ICT hub for training entrepreneurs
Fifty youths from the Bathurst area will benefit from a new ICT hub established by Mdantsane businessman Siyamthanda Xakavu, 25.
His company, Open Vision, received funding from the Industrial Development Corporation to help develop youths in the area.
The new centre, in partnership with Summerpride Foods and the Eastern Cape Pineapple Workers’ Trust, opened this month with an intake of 25 young people drawn from the pineapple industry.
Over a period of six months, the youths will be taught how to use Microsoft Office and the internet, including how to send e-mails.
Summerpride Foods is a processing company based in East London and members of the workers’ trust cooperative supply the company with pineapples.
“We chose Bathurst because it is a small town with limited opportunities and we aim to contribute towards the development of marginalised black communities, and aspire to breed successful entrepreneurs,” said Xakavu.
“We want to breed entrepreneurs who are job creators, not seekers.
“Our main objective is to open an entrepreneurial school here in the Eastern Cape.
“We have already started to develop the 18-month programme that will yield results in terms of producing young business minds in our country.”
Xakavu said the youths, who were part of various co-operatives that formed the worker’s trust, would be able to apply their skills within the co-operatives.
“After this first year, the hub will also be open to other small businesses that might not necessarily be involved in co-operatives,” he said.
Xakavu said the youths would receive full Microsoft office training, with certificates from The Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (Mict Seta) at the end of the programme.
“There are also mentors who will mentor the incubates on other business areas besides ICT.
“We also have projects for end-user computing with the Services Seta, to train unemployed learners throughout the Eastern Cape.
“We are accredited with the FoodBev Seta as well,” he said.
We want to breed people who are job creators, not seekers