Inyosi Empowerment is proud to announce the successful loan approved to New Amalfi Technology Training and Repair (Pty) Ltd. (“NAT”). The requested loan funding will be used in acquiring information technology related assets, infrastructure, and insourced Microsoft accredited product training services.
NAT is a 60% black-owned entity with two black shareholders; Ntlangwini Makhoba Farming and Cartesian Holdings.
In 2018, Inyosi provided loan funding to one of Nestlé’s largest black-owned milk suppliers, Springfontein Dairy Trust – which is a joint venture between Ntlangwini Makhoba Farming (Pty) Ltd. and Springfontein Livestock (Pty) Ltd. Established in 2012, this joint venture presents a sustainable and interdependent economic transformation model within the agricultural space.
The Makhoba Community.
In 1964, the Makhoba community were forcibly removed from their land – after a successful land claim the land was handed back to the Makhoba community. The community experienced significant challenges and lack of opportunities for employment and education, as a result of how isolated the farm is. Due to the escalation of the youth unemployment rate which is present throughout South Africa, the private sector and government came up with a collaborative initiative called the YES (Youth Employment Service) Programme, which was established with the intent to provide South African youths with training and development, and job opportunities.
In 2019, the Makhoba Nestlé Inyosi Training Centre was opened – which aimed to introduce technology into the community by way of communication, computers, and computer training, as well as the provision of basic business skills, training courses and agriculture, which consequently affords YES students with an extensive range of practical and theoretical training and skills. Inyosi was appointed as Nestlé’s YES implementation partner, which has provided almost 400 Makhoba youths with training across multiple disciplines relating to agriculture, entrepreneurship, feed production, animal care, vegetable production and much more. The Makhoba Nestlé Inyosi YES programme has invested in building a classroom, office and ablutions within the Springfontein Township, which is in the process of becoming a hub for training and development within the community.
NAT has been established to oversee the local implementation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. NAT is expected to drive the training function of the pre-existing YES programme, providing additional training and skills development within the ICT sphere. This will be extremely beneficial for not only the YES students, but for the entire community as a whole – as we live in a society where technology and digital skills play a crucial role in allowing us to connect, learn and engage with other communities, and also allowing individuals to create more promising futures. By providing ICT training and development into more rural areas, we are bridging the digital divide which is very much present throughout South African rural communities. With the introduction of ICT training and support into rural townships, it allows for the increase of digital literacy amongst community members, which will provide them with the needed digital skills needed in order to conduct day-to-day operation of any enterprise effectively.
The requested loan funding will be disbursed by NAT to acquire additional ICT assets, such as computers, printers, local area Wi-Fi and satellite-based data infrastructure – NAT’s intention is to acquire 20 additional computers. In addition, funding will be used to acquire containers, which will be used as internet, repair, and training facilities – which will all aim at facilitating ICT data sales, training, and mobile equipment repair. The approved funding will also be used to pay for insourced training services provided by NAT.
NAT plans on introducing insourced ICT training, which will be conducted by selected graduates of the YES programme. In order to enhance this method of insourced training, NAT has secured the Silulo Microsoft and MISC SETA accredited courses and materials, which will provide live accredited training in a range of different focus areas and applications. The selected graduate will be formally trained as an accredited trainer under the Silulo Franchise model. Initially, NAT will offer the foundation course “Introduction to Computers”, which will provide individuals with basic knowledge on internet and email, windows and skills using MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. And will later introduce “Office Administration” and “Retail Practice” courses.
Inyosi is pleased to be assisting NAT with this venture, as it is enabling an entire community with access to Information Technology skills and development which will afford them and future community members with the ability to live a more sustainable life and providing them with the necessary skills needed to operate within today’s extremely digitalized economy/business world; thereby underscoring Inyosi’s commitment to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
