The University of Witwatersrand's Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) has launched its vision for the Tshimologong Precinct, a new software hub in Braamfontein that will nurture the production and consumption of local ICT products and services.
The project, under the leadership of professor Barry Dwolatzky, director and CEO of JCSE, has been dubbed the Tech-in-Braam project. Tshimologong is a seSotho word meaning "new beginnings". The project is said to be the first step in developing a prosperous Braamfontein ICT cluster.
According to a statement released by the JCSE, Braamfontein's geographic concentration of businesses and suppliers contribute a lion's share of Gauteng's 40% to the country's total GDP. All these businesses require software and digital content, and can benefit enormously from procuring it locally.
In addition, the cluster will offer great skills development opportunity, offering internships for unemployed graduates and training for school leavers. A number of training programmes are planned for the precinct, including a banking software skills academy, a hi-maturity software development unit, a games and digital content hub, and programming, software development and games design short courses.
Location, location
Braamfontein was chosen as the ideal location for the tech hub, because of its rich history of industry, innovation and culture, but also for all the characteristics of a successful cluster location it possesses.
Bordering Braamfontein are two of the country's oldest universities, Wits and the University of Johannesburg, as well as a number of other tertiary education institutions and several schools nearby.
"Lifestyle options are also provided for by the numerous hotels, bars, coffee shops, restaurants, clothing stores, art galleries and general retail stores that continue to launch in Braamfontein," says the statement. "Add to this the numerous sports facilities in and around Braamfontein, and the necessity to ever leave the neighbourhood becomes minimal."
Half a city block, owned by Wits, is set to be overhauled to create this digital content co-working hub, complete with training rooms, computer labs, meeting rooms, bars and seating areas. The street block consists of two former night clubs, offices, a warehouse and retail space that is set to be converted into an ICT and digital content hub and development area.
"The national and local governments have several department head offices located within Braamfontein and nearby, and both have several programmes aimed at significant investment in building skills, generating jobs and creating new organisations in the IT field," says the JCSE. "These investments are set to grow as government looks to the ICT sector as a significant source of future economic growth and job creation through the National Development Plan."
Local investment
According to the JCSE, private and government sponsorship - in the region of R40 million - needs to be raised to turn this vision into a reality. "Given the broad scope of this project, partnership and sponsorship opportunities abound."
The JCSE is not only seeking financial donations, but says it is also looking at the possibility of joint ventures.
"[We aim to] enable an environment of transparent open collaboration across the industry, from start-ups to SMMEs, to established local and international IT corporations through community-focused and -driven knowledge sharing events."
Share