The ICT Sector Action Team is paving the way for Durban’s transition into a smarter, more digitally inclusive city. At its latest meeting, the team made significant progress on several fronts—from Smart City collaboration and property scouting for training centres to funding exploration and practical course design.
Smart City Partnerships
The team continues to build relationships with municipal departments to support eThekwini’s Smart City ambitions. While progress has been made, key challenges like limited staffing and budget in government remain. A step-by-step relationship-building approach is being prioritised to strengthen long-term cooperation and impact.
Property for ICT Training & BPO Hubs
There’s a growing need for centrally located premises to house ICT training and business process outsourcing (BPO) activities. While government-owned properties are a potential solution, transparency and bureaucracy have made access difficult. The team is exploring strategic partnerships with developers and city real estate leaders to secure suitable spaces—ideally within public transport nodes for accessibility.
Skills Development & Course Accreditation
The team is currently reviewing accredited ICT and AI courses, with an eye on combining them with soft skills and work-readiness modules. The goal is to create programs that bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world employability. Partnerships with private training providers and institutions like DUT are being explored to design a pilot course and identify candidates.
Innovation & Monetizable Projects
Exciting ideas are emerging, including a potential app that merges city reporting (like potholes) with insurance-related data. The team is investigating integration possibilities via APIs with the city’s existing infrastructure. These initiatives could provide both learning opportunities for students and commercial value to support training sustainability.
Funding Pathways
UIF and Department of Labour funding streams are being explored, but access hinges on accreditation and bureaucratic compliance. The team also identified the potential of larger grants such as the Growth Fund, provided proposal requirements are met. Administrative support and streamlined documentation will be key to unlocking these opportunities.
Pilot Program Planning
The team is actively mapping out a pilot training program for 10–20 learners, with a focus on equitable access and job readiness. Multiple venues—including Morningside, Pinetown, and donated community spaces—are under consideration. Discussions with tertiary institutions and IT companies are ongoing to recruit candidates for this pilot.
Overall, the ICT Sector Action Team is creating strong foundations for digital transformation in Durban. With a mix of strategy, collaboration, and practical innovation, they’re not only addressing systemic challenges—but building a future-ready workforce and economy.
Next steps include finalising course materials, confirming pilot locations, and preparing a full update at the June Sector Action Team meeting.
#ForwardDurban #ChangingTheNarrative #SmartCityDurban #ICTDevelopment #DigitalSkills #BPO #TechForGood
