and the Electoral Commission (IEC).
“Together the two have successfully executed six national general elections and five local government and municipal elections since 1994. Telkom is again ready to deliver national digital connectivity to support the IEC's crucial role in our democratic process. Our country’s prospects depend on it.
He said digitalisation is a key cog in South Africa’s economic development.
“Our infrastructure forms the backbone of the South African economy, underpinning essential service providers like banks, retailers and the mobile sector.
“Our role is to connect more businesses – big and small – as well as more schools, more homes, and more individuals. Some of our key goals include accelerating mobile growth, driving high speed broadband adoption, expansion of the network, and connecting South Africans to a better life,” he added. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 01/31/2024 - 11:42
Nzimande announces R3.8bn funding for ‘missing middle’ students
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Professor Blade Nzimande, has revealed that government has set aside a R3.8 billion initial capitalisation fund to support “missing middle” students.
The new Comprehensive Student Funding Model aims to support students including those currently not supported by the National Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary and funding policy.
This category of students is those who come from families who have a total income of more than R350 000, but not more than R600 000 per annum.
Nzimande, who was addressing the media on Sunday, revealed that the funding model is divided into two phases.
Phase one begins this year, 2024/2025, with the State committing the initial capitalisation fund totalling R3.8 billion to support the loan scheme.
This amount comprises R1.5 billion from the National Skills Fund (NSF) and R2.3 billion from Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).
“This amount will fund 47% of the missing middle students, that is, 31 884 of the estimated 68 446 missing middle,” he said at the media briefing held in Pretoria.
“We have also committed funds to revive NSFAS ICT [information and communications technology] systems, including the loan system.”
On implementing the scheme, he said his department has so far consulted with the National Treasury, university Vice-Chancellors and student leaders.
“Further workshops will be held with the registrars and student financial officers once NSFAS has obtained Board approval for the funding guidelines.”
Second phase
Meanwhile, the department is working around the clock to implement the second phase of the funding model from next year to 2034.
“The department will ensure that the seed funding contribution by government is increased to R31.6 billion to R42.1 billion over 10 years. This is approximately R3.1 billion to R4.2 billion annually."
Criteria and expansion
“Together with the National Treasury, we will continue to engage with relevant institutions, including public and private financial institutions to expand the scheme.”
To qualify for the loan, students should meet the following criteria:
• Students whose annual household income is between R350 000 to R600 000;
• Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and public university students;
• Undergraduate or postgraduate students;
• 70% science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes (which may be adjusted to include commercial programmes that are in demand in the labour market or entrepreneurial programmes);
• 30% Humanities programmes;
• Students willing to sign a loan agreement;
• Students can apply for the loan in the first, second or third year to continue to be funded through the loan;
• Students are expected to get an average of 60% pass rate and the loan will cover tuition, learning material and accommodation;
• Students who obtain 70% or above on average and within the prescribed time will get a 50% reduction on loans on request.
Nzimande has described this move as “yet another important milestone in the commitments of the ANC-led government to advance a better life for all as we celebrate 30 years of freedom”.
The loan scheme will be administered by NSFAS which has the legal mandate to offer student loans as per Section 4 of NSFAS Act 1999.
“NSFAS represents one of the most progressive and successful efforts by the government to systematically break the legacies of inter-generational social inequality in access post-school education and training.”
Between 2019 and 2022, NSFAS has disbursed R123 billion distributed across 2 918 624 beneficiaries. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Mon, 01/15/2024 - 09:43
Tasneem Motala is a Senior Lecturer: Operations Management at Stellenbosch Business School and one of the researchers who reviewed South Africa’s first four-day week trial. For the South African results released visit https://www.4dayweek.com/sa-2023-pilot-results When the four-day week trial started, there was a healthy scepticism about whether it could work in South Africa. This question was …
JOHANNESBURG – 06 December, 2023 – The local technology skills shortage has been well documented over time, with recent statistics underscoring not only a dearth of technical expertise in South Africa, but also a concerning youth unemployment rate. New figures from Statista show a staggering number of unemployed youth (15 to 24 years), reaching 60.7 …
