MTN launched four ICT centres in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday as part of the MTN Foundation`s ICT and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme.
The company spent R555 000 opening the centres, which are in the uThukela (which includes eMnambithi and Dricot), eMsunduzi and eHluhluwe municipalities. About 500 local businesswomen will benefit from the facilities in the first phase of the programme.
The centres will provide entrepreneurship training based on an assessment of the status of the participants` businesses. The training will include business and financial planning, marketing, record keeping and labour relations.
MTN opened each centre with 10 Internet-enabled PCs that have relevant software, a three-in-one fax, scanner and printer, and a PhoneShop (payphones), which will generate income for the centre to cover maintenance costs, equipment upgrades and purchase of stationery.
Present at the launch were the deputy ministers of trade and industry and of provincial and local government, Elizabeth Thabethe and Nomatyala Hangana.
Thabethe encouraged participants to take full advantage of the facilities and resources provided by government and the private sector to access ICT.
"The biggest challenge facing SA is to ensure all women are enabled through training and the availability of resources. The launch is about awarding all women with an economic opportunity to strengthen and grow their businesses and ICT plays a crucial role in achieving this," says Thabethe.
"ICT requires the adoption of various available tools and devices ranging from PCs, cellphones, e-mails and Internet, among others," she adds. "All these are fundamental in addressing the challenge of business isolation faced by the majority of women entrepreneurs."
The MTN Foundation will also expand the MTN ICT entrepreneurship pilot centres in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern and Western Cape.
In developing the programme, MTN has engaged local stakeholders including multi-purpose community centre managers, municipal managers, traditional authorities, non-governmental organisations, women entrepreneurs` networks and government departments.
As a further objective of the programme, the MTN Foundation is partnering with other corporations, national, provincial and local stakeholders, for example KZN`s Department of Finance and Economic Development, Msunduzi Local Municipality, Hluhluwe Local Municipality and uThukela District Municipality, to establish ICT hubs and women`s enterprises in the province.
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