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‘It was indeed an honour to be a part of the delegation visiting the Cape Innovation Technology Initiative (CITI) campus in Salt River today. Information communications technology (ICT) is not only one of the fastest growing industries, directly creating millions of jobs, but it is also an important enabler of innovation and development. The partnership between the City of Cape Town and CITI aims to facilitate training, skills development and business development for the ICT industry. This is one of the critical sectors in which we are addressing the skills demand,’ said Alderman Twigg.

The City’s Enterprise and Development Department provides financial and non-financial support to the Cape Information Technology Initiative (CITI) to enable the institution to achieve the following:

•  facilitate the competitiveness and attractiveness of the information, communications and technology (ICT) industry in Cape Town;
• facilitate sector specific training (skills development) and business development;
• promote inclusive growth through targeted programmes specifically for previously disadvantaged individuals and the youth; and
• to position Cape Town as a globally competitive ICT hub

Although the Enterprise and Investment Department manages the implementation of these programmes, some of these initiatives are funded through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in the Urban Management Directorate.

‘One such programme is where the City has partnered with Capaciti to implement two training projects for unemployed youth via the Citi's Skills Development and Job Readiness Programme. The aim of the project is for young people to receive training and placement within the Digital Programming Environment,’ said Alderman Twigg.

The City invested a total of R3,5 million in the one-year training programme, from January to December 2018, which saw 107 learners trained in the tech sector.
CapaCiTi has employed ten young people who completed their training: three as Placement coordinators, a recruitment coordinator, a Project Manager, a Student Ecosystem Manager, an Administrator, a Placement Assistant and a Campus Manager. The hiring of these employees has been of significant help to CapaCiTi from a resource point of view.

85% of the 107 learners on an ICT Technical programme are currently in internships at reputable companies such as ABSA (ABSA Aliens programme), TFG, Old Mutual, Santam, Pepkor IT, Condor Green, Data4Africa, Gettruck, and Innovo Networks, amongst others.

‘The success of this programme is evident. We need more of these interventions to capacitate our young people,’ added Alderman Twigg.

‘The Enterprise and Investment Department, which is part of my portfolio, has prioritised support to CITI in order to support interventions such as enterprise development, and mentorship programs as well as skills development and training programs for the ICT industry. These interventions help in increasing the attractiveness of Cape Town as an IT location, stemming the loss of professional skills and attracting inward investment. This in turn facilitates job creation and prosperity through IT,’ added Alderman Vos.

These interventions also help in increasing innovation and technology services, addressing skills shortages and increasing the competitiveness of Cape Town in the ICT sector.

The Enterprise and Investment Department has provided funding support to CITI as depicted below and in return, CITI has helped with the training of young beneficiaries and job creation for Cape Town:

• Total funding (2012-2019): R21 791 392
• Total no. of people trained: 1 857
• Total jobs secured: 511