Africa Tech Week explores jobs and growth

THE Fourth Industrial Revolution came under the spotlight at the inaugural Africa Tech Week Conference that began in the city yesterday.

Minister of Science and Technology Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane addressed the two-day event in Century City.

The event, hosted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the City and Topco Media, provides a platform for thought and business leaders to demonstrate how technology can have a significant impact in society and business.

Kubayi-Ngubane’s address was followed by a breakaway session under the theme “How is the national system of innovation advancing the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

The session is broadcast live and includes speakers Dr Thandi Mgwebi, deputy vice-chancellor, Tshwane University of Technology; Professor Maritha Kotze, precision medicine; and Dr Barbara Glover, research fellow, Nepad.

DST director-general Dr Phil Mjwara said the event was a platform for the department to share its many projects and case studies with the world.

“We are particularly keen to raise awareness of, and support for, our drive to open up career prospects in tech to more young South Africans.

“Africa Tech Week will also enable us to share learnings with similar government departments from other African countries,” he said.

The main programme will stage plug-in events around Century City and at the V&A Waterfront’s Watershed; the home-base of ICT NPO Silicon Cape, Africa Tech Week’s start-up and development partner.

Silicon Cape initiative chairperson Dr Sumarie Roodt said: “Africa has a host of thriving tech hubs but they can’t achieve the necessary global traction in isolation. Africa Tech Week strives to bring them together with a unified pan-African purpose in Cape Town, seen by international investors as the gateway into Africa.”

Topco Media chief executive Ralf Fletcher said ICT was becoming a key driver of South Africa’s and Africa’s growth prospects.