True black empowerment can only happen with better support from the government and industry players, says Wireless Business Solutions (WBS) COO Thami Mtshali.
Mtshali says true empowerment requires skills development and support of black-owned small and medium enterprises, which is not happening yet. "A lot of BEE deals are infringing on BEE itself.
"Large IT companies always get first preference in securing government contracts, thus shutting down small companies from procurement opportunities.
"More support from the government and black entrepreneurs is needed to create opportunities and skills development for the poor, at the same time pushing forward the ICT BEE initiative.
"Sometimes small companies are their own worst enemies as they often question their own credibility. To survive in this industry, those perceptions have to be changed.
"BEE should not only end or start with shareholding but it should be about creating skills development all the way from middle to top management," says Mtshali.
"Many white-owned IT companies do not create enough channels in helping previously disadvantaged individuals to enter the market, develop their skills and sustain their positions.
"In order to comply with the ICT BEE strategy, some of these companies have to realise that change is necessary and that they should use skills transfer to help the poor of this country."
He highlights Telkom, Transnet and arivia.kom as being among the companies that have created opportunities for black people.
"With the high unemployment rate in SA, the industry should solve employment issues, bring in more black people, equip them with skills, and let them be entrepreneurs in their own right.
"There are a whole lot of young, black, IT-qualified men and women who are sitting at home or doing minor jobs.
However, Mtshali cautions: "Some of these graduates have to be honest with themselves. They should not look at the funds but rather show passion, determination and will in the way they carry out their jobs to sustain intellectual property."
Describing the challenges WBS faced to secure the deal to roll-out lottery kiosks around SA, Mtshali says the company went head-to-head with Telkom.
"We competed with Telkom in securing the national lottery deal, and with them being a big BEE company we thought we were no match for them. In the end we secured the deal," says Mtshali.
"WBS has been the service provider behind the national lottery, with 700 stations based around the country serving 8 000 connections, also creating 200 jobs."
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