Following the unveiling of the much-awaited black economic empowerment (BEE) draft charter on information communications technology (ICT) last week, the charter’s working group on Monday launched roadshows in East London and Port Elizabeth.
The charter seeks to redress the imbalances of the past in the ICT industry, which remains largely dominated by white business.
In recognition of the importance of the issue of BEE in the sector, the Dali Mpofu-led ICT charter working group is launching a national roadshow to facilitate the process of debating and formulating a proposal for the charter for submission to government before June 25.
In its bid to be all-inclusive in the consultative process, the group is targetting all provinces to create an open forum for debate and gather input from all stakeholders to submit to government for implementation.
The roadshow’s second leg will be in Cape Town on Tuesday, and third leg in Bloemfontein and Kimberley on March 24.
The information and opinions of the ICT community will ultimately form part of final version of the ICT charter, the group said.
“Our prime objectives for the roll-out of the charter include the enabling of meaningful participation by black people in the ICT sector; achieving a substantial change in the racial composition of ownership, management and control; as well as in the skilled and specialist positions inside companies,” Mpofu said.
He added that the charter is not about rules and regulations but about the needs and issues that must be addressed, such as developing the right managerial and technical skills.
“Strides have already been made by the working group to ensure the sector subscribes to a transformation blueprint acceptable to the widest audience, including all its stakeholders, the government, the broader South African population, and the investment community at large,” the group said.
The aim of the roadshows is to solicit comments and feed back from all provinces. It is also to hear ideas in and behind the draft charter and to explain it in detail to the communities.
“A special emphasis and focus will be on the black-owned companies, small medium and micro-enterprises and women in IT. A team composed of working group members will present the charter and facilitate discussion,” the group said.
The working group expects to release its first monthly update — of the first draft — this week. Subsequent drafts will be informed by inputs from the roadshows and follow-up provincial discussions, research conducted by the group and its research partners EmpowerDEX and Forge Ahead, and submissions by industry associations.
The group urges interested parties and communities to participate on the roadshows. – I-Net Bridge