Two young KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) entrepreneurs are optimistic that they will make their province proud tomorrow evening by romping home with the first prize in the National Technology Awards that will be hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) at the iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. The Director-General of the dti, Mr Lionel October, will honour all the nominees and award winners at a prestigious ceremony.
Zimkitha Jam Jam and Njabulo Hadebe, who are both in their twenties, are co-owners of ZJ Africa Learn. Their Information Technology (IT) Company has been nominated as a finalist in the Fastest Growing Incubatee category of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) Technology Programme, of which they are beneficiaries.
“We are very excited and proud of being nominated as finalists in these national awards. We are optimistic that we will represent the province well and scoop the first prize. But to us being finalists is an excellent feather in our cap. We regard ourselves as winners already as we have been selected from many other companies that would have also liked to reach this stage,” said Jam Jam.
Jam Jam and Hadebe reckon judges of the awards were impressed by their motivation, zeal, innovativeness, contribution to social and youth development, success, and determination to transcend barriers and scale greater heights in business.
“We started the company in 2010 in order to create employment for ourselves and also contribute in creating employment for other young people. We immediately started knocking at many doors, both in the private and public sectors, for partnerships and assistance. When we joined the incubation programme of Seda and were placed at SmartXchange Company for incubation, there were just two of us in the company. Today, we have grown so much that we are providing employment to eight other young people,” said Hadebe.
According to the Director-General of the dti, Mr Lionel October the purpose of the dti Technology Awards is to raise awareness on the benefits of using technology to improve the competitiveness of enterprises. The awards recognise individuals and organisations that contributed towards technology development and innovation in South Africa. They are also aimed at inspiring and encouraging creativity and technological innovativeness amongst business people by rewarding those that make use of technology to advance their business.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
