Leading IT solutions provider Oracle Corporation SA has announced the launch of a new black economic empowerment (BEE) project dubbed ILIMA.
The name of the project is derived from the Nguni name encapsulating the African concept of collectivism, communalism and working together to achieve a common goal.
According to Oracle human resources director Ike Ngwena, the project has three goals.
"The first involves the establishment of incubator partnerships with two black-owned fledgling companies," he explains. "The objective is to give them a so-called 'kick-start` in the industry, and develop their capabilities to the extent where they can begin functioning profitably on their own.
"The first of these companies has already been identified as Makana Information, Communication and Technologies, the technology arm of the Makana Investment group. The second empowerment company has not yet been determined, but an announcement can be expected in the near future" he says.
The second goal of the ILIMA project entails achieving full conformity to the new employment equity legislation. "Currently, 42 percent of Oracle`s staff is made up of previously disadvantaged individuals (PDIs), but this includes white women. Our goal is to increase this figure substantially over the next three years to include more black men and women, as well as disabled persons," says Ngwena.
The final goal of the ILIMA project deals with Oracle`s corporate social investment programme and is centred on providing education to disadvantaged communities. "This includes the awarding of bursaries for training at tertiary institutions, as well as placing schools on-line," Ngwena explains.
"The government has identified SMMEs as the ideal vehicle to stimulate the general economy. Through the ILIMA, Oracle will be able to contribute extensively to job creation, and training and skills development in the previously disadvantaged sector of the IT industry," Ngwena concludes.
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