SAMSUNG ACHIEVES A LEVEL 1 BBB-EE RATING FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

As of May this year, the brand took another significant step forward to build on its transformational vision. It was announced that the company secured a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Level 1 contribution status for the second consecutive year. This certification is aligned with Samsung’s belief that companies must play an active role in empowering people across all industry sectors. This is why over time Samsung has invested in major social and enterprise development initiatives at a grass-roots level, that allows the brand to be actively involved in the community, as well as support local entrepreneurial talent. “The certification demonstrates our dedication not only to operational excellence but to remain an active and enthusiastic contributor to the future of the South African economy. Samsung is dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to effect positive change. Our team is firmly committed to ensuring longterm sustainability and remaining aligned with the Government’s transformation imperatives”, says Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.

Samsung has unswervingly embraced the stipulations of B-BBEE, which is why the brand finds great purpose in contributing meaningfully to sustainable transformation across the Samsung value chain. This is demonstrated by Samsung’s enduring commitment to the objectives of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, in its ongoing objective to address the inequalities of the past. Samsung is driven by a focus on the participation of black people in the management, ownership and control of South Africa’s economy. In 2019, Samsung introduced a R280-Million Equity Equivalent Investment Programme, geared towards accelerating job creation. It is estimated that the programme will contribute nearly R1-billion to the South African economy. This investment is accompanied by

initiatives focused on the upskilling of youth, such as in the Samsung Engineering Academy, technology based facilities in schools and universities, as well as student bursaries. In the long run, the objective is to pursue opportunities for people to become dynamically engaged in the economy. This will have a positive impact on families, communities and, ultimately, the entire nation. country and its people” – Hlubi Shivanda.

“South Africa now, more than ever needs to equip the youth to seize the opportunities that lie in the ICT sector. Samsung looks forward to working with Government and educational institutions to empower the leaders of tomorrow and we will, therefore, continue to seek out the avenues that will lead to success” – Hlubi Shivanda

Samsung South Africa’s mission is to empower youth in the ICT sector. Thus far, the brand has produced incredible results since the launch of its Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (“EEIP”) a year ago.

Software development skills are highly sought-after in the digital economy, which is why Samsung considers it as an important part of its educational initiatives. Programme partners for software development include the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Tshimologong Digital Precinct. A further capacity building programme is the training and development of electronics, refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians. Partners here include Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre (“EASTC”) and Ocule IT in KZN. Together, the initiatives are harnessing the power of technology to train and inspire young people to pursue their ambitions.

The first cohort of the UWC software development programme launched in 2019, successfully came to an end with students demonstrating their learning by solving social problems via digital innovation. Marketing and recruitment for the second cohort began mid-2020. The Microsoft AppFactory at Tshimologong is an advanced nine-month software development programme that aims to address the gap of high-demand software skills. The programme aims to facilitate hands-on, real-world experience through creativity and fun in a learning and working environment. Overall, the software development programme benefits 80 disadvantaged youth per annum.

“Despite the many challenges that face our country’s youth, there is immense potential that can be explored. We believe these programmes can open new doors for previously disadvantaged youth. Working together with like-minded institutions such as the University of the Western Cape, Tshimologong, EASTC and Ocule IT we can dedicate the necessary resources and time to create endless possibilities. Samsung will remain steadfastly committed to the idea of real empowerment and education that changes lives,” says Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.

In addition, EASTC is hosting the 24-month MERSETA accredited Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Apprenticeship, and Ocule IT is hosting the 12-month MICTSETA accredited Electronics learnership. Overall, the programme benefits 40 unemployed black youth per annum. Furthermore, the Technician programme commenced on the first of June 2020, despite the national lock down and the challenges that came with it. The Technician programme is a fully funded bursary programme that provides for tuition, equipment and stipends. In essence, it is a comprehensive integrated skills development investment programme that prioritises the delivery of an integrated holistic package of personal, technical, entrepreneurial and business skills, aligned to meet the needs of the country’s economic development strategies.

Throughout these ongoing programmes, there have been many success stories, including that of Sibusiso Labi from Western Cape. Labi, now 20-years-old, was among the thousands of child-headed households in South Africa, but the determined boy from the Cape Flats refused to be a statistic. At the age of 18, he found a job as a packer at a supermarket distribution centre. A year later he resigned to pursue his dream of becoming a web developer. Today, thanks to an innovative collaboration between Samsung South Africa and the University of the Western Cape, the 20-year-old’s dream is materialising. He is one of 70 students receiving web and mobile software development training at a new Future-Innovation Lab which focuses on building digital innovation skills for unemployed youth in South Africa. As a result of his excellent academic results in this course, as well as his practical software development skills he, along with six other aspiring developers, is now ready for the next step in his career and will enter the Samsung EEIP App Factory at UWC for a further 9 months of applied skills training and building of software products.

Collaborative partnerships remain key to addressing the increasing need for quality software development skills in the country. Fortunately, Samsung South Africa, through its partnership with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct created the App Factory, an internship programme aimed at assisting interns to work on real-world projects under the guidance of a senior developer over the course of nine months. This intern-centred approach enables them to grow their competence and hone their skills. These skills are required by industry even when entering the job market as software developers. The practical learning serves as a foundation to allow the graduates to grow and be part of shaping the 4th Industrial Revolution.

This partnership is aligned with Samsung’s R280-million Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), which includes the mission to build software development skills for unemployed youth.Tshimologong Precinct’s tech incubation not only grows the tech start-ups of tomorrow, but also provides quality software development skills for young people in South African.

The graduates of the App Factory Internship Programme are eager to find decent jobs within the industry. With the right skills and the right opportunities, such skilled interns can be part of driving local and global growth while achieving personal successes. Samsung and Tshimologong celebrated the graduates of the internship programme through an event, held on Thursday, 26 November 2020 at the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The event was attended by representatives from Samsung, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Tshimologong project managers as well as Wits University representatives.

“Tshimologong is committed to growing tech skills in South Africa through these development programmes. It can only be successful when partners like Samsung join forces for the common good”, says Lesley Donna Williams, CEO of Tshimologong.

Samsung is committed to developing the community, identifying and prioritising young people with interventions that focus on their distinctive needs and ambitions in

– Frans Mahlangu, App Factory internship graduate.

software development. This is reflected in initiatives such as the App Factory.

Given the current state of the world, the persistent challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Samsung’s and Tshimologong’s second cohort is both timely and needed. Tshimologong Precinct is now looking ahead to next year and is seeking graduates who can demonstrate their ability to code in C#, Java and C++ and are familiar with object-oriented principles. Successful candidates will be paid a stipend for the duration of the internship.

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