CITI finalises sponsorships

By Paul Vecchiatto, ITWeb Cape Town correspondent

Cape Town, 02 Mar 2006

The Cape IT Initiative (CITI) is finalising its sponsorship from the Western Cape provincial government and drawing up a short list for a new executive director, says chairman Ravin Naidoo.

CITI and its incubator, Bandwidth Barn, were rocked earlier this year with the news that long-time sponsor Verizon Business (formerly UUNET) would sever ties. Executive director Masedi Molosiwa also resigned to join the SA Post Office.

Naidoo says CITI originally asked the provincial government for about R1.5 million in funding this year, but the province has indicated this may be higher.

"We have to finalise our funding proposal and the Western Cape province has indicated it may be raised to about R2 million and even possibly a little more for specific projects."

Naidoo says that since the withdrawal of Verizon`s R1 million annual sponsorship, CITI and the Bandwidth Barn have enough money for their day-to-day operations.

"It is the various projects and events that we organise that continue to need funding," he says.

These include the Launchpad (now to be renamed Velocity) project to help small black-owned IT companies to get off the ground, events at the Bandwidth Barn that bring in industry experts to talk to the small companies on various topics, and the mentorship programmes for the newly formed companies.

Naidoo says a short list of about 10 applicants has been drawn up for the position of CITI executive director after 150 CVs had been received.

"We received quite a few applications from Gauteng and a few from overseas. The real requirement for this position is a person who can build relationships; a strong technical background is not that important," he says.

Because provincial and local government is an important CITI funder, black credentials will be an important factor for applications, Naidoo says.

Bandwidth Barn GM Odette Potter says the board for the incubator is almost finalised, with the two members of the CITI board and one representing the tenants having been appointed.

"We still need two industry representatives for the board and there will be a position available for a new major sponsor."

Potter says that while CITI has the responsibility of promoting ICT in the Western Cape for all companies, the Bandwidth Barn is specifically aimed at the SME segment.