Braamfontein is now the site of an exciting new-age software skills and innovation hub, the Tshimologong Precinct. Appropriately, tshimologong is the Sesotho phrase for 'place of new beginnings'.
The precinct is part of an ambitious ICT cluster development programme, Tech-in-Braam, that has swung into action and will re-infuse Johannesburg's inner-city Braamfontein with a hive of skills training, job creation and enterprise development activity.
This dynamic development, which will see programmers, designers, developers and entrepreneurs congregating in a half-city-block along Juta Street, between Station and Henri Streets, is the brainchild of Prof Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) at Wits University, and recently named a co-winner of 2013 IT Personality of the Year Award.
BBD has invested in becoming a "Founding Partner", as it recognises and believes in the vision and implementation of this ambitious Tshimologong Precinct concept.
By sponsoring R250 000, BBD aims to assist in the creation of this attractive and vibrant Digital Technology Hub in the hope to change the lives of millions through the age of rapid innovation, support skills development, job creation, entrepreneurship and the rejuvenation of Johannesburg's inner city.
In addition to this sponsorship, BBD has been toying with the idea of relocating its research and development department into the hub. This will provide a platform where BBD can interact and effectively communicate with other industry experts and universities. This collaboration between industry and academia will create a culture of learning at Tshimologong not present anywhere else.
"We are creating a hub space where people can get together, brainstorm and work on creative projects, and take part in workshops. Tshimologong will be a start-up incubator and source of skills," says Prof Dwolatzky. He envisions 24/7 activity in the new precinct, with courses running day and night, as well as hubs where ideas are hatched and creativity has a space to breathe.
Plans include formal and informal membership-based groups where likeminded and creative techies can connect, take courses, locate tutors and advisors, and access WiFi zones and hot desks. He sees specialised forums and conferences taking place, as well as video evenings, career fairs and master classes.
Prof Dwolatzky is in the process of setting up shop in a series of five unused buildings, where, after some extensive refurbishments, large areas that were once night club floors will become meeting rooms, coffee and snack bars and server rooms. The warehouses will be converted into computer labs and retail outlets will reincarnate as development pods. The Braamfontein neighbourhood was the obvious and perfect location for this precinct, as this destination has many advantages:
* The vicinity is conveniently situated near two universities (Wits and the University of Johannesburg), therefore characterised by a vibrant student life close to many students and the universities research departments;
* It is centrally located with good transportation;
* It is the site of local government departments and many non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and it is within easy reach of banks and mining houses, as well as a multitude of corporate headquarters, such as those of SAB Miller and Transnet; and
* Gauteng generates 40% of the country's gross domestic product and much of it emanates from within a 15km radius of Braamfontein, with all these businesses requiring software and digital services.
With many interested parties clamouring to get involved, The Tshimologong Precinct will offer various courses to industry, host laboratories, house start-up companies in the pre-incubator, Software Architecture and Agile Development forum meetings, conduct research, promote the adoption of the CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) process improvement model in South Africa, and develop and improve the skill sets of the next generation of 'techie' innovators.
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