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The Cape IT Initiative (CiTi) and BCX have formed a strategic partnership to catalyse digital skills across South Africa, with BCX making a ZAR100 million (US$7.4 million) investment into the CapaCiTi Skills Development Programme.

The three-year project – named “CiTiX- Futured by BCX” – will train a minimum of 250 candidates each year in industry-led digital skills using CiTi’s CapaCiTi programme skills development and job-readiness methodology.

The Jobs Fund grant will also unlock great operational efficiency and scale that CiTiX will leverage. Recruitment has already started in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban, and the programme will launch in late January 2018.

Students will obtain industry-relevant technical training in software programming and ICT infrastructure, and will also be trained in one of five key skills streams: Operations Technology, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence. The programme will equip them to support and manage products and services in Agri-tech, Marinetech, Fintech and Cybersecurity, to name a few.

CiTiX – Futured by BCX will take unemployed, previously disadvantaged South African youth through an intensive and holistic career-readiness pathway, equipping them with the technical and inter-personal skills needed for success in the knowledge economy.

“As an organisation, we’re passionate about technology and the innovation that it allows to improve the lives of South Africans – especially the youth. Being digital activists, we fully support initiatives that will remove barriers to entry for South Africans, so they can become key players in the digital space and fuel Industry 4.0,” said Ian Russell, chief executive officer (CEO) of BCX.

“We’re creating an exciting ecosystem of new skills, tech businesses and knowledge streams as a pipeline for digital growth through our partnerships with the Tshimologong Precinct at Wits University, Propella in Port Elizabeth and the Bandwidth Barn in Cape Town where CiTi is based.”

CiTi CEO Ian Merrington said the partnership with BCX was another milestone in CiTi’s journey of supporting an inclusive and transformed economy, through digital skills creation and disruptive innovation.

“As Africa’s oldest technology incubator and home to one of the most successful technology and digital job readiness and skills development programmes we are privileged to partner with BCX to create CiTiX- Futured by BCX,” he said.

“Both organisations are driven by the same belief: that to accelerate economic development and job creation the youth need access to relevant and agile technology curricula and skills.”

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