Jackson is an informal settlement in Eikenhof, Johannesburg South. It is located just around the corner from Eye of Africa — one of the best lifestyle golf and residential developments in SA. The disparity between Jackson and Eye of Africa is obvious for all to see.
I was in Jackson at the weekend. The chap that tends my garden — whenever I can afford his services — lives there. He is hardworking, humble and jolly. His name is Future.
As we walked the dusty streets of Jackson, I could sense the embarrassment. “The streets are infested with swarms of flies. The stench of urine and uncollected rubbish is everywhere on every open space, and like any squatter camp, crime is a new form of entertainment,” Future tells me. “This is home to me ... there are many other South Africans and foreign nationals living here because they are trying to survive.”
In the streets, there were lots of young people huddled together peering into their phones. As if he read my mind, Future says: “Some of these young people can be useful in the field of technology... These are clever youngsters... given an opportunity they can find solutions to some of our problems.”
For now, Future says he will have to contend with tending gardens in the suburbs to earn a living.
I left Jackson feeling more could be done to improve the lives of young people in this backwater. When I arrived at the Bassonia Shopping Centre — it felt like a whole new world of wonder. I went to the car wash, where I encountered “black middle-class problems” — much different from those in Jackson.
The car wash waiting area was clean. There were no flies, no urine stench and everyone there had a drink in hand. Some young people were complaining loudly about how the country was falling apart.
They said they longed to emigrate. “I am tired of what is going on in this country, with crime, corruption, and everything. I am trying to get a job abroad as a software developer,” said a lady in a red crop top, putting her sunglasses back on to warn her friends not to challenge her.
The man in white trousers and a T-shirt responded: “I agree, I do not see a future for me here in this country as a data visualiser.”
While I decided not to get involved, I could not help wondering if there was any positive future for young South Africans who want to make it in IT. For me, the answer is a resounding yes.
I think SA youngsters are bright enough to acquire the necessary technical skills. TikTok has proved this. SA youngsters are creating content that is popular all over the world.
Institutions such as the Empire Partner Foundation (EPF), founded by businessman Nathan Mariemuthu, have the potential to engage the youth of SA to develop local solutions that could be relevant to solving Africa’s challenges.
EPF, a nonprofit organisation focused on technology, seeks to close the skills gap and reduce unemployment by empowering students.
The organisation has collaborated with the media, information and communication technologies sector education and training authority (MICT SETA) to provide relevant and practical ICT skills to students at Tshwane University of Technology. It is one of many projects EPF has undertaken.
Led by Mariemuthu, a patriot who cares about the success of SA’s talented young techies, EPF is committed to producing a new generation of African techies. So far, Mariemuthu and his team have succeeded in developing an ecosystem that enables hackathon teams to grow young, self-sustaining tech entrepreneurs around their successful solutions.
There is also Geekulcha, which turned 10 last month and has become synonymous with hackathons in SA. Founded by Mixo Ngoveni, the platform has produced 19,000 techies and innovators across Africa. It gives geeks access to ICT skills development and training, while giving them a taste of what to expect in the big world by gaining experience in the industry.
GirlCode is another impressive skills empowerment effort. Founded by Zandile Mkwanazi, it aims to equip 10-million women and girls with tech skills by 2030. GirlCode has grown from a hackathon to an organisation of programming clubs for primary and secondary school girls in SA and trains unemployed graduates to become software developers.
Mariemuthu, Mkwanazi and Ngoveni believe in the future of SA and have no intention of running away to developed countries’ problems.
SA needs more of these patriots who believe in saving the youth of SA. Maybe in the future, Mariemuthu could team up with Mkwanazi and Ngoveni to start a digital university for talented young people.
I am sure that Huawei would consider supporting such a university. After all, Huawei has been developing digital skills through its programme LEAP (Leadership, Employability, Advancement and Possibility) — creating a pool of 100,000 ICT professionals).
I hope that other companies and government agencies will do the same when the opportunity arises.
• Lourie is the founder and editor of TechFinancials.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.