Hardware Connection and Matsema Solutions have merged to form Matsema, a black economic empowerment company.
Fhumulani Ratshibvumo, the former head of Matsema Solutions who has been appointed as MD of the new company, expects a R12 million turnover this calendar year. He says Matsema aims to compete with the big name IT solution providers in SA within the next five years.
Newly appointed director Dennis Dibakwane says that as the small and medium enterprise (SME) market is competitive but highly fragmented, SMEs must join forces to enhance growth.
"Gone are the days when companies sourced various IT solution providers. The future lies in end-to-end solutions for the business sector," he notes.
IT solution provider Synthesis Informatics will own a 26% stake in the new company.
"Between Matsema and the black-owned Synthesis Informatics, the newly formed company will be 51% black-owned, with the remaining 49% owned by Hardware Connection," says Ratshibvumo.
Hardware Connection MD Pierre Bester believes the merger of the two companies, together with Synthesis` stake in the new company, forms a healthy IT synergy.
"Synthesis provides IT solutions and services to companies, while the new company will provide IT products and handle the logistics of projects," says Bester.
The merger will enable the new company to add to its combined national branches by expanding to Synthesis` existing countrywide branch infrastructure.
"Plans are in place to establish Matsema centres in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein," says Ratshibvumo.
The merger between the two Pretoria-based IT solution providers was initiated by Bester, who says that Hardware Connection wants to proactively drive black economic empowerment in the country.
Thanks to the merger, Matsema now has Siemens, Telkom, Coca-Cola, SAB, Denel and Ntsika as clients, providing software and hardware to these companies` IT departments.
Matsema marketing manager Penny Schutte says business operations for the existing client base will remain unchanged.
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