Sentech has made great strides in creating opportunities for women in the ICT sector to recognise, develop and welcome their skills and abilities. The appointment of Dr Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane's as CEO in 2001 is indisputable proof of the company's commitment to the empowerment of women.
Her pioneering for the recognition of women began as early as the 70s, and remained central to her intention as she continued as an active member of relevant organisations throughout her career. As a member of the Technology Women in Business (TWIB) Advisory Committee, she dedicated four years to encouraging the use of technology by women.
A strong advocate of mentoring, she introduced a mentorship programme for a group of young women, not only focusing on providing them with technology information, but also contributing to their psycho-social development.
Taking note of the small number of female employees in the ICT industry and the level of difficulty for women, particularly black women, to establish careers in the sector, she set out to redress this imbalance. In her capacity as CEO she established the Khulisa programme, which fosters technology-related skills development among young women.
She has further spearheaded this technological access for women within the company, through initiatives like the Sentech Educational Trust and in partnering with the Information Systems and Electronics (ISETT) SETA, to develop learnerships, skills transfer and experiential learning programmes.
An inspiration to women within the company and on a broader scale, she is a strong believer in ensuring the company's transformed workforce remains educated and skilled at the highest level.
"Sentech firmly believes that human capital development inclusive of gender equality and the empowerment of women is fundamental to achieving our vision as a leader in world-class broadband communications," says Mokone-Matabane.
"Although we mark 9 August as a single day to honour women in South Africa, every day is Women's Day if we begin to acknowledge and embrace the contributions women have made in the arts, sports, government, business, and in the communications arena, in the last 10 years, and most importantly, for the nurturing role that they play as mothers, to our future leaders and visionaries."
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