MICT SETA and mLab Renew Partnership to Boost South African Youth in Digital Economy
This strategic partnership continues to position youth, women, and people living with disabilities at the heart of a digitally inclusive economy, reinforcing a shared vision for a transformed, tech-enabled South Africa.
The Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) and mLab have renewed their strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reaffirming their shared commitment to equipping South African youth with the digital skills and entrepreneurial pathways needed for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
Originally launched in 2022, the collaboration has already yielded tangible results, such as a three-month Internet of Things (IoT) training programme in Kimberley. The programme currently supports 15 young participants—40% of whom are women—by providing them with technical skills, tools of trade, and stipends to prepare for opportunities in the digital economy.
These kinds of initiatives are seen as a direct response to the country’s persistent youth unemployment, widespread skills gaps, and the continued underrepresentation of women in the ICT sector.
In his remarks at the MoU signing, MICT SETA CEO Mr. Matome Mdibana stressed the need for a shift in approach:
“Transformation won’t happen by reskilling youth only to look for jobs. We must skill youth to create employment, to drive innovation, and to challenge the status quo. We must invest in the ‘crazy ideas’ of our young people.”
–Matome Mdibana, CEO, MICT SETA.
mLab CEO Mrs. Nicky Koorbanally also emphasized the value of the renewed collaboration:
“There is immense digital talent in disadvantaged communities. Our aim is to build ecosystems that move youth from learning to earning — not just ticking boxes but driving real, measurable change.”
–Nicky Koorbanally, CEO, mLab.
The renewed agreement outlines areas of collaboration including:
- Support for accreditation of qualifications
- Capacity building and stakeholder engagement
- Participation in MICT curriculum development
- Funding and implementation of training programmes
- Joint ICT ecosystem development in provinces such as Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape
This strategic partnership continues to position youth, women, and people living with disabilities at the heart of a digitally inclusive economy, reinforcing a shared vision for a transformed, tech-enabled South Africa.
