dataforc
New Member
South Africa need ICT skills, that is not a debate. In the past, a distinction was made between the shortage of black ICT skills and shortage in general, in the 2010.s this distinction has evaporated.
if an organisation can take a survey in the private sector of black CIO's or IT Managers, of who hold these positions that come with huge ICT budgets, the result will speak for themselves. The industry is dominated by white CIO's, but does this mean that there are no competent blacks to hold these positions ? well, during the affirmative action years in South Arica, there was a big rush in search of black talent, that rush disappeared with the introduction of the black economic empowerment Act where many employers were not pressurised to employ black talent as they could make up by partnering with a black owned ICT company for the delivery of services.
Often I come across many ICT skilled black professionals with over 15 years experience in public or private sector who are available to take up positions but claim to be discriminated by the employers as they now favour white ICT employees for the chief Information Officer positions. The public sector is not far this trend and behaviour. The value derived from these skilled professional must not be led down the drain. SouthAfrica need the talent, the skills to move the country forward especially in various government owned enterprises. It is so common these days to find a non- ICT skilled person leading the technology department of an organisation.
Now, the definition of black ICT skilled resources is further populated by the distinction between black african and black Indian resources. Yes, there will be black Indian resources in these commanding positions, but not that of black africans. Therefore from the employer point of view, the black equity numbers have been satisfactorily satisfied,while the streets are full of black africans who have digressed into non ICT to make end meet and not by choice, who will be happy to re-enter the growing and ever growing industry.
The growth in the mobile sector commands even more participation by young future Bill Gates of South Africa. I would like to see an industry as vibrant as that of Kenya, Silicon Valley with full black participation. The development of mobile APPS is complex and differ by far from the traditional programming languages that are still being taught in various universities around South Africa. The industry C level executives will have to foot the cost of training new entrants if academia does not fully prepare graduates based on new emerging technologies and technology trends.
by
jabu madlala
C-level Advisory Services
if an organisation can take a survey in the private sector of black CIO's or IT Managers, of who hold these positions that come with huge ICT budgets, the result will speak for themselves. The industry is dominated by white CIO's, but does this mean that there are no competent blacks to hold these positions ? well, during the affirmative action years in South Arica, there was a big rush in search of black talent, that rush disappeared with the introduction of the black economic empowerment Act where many employers were not pressurised to employ black talent as they could make up by partnering with a black owned ICT company for the delivery of services.
Often I come across many ICT skilled black professionals with over 15 years experience in public or private sector who are available to take up positions but claim to be discriminated by the employers as they now favour white ICT employees for the chief Information Officer positions. The public sector is not far this trend and behaviour. The value derived from these skilled professional must not be led down the drain. SouthAfrica need the talent, the skills to move the country forward especially in various government owned enterprises. It is so common these days to find a non- ICT skilled person leading the technology department of an organisation.
Now, the definition of black ICT skilled resources is further populated by the distinction between black african and black Indian resources. Yes, there will be black Indian resources in these commanding positions, but not that of black africans. Therefore from the employer point of view, the black equity numbers have been satisfactorily satisfied,while the streets are full of black africans who have digressed into non ICT to make end meet and not by choice, who will be happy to re-enter the growing and ever growing industry.
The growth in the mobile sector commands even more participation by young future Bill Gates of South Africa. I would like to see an industry as vibrant as that of Kenya, Silicon Valley with full black participation. The development of mobile APPS is complex and differ by far from the traditional programming languages that are still being taught in various universities around South Africa. The industry C level executives will have to foot the cost of training new entrants if academia does not fully prepare graduates based on new emerging technologies and technology trends.
by
jabu madlala
C-level Advisory Services
