The people of the West Rand town of Carletonville now have the opportunity to learn valuable IT skills thanks to the establishment of a Communal Information Technology Centre (CITC).
The CITC concept, the result of a government-private sector partnership, is aimed at providing skills development and income-generating opportunities for the unemployed.
Students receive training in IT applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases and e-mail, or in technical support of PC systems and software programs.
Communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri said at the opening of the centre on Friday that government and the community have demonstrated that they have the ability to make a difference in the lives of many people.
"Scarce IT skills learnt in this centre have the ability to address the scourge of poverty if they are utilised properly so as to enable an entrepreneurial spirit to thrive in the community.
"IT underpins the economy of SA and has an impact for sectors such as mining, health and education. But we must not fragment our work. We urge the private sector to share its IT skills development plans with us so that we can work together to achieve maximum impact in the communities that stand to benefit most."
The first such centre was started in Welkom in 1997. The IT training it has provided has enabled 630 unemployed people (65% of them women) to find work. An additional 20 graduates have been empowered to set up their own businesses.
Many people retrenched from downsizing mines in the area have learnt new skills and found new jobs. In addition, 120 grade 12 scholars participated in a 20-week IT competence course. Of these, 12 went on to study IT at tertiary institutions and 15 gained IT-related employment.
Mining house Anglogold sponsored the building of the centre in Khutsong, while IBM provided 30 computers. 3Com supplied the network facilities while Microsoft provided the software.
IT consulting company, PARAG UK, and the Foundation for Future Leaders will provide business training, management guidance and mentoring skills.
"Sponsorship in setting up each centre is vital to us, because the unemployed can seldom afford to pay in full for their training," said CITC programme director Kwamen Kubweza.
"It is important that everyone commits to completing the course at least to the extent that their finances allow. But we do subsidise trainee contributions."
In order to make all CITCs self-funding in the long-term, they are geared - through certificated graduates - to provide professional IT services and support to organisations in the surrounding community.
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