/ 15 December 2003

Ahead of the pack

Last week saw the fourth year of the Forge Ahead information communications technology (ICT) industry African Achievers Awards held at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Finalists were nominated by their peers on the Achievers website.

  • The Lifetime Achievement Award was won by Dr Andile Ngcaba, director general of the Department of Communications.

  • Top Black Woman in the ICT sector was won by Miriam Zwane, co-owner and director of Praxis Computing. Finalists: Blanche Mogorosi, programme manager at state IT agency Sita and Dr Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane, CEO at Sentech.

  • Top Individual in the ICT sector was won by Sizwe Nxasana, CEO of Telkom South Africa. Finalists: Kevin Paul, managing director of Nambiti Technologies and Mthunzi Mdwaba, executive chairman of Torque-IT.

  • The E-Government Award was won by the City of Cape Town: IT Services. Finalist: Gauteng Department of Health.

  • Top ICT Educator of the Year was won by Tuduetso Setshedi, head of computer literacy department at Modiselle Primary School. Finalists: Omphile Gratitude Dipale of Ramotshere High School and Philemon Mathebula of Makgetse High School.

  • The Youth Innovation Award was won by Mandla Njokwane, a mentor at the Youth Development Trust. Finalists: Lyle Laxton of Lateral Thinking Technologies, Gavin Gowar, deputy head boy at Krugersdorp High School and ëGbenga Sesan from Paradigm Initiative Nigeria.

  • Award for Creative Use in Education was won by Torque-IT. Finalists: World Links South Africa and Computer Training Institute.

  • The Civil Society Award for Bridging the Digital Divide was won by the Youth Development Trust. Finalists: Gbenga Sesan, Nigeria’s IT youth ambassador and Nkhetheleng Vokwana from the Telkom Foundation.

  • African-Born Company Growing Across its Borders was won by e.com Institute. Finalists: IT: Knowledge & Expertise and Data World.

  • Most Progressive Company in the ICT Sector was won by Telkom SA. Finalists: Praxis Computing and CS Holdings.

  • Top Black ICT SME was won by Motcom IT Services. Finalists: SystemSpecs and Nambiti Technologies.

  • Top Black Company in the ICT Sector was won by Lechabile IT Services.