IN THE context of the appointment of President Jacob Zuma’s daughter as chief of staff in the newly restructured telecommunications and postal services ministry, the state should consider carefully why the appointment sends the wrong message and review the importance of strong technical leadership in the information and communications technology sector.
Technology and innovation are the most critical drivers of economic growth in the 21st century and demand high levels of technical skills such as software programming, computer science, electrical and network engineering. But as a country we are struggling to uplift technical skills in an environment of increasing unemployment.
Our technology sectors should be a driver for economic growth but have struggled to create the impact needed to address growing youth unemployment. We need to understand why. Part of this is systemic in that our telecommunications industry is still hindered by state-owned or controlled monopolies and enterprises.
During apartheid, these state assets were used to support minorities with job opportunities.
Today, the state continues to compete with the private sector and, while the intention is to address inequality, it is a structural impediment to the growth of small businesses that could provide opportunities for mass participation in the economy.
The government has made available large funds for enterprise development and skills training.
But the gap is in the opportunities that enable youths to gain experience through internships and apprenticeships.
Rigid labour laws restrict the nature of employment and do not support the creation and resourcing of projects as temporary work that technology companies depend upon to develop skills through experience.
Project work creates stepping-stone opportunities for employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Infrastructure development such as broadband has been highly politicised and the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry is concerned that this is driven by large capital expenditure budgets rather than the development of skills and human capital.
Make no mistake; access to broadband is very important for the development of any country.
But the much quoted global precedent of 10% growth in gross domestic product resulting from the laying of fibre-optic networks across the country is unrealistic.
Given the lack of density and skills, SA is likely to see less than 1% in the short term, even if we manage to complete all these infrastructure projects.
To realise the potential of economic growth in the technology sector, we need to focus on skills development, particularly through small businesses and temporary projects that facilitate the gaining of experience.
SA suffers from a dearth of information technology (IT) skills.
People with the relevant skills are highly sought after and often command high salaries, which results in businesses struggling to manage their IT needs competitively.
Last year, the Department of Basic Education circulated a proposed standardisation of software tools and programming language in grades 10 to 12.
It was only after massive opposition (including from the Cape Chamber’s digital portfolio committee) that this policy was reversed. The past year also saw progress made by the previous minister, Yunus Carrim, after the damaging period under former minister Dina Pule.
It is against this background that we read with dismay the recent appointment of the president’s daughter, Thuthukile Zuma, as chief of staff in the new telecommunications department.
Our dismay stems not only from the appointment of a person who cannot claim the requisite experience to occupy an important post in a vital department, but also from the message this sends to pupils and job hunters: “It does not matter what training and experience you have.
What really matters is who you know, not what you know.”
That this is the message sent by the department at this stage is particularly disheartening.
As a chamber of commerce we seek to promote learning, training, experience and accountability in employees.
Even if Ms Zuma were to do an excellent job — the chances are not good — the ministry, and by extension the government, are demotivating pupils to study hard and obtain work experience if in the long run it makes no difference.
This kind of action also heralds a more insidious problem.
Some of our brightest talents are opting for softer skills and aspire to management positions rather than building careers that rely on a longer and harder learning curve.
They do this based on their experience that it is more likely to land them a lucrative, undemanding position. It also takes our talent away from hard technical skills, which we dearly need.
The progress made by Carrim provided some signs of hope for a more accountable department that regulates a highly technical sector.
Whatever the rationale, the recent appointments and changes by the president will not foster business confidence in a key public sector that has a long history of exploitation through political appointments.
The government must set the example, not only in terms of accountability and governance, but in the appointment of technical leadership in key positions where the necessary experience and vision are critical in driving programmes that can build both human capital and infrastructure.
Roderick Lim Banda chairs the digital portfolio committee of the Cape Chamber of Commerce.
Zuma’s daughter post sends a wrong signal
Technology and innovation are the most critical drivers of economic growth in the 21st century and demand high levels of technical skills such as software programming, computer science, electrical and network engineering. But as a country we are struggling to uplift technical skills in an environment of increasing unemployment.
Our technology sectors should be a driver for economic growth but have struggled to create the impact needed to address growing youth unemployment. We need to understand why. Part of this is systemic in that our telecommunications industry is still hindered by state-owned or controlled monopolies and enterprises.
During apartheid, these state assets were used to support minorities with job opportunities.
Today, the state continues to compete with the private sector and, while the intention is to address inequality, it is a structural impediment to the growth of small businesses that could provide opportunities for mass participation in the economy.
The government has made available large funds for enterprise development and skills training.
But the gap is in the opportunities that enable youths to gain experience through internships and apprenticeships.
Rigid labour laws restrict the nature of employment and do not support the creation and resourcing of projects as temporary work that technology companies depend upon to develop skills through experience.
Project work creates stepping-stone opportunities for employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Infrastructure development such as broadband has been highly politicised and the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry is concerned that this is driven by large capital expenditure budgets rather than the development of skills and human capital.
Make no mistake; access to broadband is very important for the development of any country.
But the much quoted global precedent of 10% growth in gross domestic product resulting from the laying of fibre-optic networks across the country is unrealistic.
Given the lack of density and skills, SA is likely to see less than 1% in the short term, even if we manage to complete all these infrastructure projects.
To realise the potential of economic growth in the technology sector, we need to focus on skills development, particularly through small businesses and temporary projects that facilitate the gaining of experience.
SA suffers from a dearth of information technology (IT) skills.
People with the relevant skills are highly sought after and often command high salaries, which results in businesses struggling to manage their IT needs competitively.
Last year, the Department of Basic Education circulated a proposed standardisation of software tools and programming language in grades 10 to 12.
It was only after massive opposition (including from the Cape Chamber’s digital portfolio committee) that this policy was reversed. The past year also saw progress made by the previous minister, Yunus Carrim, after the damaging period under former minister Dina Pule.
It is against this background that we read with dismay the recent appointment of the president’s daughter, Thuthukile Zuma, as chief of staff in the new telecommunications department.
Our dismay stems not only from the appointment of a person who cannot claim the requisite experience to occupy an important post in a vital department, but also from the message this sends to pupils and job hunters: “It does not matter what training and experience you have.
What really matters is who you know, not what you know.”
That this is the message sent by the department at this stage is particularly disheartening.
As a chamber of commerce we seek to promote learning, training, experience and accountability in employees.
Even if Ms Zuma were to do an excellent job — the chances are not good — the ministry, and by extension the government, are demotivating pupils to study hard and obtain work experience if in the long run it makes no difference.
This kind of action also heralds a more insidious problem.
Some of our brightest talents are opting for softer skills and aspire to management positions rather than building careers that rely on a longer and harder learning curve.
They do this based on their experience that it is more likely to land them a lucrative, undemanding position. It also takes our talent away from hard technical skills, which we dearly need.
The progress made by Carrim provided some signs of hope for a more accountable department that regulates a highly technical sector.
Whatever the rationale, the recent appointments and changes by the president will not foster business confidence in a key public sector that has a long history of exploitation through political appointments.
The government must set the example, not only in terms of accountability and governance, but in the appointment of technical leadership in key positions where the necessary experience and vision are critical in driving programmes that can build both human capital and infrastructure.
Roderick Lim Banda chairs the digital portfolio committee of the Cape Chamber of Commerce.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos