Community development

Provision of technology infrastructure

As a leading global technology company, Datatec recognises that access to ICT is vital in a growing economy and it is the Foundation’s objective to provide previously disadvantaged individuals and communities with access to computer equipment for the purposes of education, job creation and community support.

Beneficiary   Purpose   Datatec’s contribution FY16   FY16 outcomes
Maharishi Institute (“MI”) MI is South Africa’s first free university providing financial support, access to education, skills development and personal development tools to underprivileged students in Johannesburg. Maharishi provides work experience to students by offering commercial BPO services. Students work in call centres and earn money while they study towards a qualification.

In 2010, Datatec funded a network infrastructure at MI to run its computer labs on two floors allowing 500 computers to be networked and accessed by students.

In FY16, Datatec provided funding to set up a BPO call centre which generates an income for the institution to help towards its self-sustainability and also provide work experience for the students.

  • MI increased student intake from 500 to 600
  • MI had its third graduation ceremony in 2015 with a 100% pass rate
  • 52 of the 62 students were placed in jobs following their graduation. Companies employing include Accenture, Primedia Unlimited and Redefine Property Group
  • Maharishi is already 55% financially sustainable from own business activities.
Afrika Tikkun Afrika Tikkun implements a holistic development model to provide sustainable care and development programmes for vulnerable and orphaned children from birth to 25 years of age. These programmes are operated on a national level, out of community centres within the townships which Afrika Tikkun is active.

In 2010, Datatec funded Afrika Tikkun’s network infrastructure enabling connection across five community centres including the head office. In addition, Datatec set up a number of computer centres used by the communities as IT skills training centres.

In FY16, Datatec contributed towards the upgrade of the network infrastructure across a number of Afrika Tikkun centres.

  • A total of 6 175 children and young people received computer skills through the various computer centres across the country
  • A total of 544 staff members received computers and laptops to conduct administrative activities and prepare programme curricula and monthly programmatic reports. Some employees also received training on computer skills (Microsoft packages) with a view to helping them do their jobs better.
Siyakhula Computer School Siyakhula Computer School provides low-cost computer literacy training to underprivileged communities across four centres in Gauteng.

Datatec has been involved with Siyakhula since 2001 and funded the establishment of the first centre in Ivory Park.

Datatec contributed towards the programme director’s annual salary in FY16.

  • Students trained: 1 484
  • Branches: four branches (Ebony Park, Diepsloot, Zandspruit, Thohoyandou and new branch in Cala, Eastern Cape in 2016)
  • Local employment sustained: ten community members
  • Target for 2016: 1 600 students trained.
LEAP Science and Mathematics Schools A high school education programme for children in marginalised communities. LEAP also runs a teacher training programme called the LEAP Future Leaders Programme. Datatec provided funding towards the upgrade of the computer training centre at the LEAP school in Diepsloot. VMware matched Datatec’s donation and together they provided the technology infrastructure and software to facilitate teaching and teacher training at the centre.
  • VMware facilitated training of eight teachers and 25 student teachers for a period of five days
  • Teachers were introduced to new learning platforms and applications including Moodle, Newsela, K-Lite and Google docs
  • 173 learners will benefit from having access to the computer training centre.
VMite VMite provides skills development programmes in ICT and entrepreneurship in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape. Datatec donated IT equipment to enable VMite to provide better quality training.
  • 60 learners from various local community schools were trained on basic coding skills
  • 20 teachers trained on ICT skills for teacher professional development
  • Four students trained on CCNA 1: introduction to networks.
Durban High School Foundation Trust Supporting the school’s bursary and capital expenditure programmes. Datatec provided funding to upgrade the school’s IT infrastructure.

With Datatec’s funding, the school was able to upgrade and purchase the following items:

  • Network infrastructure (server, network points, switches and UPS)
  • 24 laptops
  • 16 desktop PCs
  • 9 data projectors for classrooms
  • Software upgrades
  • 25 iPads.
Bursaries for tertiary studies

The Foundation supports not only secondary but also tertiary education and believes that the investment in mathematics and science at secondary level will grow South Africa’s talent pool of students studying engineering, medicine, science and accounting. For this reason, Datatec dedicates a portion of its CSI funding to bursaries in the field of accounting.

Beneficiary   Purpose   Datatec’s contribution FY16   FY16 outcomes
The Thuthuka Bursary Fund The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (“SAICA”) initiative established to provide full bursaries to 250 to 300 black students at selected SAICA-accredited universities. Datatec has been in partnership with Thuthuka since 2011 and provides full bursaries to ten students per year for a period of three years.
  • The Thuthuka CTA programmes contribute significantly to the total number of qualified accountants each year. In FY16, the full-time and part-time CTA programmes run by Thuthuka contributed 598 students to the total 2 171 African and coloured CTA students.
Skills development

South Africa has a high rate of youth unemployment and many young people do not have formal tertiary education or vocational training. Youth in South Africa are not participating in the economy, nor acquiring the skills and work experience they need to assist in driving the economy forward. Not only are young people finding it more and more difficult to secure jobs due to a shortage of job opportunities, but they lack skills, work experience, job search abilities and financial resources to find employment. Youth unemployment is one of the greatest socioeconomic problems currently facing South Africa, leading to tremendous human suffering and resultant consequences of crime, violence, women and child abuse, and societal instability. Datatec partners with organisations that can provide information technology training to young people who want to acquire skills in ICT.

Beneficiary   Purpose   Datatec’s contribution FY16   FY16 outcomes
Change the World Trust Change the World Trust is a non-profit organisation that specialises in delivering educational projects related to information technology training for disadvantaged youth and children. In FY16, Datatec provided funding to enable unemployed youth to receive IT skills training in ICT skills, PC hardware basics, intro to programming and static web design.

Total individuals trained: 109

  • 53: basics in IT skills and hardware basics
  • 31: intro to programming
  • 25: intro to web design.

The funding that Datatec provided to Change the World Trust for skills development enabled Thapelo to change his future and that of his family.

Success story

Name: Thapelo Molokwane

From: Mpumalanga, came to Johannesburg to find employment

Did not have a job until he received training in PC basics

Current job: Receptionist at Midrand Graduate Institute

“I managed to finish Matric in 2009 and unfortunately I could not find a job to look after my family. I moved to Johannesburg but still did not succeed in finding a job. Then late last year a friend told me about Change the World Training Academy and the IT scholarships they offered. I applied and received a full scholarship to undergo PC basics.

“After completing the training, I applied for a position as a receptionist at Midrand Graduate Institute. One of the requirements was a good working knowledge of PC basics and computers. I went for the interview and got the job. This is the first job I’ve ever had in my life! It’s the first time I am earning an income.

“My entire life has changed: I can afford to buy myself clothes and other needs. I have a son so now I can support him and care for him. I am also helping my younger brother with his studies. I am also teaching him everything that I learnt at Change the World Academy.

“I am very thankful for the scholarship that changed my life, as without it I would still be unemployed, without an income and not able to provide for myself and my family. I am now trying to also help those who are in need. I am reaching out to young students and helping them learn basic computer skills such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word and also help out with submitting assignments.”