The opportunity should be seized to address the ICT skills shortage in South Africa and on the continent, according to minister of telecommunications and postal services Siyabonga Cwele.
Cwele was speaking at the Cisco Safari Conference held in Pretoria, South Africa yesterday.
“Ensuring that our young men and women of our country have not only the e-skills, but also the e-astuteness to take advantage of the advent of the society of the ‘Internet of Things’ is vital to reaching this GDP target and overcoming the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and joblessness facing South Africa,” the minister said.
HumanIPO reported last week President Jacob Zuma promised in the State of the Nation address (SONA) to boost ICT skills in the country.
“12 training and vocational education colleges will be built to expand the technical skills mix in the country,” he said in his address, while he also emphasised the need to improve ICT education in last year’s speech.
Cwele highlighted that Zuma had announced Operation Phakisa in his response to the SONA debate.
The operation is based on a Malaysian development model and aims to fast track deliverables laid out on the National Development Plan (NDP).
“I urge all to rise to the challenge, join hands in pushing for the e-skills revolution that will move South Africa forward,” he said.
