EMC Southern Africa delivers on Nkandla initiative pledge

EMC Southern Africa recently delivered on its pledge to provide the Nkandla/Mlalazi Rural Development Presidential Initiative with 20 brand new laptops for the children of Mbongolwane Primary School, in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.

Nkosinathi Diyela, Principal of Mbongolwane Primary School, said: “We are extremely grateful that EMC became involved in this project to help the community and schools. Our community represents one of the poorest rural areas in the province, so the laptops and Internet connectivity are deeply appreciated. They will boost the morale of the teachers and the children, and provide access to information and skills which would otherwise not have been possible. It's an important milestone which we will never forget.”

The Nkandla/Mlalazi initiative seeks to highlight the need to support and increase community participation in agriculture, particularly by ensuring food security, job creation, community and rural development.

Situated in the Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal, the Nkandla/Mlalazi community started an initiative to develop 550 hectares of land for agricultural activities, particularly food production. This initiative was tabled to the local Amakhosi for their approval and participation. The local leadership embraced and supported the initiative in various positive and empowering methods.

The Nkandla initiative was officially launched by the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development together with the Nkandla/Mlalazi community, on 3 October 2010. The launch also marked the beginning of a private public partnership on the initiative, with a host of private sector pledges to rural development.

“Technology is very important in rural areas, as it provides opportunities for people to broaden their horizons,” Mapetla said. “On this project, we are working closely with Cisco, one of our technology partners. Cisco will supply the network infrastructure to give the children of Mbongolwane Primary School access to the Internet.”

Mapetla, representing Inana Nkanza, EMC Southern Africa's Country Manager, handed the laptops to Principal Diyela during a weeding ceremony held in Nkandla on Friday. The ceremony was a Masibambisane Rural Development Initiative chaired by South African President Jacob Zuma. Several cabinet ministers as well as representatives from the business sector and the Nkandla community attended the ceremony, as did Motshoanetsi Lefoka, CEO of the South African Post Office.

EMC Southern Africa's involvement in the Nkandla initiative is the first in an ongoing programme to improve the lives of rural people through technology. EMC Southern Africa and Cisco are collaborating with the South African Post Office to roll out the programme.