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Time running out to save jobs from robots

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by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – ALREADY battling rampant unemployment, South Africa is racing against time to bridge the digital skills divide amid fears some jobs would be lost to technology in the next four years.

There are projections half of all work tasks will be handled by tech-enabled machines by 2025.

According to experts, it is essential that today’s local graduates are empowered to embrace the digital face of the future.

This can be done by bridging the gap between the skills that the tech industry requires and the calibre of job seekers on offer.

For this reason, a local education technology provider, HyperionDev, has partnered with Africa’s largest distance-learning institution, University of South Africa (UNISA) Enterprise, to offer students relevant skills.

The entities have entered into an agreement to launch a three-month computer science bootcamp.

They offer a programme that helps students to study through the online bootcamp format of learning as well as achieve a recognised accreditation from a tertiary institution.

There is an option to go further and complete a three-year computer science degree.

Riaz Moola, the HyperionDev Chief Executive Officer, said bootcamps could be viewed as alternative credentials.

“They are a fast-paced career accelerator that can quickly land participants a job as a software developer or data scientist, rather than a traditional university degree which takes years to complete,” he explained.

Moola maintained that the qualification would not rival a university degree.

“We’re not trying to replace universities,” he said.

The ed-tech sector, with a global market value at almost US$90 million, is estimated to grow at 20 percent a year over the next seven years.

HyperionDev has set aside $240 million for scholarships.

Backed by Facebook and Google has trained 100 000 students to date.

HyperionDev is also in negotiations with several public and private universities in South Africa as well as Australia, United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US).

“There’s a huge demand for high-quality online education and very high interest from universities and how they enter that space with partners,” Moola stated.

– CAJ News

 

New partnership sought to fly Bafana Bafana

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by MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE South African Football Association (SAFA) has opened negotiations with some airlines following the end of its partnership with the South African Airways (SAA).

SAA, which has returned to the skies after a year grounded by bankruptcy, had been the official airline for Bafana Bafana, the senior men’s national team.

Officials from the football mother body confirmed that the partnership with the now-revived airline ended in April 2020 and was not renewed.

Apparently, the football public missed the termination of the contract because then, SAA was also non-operational as flights were halted, and international football had been off because of the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Gronie Hluyo, the SAFA Chief Financial Officer, confirmed discussions with air carriers albeit these deliberations being in the initial stages.

“Currently we are not attached to any airline,” he said in an interview.

“We are exploring potential partnerships with a few airlines. The discussions are still early stages though,” Hluyo told CAJ News Africa.

While the partnership was not finance-based, SAFA received an annual allocation of what is known as Travel Rands for Bafana. These are the flight tickets discounts.

SAA meanwhile has exited business rescue after 17 months.

It resumed flights three weeks ago.

Vimla Maistry, SAA Head of Stakeholder Relations and Acting spokesperson, said, “We have been in lock down as well as in business rescue – which has put all partnerships on hold, not just (with) SAFA.”

She was responding to an enquiry by CAJ News Africa.

“We (are) happy to explore other partnerships beneficial to both parties,” Maistry said.

While the restructured SAA is back in the skies, the new look Bafana are also flying high in Group G of the African qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Coach Hugo Broos’ team are contending with second-placed Ghana to win the group, which would pave way for two-legged playoff matches to determine the five African nations to qualify for the tournament in Qatar.

– CAJ News

 

 

 

 

 

Ethiopia the deadliest country for aid workers

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from ADANE BIKILA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, (CAJ News) – AT least 92 aid workers have been killed around the world since the beginning of the year.

Most of the humanitarians (21) have been killed in Ethiopia, where conflict began in the northern Tigray region at the end of 2020.

Ten aid workers were killed and seven others arrested in the East African country.

Insecurity Insight disclosed the figures, which are for the period January 1 to September 30.

Overall, 90 workers were kidnapped and 99 arrested in the countries covered by Insecurity Insight.

The report covers Afghanistan, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Data was compiled from local, national and international news outlets as well as online databases.

Mali had the highest number of kidnappings, with 44 aid workers abducted.

Myanmar made the highest number of arrests, with 48 humanitarians apprehended.

– CAJ News

 

 

 

Soweto a hostile campaign ground for ANC

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by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE travails of African National Congress (ANC) president, Cyril Ramaphosa, in Soweto ahead of the local government elections give credibility to the saying that a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown.

The historic region, west of Johannesburg, has been a hostile campaigning ground for the head of the party and the state.

Ramaphosa last Thursday cancelled a campaign in the township, weeks after residents enraged by lack of electricity and poor service delivery booed him.

While the ruling party stated that the leader was addressing other pressing issues, it is believed he cancelled in fear of similar treatment by residents.

Following the booing in the township where Ramaphosa was born (in 1952), the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) is upbeat of its prospects in Soweto.

Natasha Mazzone, Chief Whip of the DA, claimed Ramaphosa curtailed campaigning in Soweto due to the ANC being unwelcome in the area.

“The DA notes that Ramaphosa has been forced to cancel a campaign rally in Soweto today (last Thursday), due to community rejection of the failing ANC,” Mazzone said.

“It is becoming clear that the ANC campaign, which is nothing more than a series of door to doors by Cyril Ramaphosa, is unwelcome in large parts of South Africa, just like Ramaphosa is unwelcome in Soweto today.”

Soweto, with an estimated population of 1,9 million, is largely impoverished.

In July, it experienced tragic scenes of unrest when a number of shopping malls were looted.

This was during the violence that swept through KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces coinciding with the arrest of former ANC and state president, Jacob Zuma.

He is Ramaphosa’s predecessor.

Soweto falls under the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.

ANC won 121 seats in the municipality during the 2016 elections. DA won 104. The debutant Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) secured 30 while the remaining 15 were shared among smaller parties.

The Johannesburg mayoral post however went to the DA’s Herman Mashaba, who has since quit the party and formed the ActionSA.

He is aiming for the position again.

Meanwhile, unlike his last visit to Soweto, jubilant crowds welcomed Ramaphosa to the Free State province on Sunday.

He was on the campaign trail in Maluti A Phofung municipality.

In the 2016 election, ANC won a majority of 47 seats (67,4 percent) on the council.

The ruling party retained its majority in the Free State.

Ramaphosa pledged his party would address service delivery issues if kept in office.

“Many municipalities are not serving people well. We are going to fix our municipalities. We will put the right people in our municipalities,” he assured.

South Africa’s local government elections are set for November 1.

– CAJ News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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