What does the new breed of Proudly South African ICT businesses look like?
BITanium Consulting, a specialist in modern data platforms, has recently garnered attention by winning several European clients.
The company’s weapon of choice for industries such as banking, insurance, manufacturing, mining, retail, and telecommunications is IBM’s high-performance Netezza data platform.
This platform is designed for handling critical, high-level workloads that cannot afford interruptions.
BITanium currently supports some of Africa’s largest and most complex data analytics environments, including those at Nedbank, Discovery Health, NHLS, and NICD.
The company made a significant breakthrough in the South African market when it identified an opportunity to streamline the IBM Netezza onboarding process by performing final Netezza configurations and bringing customers live itself, a task that was traditionally handled by IBM’s specialist engineers who would be sent out in person from the US.
By assuming this responsibility, BITanium has been able to significantly streamline operations. Moreover, the company’s Netezza support team found IBM’s exceptional support and clear, comprehensive guidance made it easy to resolve most queiries independently.
This self-sufficiency has been a game-changer, helping BITanium attract the attention of the European market.
Kevin McKerr, Chief Revenue Officer at BITanium, highlights one of the most remarkable aspects of BITanium’s Netezza Support Team: it consists entirely of graduates, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds and participated in the company’s internship programme.
“This elite team, recognised as one of the best in the world, demonstrates the untapped potential of South African talent when companies are committed to local development in a nurturing and inclusive environment,” says McKerr.
“At BITanium, we combine a proudly South African organisational culture with an unwavering focus on excellence to deliver unrivalled big data and analytics capabilities.”
The Netezza Support Team is led by Chief Technology Officer Vincent Gaorekwe, who was the first graduate of BITanium’s internship programme.
Gaorekwe recently completed a PhD in Information Management from the University of Johannesburg, graduating in 2024.
“I was born and raised in Ntswanahatshe, a small village in Taung, North West province,” he says, adding that the first member of his family to earn a degree.
“I’m humbled to be recognised as the first person from my village to earn a PhD.”
Gaorekwe, in turn, has played a crucial role in mentoring many of BITanium’s interns, helping them realise their potential and become key members of the Netezza support team.
He is particularly enthusiastic about IBM, which he says consistently addresses the unique needs of BITanium’s customers.
“IBM has redefined traditional data warehousing and continues to push boundaries, expanding its data and analytics capabilities to serve an even broader range of use cases.”
“From data lakehouses and robust data governance to AI-driven solutions, IBM’s platforms are designed to empower businesses to unlock the full potential of their data.”
Thabani Tevin Poswa, another intern programme graduate, who was recently promoted to support manager, adds, “I was given incredible opportunities to grow through certifications and training that fully prepared me for the work environment.”
“Having been with BITanium for over six years, I can confidently say that the company has stood by me during challenging times and celebrated my successes. It’s a truly supportive and uplifting environment.”
Poswa highlights IBM’s quick response to critical issues, but what stands out most to him is the IBM TechExchange programme.
“The programme provides valuable insights into upcoming developments across IBM’s product portfolio, helping us stay aligned with the future of their technologies.”
McKerr emphasises that the success of BITanium’s internship programme, which has developed a globally competitive support team, serves as a testament to the value of local talent development and inclusivity.
“Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes an entire company to nurture and help graduates reach their full potential,” he says. “At BITanium, mentorship starts at the top, but every team member plays a part in nurturing and supporting one another.”
This philosophy underpins the company’s culture of continual learning, which is critical to its commitment to customer success and excellence. Gaorekwe’s PhD graduation is a prime example.
“I hope my journey inspires young people – especially those from my hometown – to believe in their power to transform their circumstances,” says Gaorekwe.
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