Page 18 - index

E-govErnmEnt

modernise our economy and this year. The eKasiLabs are central to waves in cutting-edge technology. This
change the way public services are turning brilliant initiatives by young peo- company has developed advanced
delivered. ple into viable businesses to ensure that defence information technology systems
• Over 1 500 kilometres of network they participate meaningfully in the new for some of South East Asia’s economic
fibre have been installed across fields of the fourth industrial revolution. tigers. This is a young but very promising
Gauteng. There are 1 066 Gauteng business in the digital economy, which
broadband network access sites In addition, the flagship youth develop- trains and employs mainly young
– schools, health sites, libraries ment programme, Tshepo 1 Million, people. In Watloo near Mamelodi,
and community centres. Our goal is working with 27 private sector another South African black-owned
is to achieve 100% broadband companies to impart digital skills technology company, DARTCOM,
connectivity in Gauteng by 2020. and provide employment and entre- manufactures fibre optics, and is part
preneurship opportunities to young of a growing number of amazing stories
young and digital future people in our province. Collectively, about how the fourth industrial revolution
these youth-oriented initiatives reflect and the digital economy is unfolding in
the fact that young people are the future the Gauteng province.
Both the demographic realities of and the future is digital. They are also
the country and, specifically, of the indicative of the determination on the The deployment of big data, artificial
province suggest that no development part of the provincial government to intelligence, biotechnology, nano-
intervention is worthwhile if it does not create the conditions and opportunities technology, 3-D printing and The Internet
address the peculiar challenges that that will ensure that young people are of Things can significantly improve the
young people face in society. As a equipped with the right set of skills and way governments serve citizens. It can
result, the majority of programmes by aptitudes to cope with the challenges help solve a range of problems from
the provincial government mainstream and seize the opportunities of the fourth safety and security to climate change
the youth sector as a matter of course, industrial revolution. mitigation. Moreover, the exploitation
in addition to the execution of the youth- of the new technological innovation
biased interventions.
radical social and and scientific knowledge can aide the
The Gauteng Innovation Hub, through economic change goal of more equitable and democratic
societies, as inclusive economies must
its CodeTribe Academy – a year-long exist side by side with democratic and
software development programme participatory politics.
collaboration with mLab Southern South Africa’s past and its many
Africa – has trained over 120 township legacies mean that every facet of society The fourth industrial revolution has
youth. More than 100 technology start- should fall under the test of radical the greatest potential to change lives,
up firms are incubated at the Innovation social and economic transformation. especially those of young people. The
Hub. This is not enough; hence, going And a big part of this is helping black best way to take full advantage of the
forward we will increase our investment businesspeople and township-based digital revolution is to prepare the nation’s
to increase support to township ICT entrepreneurs to understand that youth, businesses and government
entrepreneurs and technology start-ups. radical socio-economic transformation
is not only about transforming existing to be fully digital. Abraham Lincoln is
The smart schools programme is a monopoly industries. It is also about often credited with the following quote:
“the best way to predict the future is to
foundation-level intervention that is positioning black businesses and
aimed at building the kind of skills township enterprises to be leaders create it.” n

and knowledge that the new economy and catalysts in the new industries of
requires by deploying ICT to enhance the future. It is already encouraging to *This article is an edited version of
the quality of education and transform note that Gauteng has a number of new the premier’s opening address at
the educational experience and skills black-owned, women-owned and youth- the Gauteng Technology Innovation
profile of learners and teachers. owned businesses that are making major Conference.
Currently, our smart schools programme breakthroughs in the digital economy
has delivered 1 800 classrooms, which space as drivers of manufacturing 4.0
have now been converted into smart and the fourth industrial revolution.
classrooms. It has now become a norm There are a lot of black entrepreneurs
in Gauteng that every new school built who own companies that are involved
comes fully equipped with state-of the- in cutting-edge innovation and globally
art technology, free Wi-Fi and smart competitive advanced manufacturing.
classroom equipment.
For instance, Teddy Daka runs ANSYS,
which is a black-owned cyber security
Through the eKasiLabs Innovation Cen-
tres, the province supports entrepre- company that is among the major new
neurs and youth with their innovations players in the global cyber security
and fast tracks the establishment of industry. But while South Africans
sustainable and innovative businesses. may not be paying as much attention
Seven eKasiLabs have thus far been to this initiative as they should, other
established across Gauteng; in Sowe- countries are very keen to use ANSYS
to, Ga-Rankuwa, Alexandra, Tembisa, capabilities. TUB, a black women-
Mohlakeng, Sebokeng and Mamelodi, owned software company run by Ms
and three more labs will be completed Thuthu Khumalo and Ms Nana Sabelo,
is yet another company that is making
16 SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 11 No. 3 of 2018