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Microsoft is the first company to respond positively to a call made by the Leader of Government Business, Nomusa Dube-Ncube. She has appealed to the private companies to support the DigiGirls Friday Campaign.

The IT company’s provincial executive responsible for the Public Sector, Sandile Mahlaba said the company was inspired by the display of solid leadership and commitment towards digital transformation in KZN.
Today, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who is the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs reiterated provincial government’s focus on fast-tracking the entry of women into the digital economy. Critically, she revealed plans aimed at getting a girl-child-learner to spend a day in the offices of companies involved in the Information, Communication and Technology sector.

Addressing the Women in ICT Dialogue at Greyville Convention Centre, she pointed out that the DigiGirls Friday campaign would help young girls to be informed about career opportunities in the digital economy. She encouraged companies to provide training to women across all corners of the province as part of bridging the digital divide and creating a knowledge-based society.

She remarked: “We acknowledge the fact that some jobs will become obsolete with the advent of 4IR. With investment in digital infrastructure and training, we have no doubt that we will minimise risks and maximise benefits.”

She added: “We want to train thousands of young people especially a girl child on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Content Production, 3D Printing, Cloud Computing, Drone Piloting, Cloud Computing and Software development. We want to work with the private sector to make a technology literacy a priority. We undertake to promote it alongside reading and writing as a basic skill."

Regarding the government’s priority of economic transformation and job creation, Nomsa Dube-Ncube referred to a study conducted by Accenture and the World Economic Forum. This study estimates that the aggregate value that can be derived by the country from the digital transformation of society and the economy is about R5 trillion.  

She welcomed the fact that the President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa established a Presidential Commission on the 4th Industrial Revolution.  Ramaphosa indicated few months ago that economic value addition presented by 4IR would result in roughly, four million new jobs.

Nomusa Dube-Ncube weighed in: “We want KZN to lead in terms of the creation of new jobs. This province has an added advantage because we host the submarine cable-landing points in Umthunzini closer to our Richards Bay Industrial Zone. Unfortunately, many people are now aware that we connect Africa to the world through the internet. Clearly, the global move towards technology inspired by the 4th Industrial Revolution brings with it new opportunities to build our society and the economy. We don’t want women to be left behind.”

She further emphasized: “As KZN government we are convinced that by understanding and embracing the 4th Industrial Revolution, we will move with speed in achieving most of government priorities. A deeper understanding of 4IR means that we will also be able to deal with risks associated with this phenomenon.”
She encouraged women to equip themselves with the latest skills required to drive the 4IR. She further informed hundreds of women that with the advent of 4IR, women are set to receive quality healthcare.  

She quipped: “In terms of the provision of quality healthcare, we are informed that artificial intelligence can produce a medical diagnosis from an x-ray faster than a radiologist with excellent accuracy.”

In terms of improvements of road safety measures, she pointed out: “We have been alerted to the fact that robots can manufacture cars which can be used by people living with disability. Apparently, autonomous vehicles will change traffic flows by avoiding bottlenecks. Such cars can move around with precision.”
She concluded by expressing her appreciation to the members of the media and committed government to working with the mainstream media to ensure that women who are in involved in the digital economy are put on a pedestal for the world to see.
“Let us work together to sustain a narrative of the involvement of women in the digital economy. We can achieve this through story-lines and published feature articles of women who are involved in the digital transformation.”

Issued by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs