With three weeks to go before nominations for the Computer Society of South Africa`s IT Personality of the Year award close, the drive has begun for another set of industry accolades - this time celebrating black achievement in the ICT industry.
Founded by Forge Ahead BMI-T, the Black Achievers Awards 2000 are sponsored primarily by Andersen Consulting, with additional sponsorship provided by African Technology Holdings, Lechabile Holdings, and Zeros & Ones Holdings; all black-owned technology companies.
The awards initiative, which is supported by the Black IT Forum, ties in with the launch of the Black ICT Achievers Directory 2000, a market research handbook which aims to reflect the current status of black achievers in the ICT arena. Split into three sections, the handbook will profile the top three e-commerce companies and the top ten black companies overall.
In addition, the top 200 nominees for the Black Achiever award will be profiled, with the focus falling on the top 20, who will be awarded for their personal achievements and contributions to industry.
The nominees include Andile Ngcaba, director general of the Department of Communications, Benjamin Mophatlane, and his brother Isaac Mophatlane, MD and CEO respectively of Business Connection.
Figures provided by Andersen Consulting indicate that of the top 20 achievers nominated so far this year, six are women. This translates into a 25% increase on last year.
In a sign of the increase of entrepreneurial growth, 54.7% of respondents were from black IT companies. Government respondents totalled 12.7%.
The award ceremony will take place on 14 October at the Sandton Convention Centre.
For further information, contact project manager Tebogo Makgatho on (011) 803 6412.
Black Achievers Awards 2000 Web page is at http://www.bmi-t.co.za/forge.htm
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