The Information Technology Association of South Africa (ITA) will commit R2-billion to the Gauteng Province's ICT in education initiative.

The industry body, representing several local technology firms including Microsoft, HP Lenovo, SAP and IBM, confirmed it will work with the Gauteng provincial government on the digitalisation project, which will cost R7-billion in total.

Sunil Geness, President of the ITA told ITWeb Africa that the organisation wants to expose members to opportunities that are linked to innovations and pilot projects the government identifies as credible and eligible for RFP.

"We came together to have a discussion about what we could do collectively and because the ITA is the leader of the industry, it was found to be prudent to have this engagement...It is my view that the ratio is 5:2. If the industry can invest two and participate in the five, by all means they will do it because industry has a cost price and they just put it the sale price and they have affordability built into all of that. If they engage constructively we have the chance of creating the next Silicon Valley right here in Gauteng."

Geness also revealed that several ICT companies had engaged MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi and expressed interest in working with the government.

The MEC welcomed a donation of videos and software on cybersecurity and internet safety from IT firm Wolfpack Information Risk. The company's products are available for download and can be handed to schools participating in the digitalisation programme.

Economic reform

MEC Lesufi said the provincial government is making a considerable investment in ICT for schools in order to reposition South Africa's economy, which he said can no longer depend on minerals to remain competitive.

"We believe all major companies, your IBM, your SAP, Samsung, Google must find warmth here in Johannesburg before they can be attracted by other cities somewhere. We are lobbying very hard that we create that type of environment and provide all the support. And it has yielded results if you can see the major institutions that are coming into Gauteng in order to invest because it is the Gateway to africa and other provinces...The ICT sector is a very important sector and we want to create that economy for them and give them the support that they need in order for them to grow."

MEC Lesufi also said the Department of Education's ICT programme in schools has garnered the attention of government representatives from the international community, including ambassadors from Africa and the UK.

The ITA says it will assist the government in maintaining the technology needed for its Schools of Specialisation programme, one of the education initiatives earmarked for investment.

Schools of Specialisation are identified by the government to focus on honing skills in selected disciplines such as Maths and Science, Engineering, Commerce and Education.

The first of the schools is currently under construction and scheduled for opening in Soweto in two months time.