On 10 June 2025, the Institute for Rural Development at the University of Venda hosted officials from the MTN SA Foundation, Datacomb Development Hub, and Vhembe District Municipality for an open day of the programme, Digital Skills for Digital Jobs (DS4DJ). The purpose of the MTN Digital Event was to strengthen collaboration among the Vhembe District Municipality, the University of Venda’s Institute for Rural Development, and Datacomb Development Hub. The primary focus was on developing digital skills and fostering innovation.
A key highlight of the event was the ongoing DS4DJ programme, which supports over 110 learners by equipping them with in-demand digital skills, as well as a Network and Systems Administration course. The event also aimed to align efforts toward establishing a Commercialisation and Innovation Centre that will empower students and communities while advancing MTN SA Foundation’s broader mission of driving inclusive digital transformation, access, and youth upskilling.
The Programme Director, Mr Maano Ramawa, introduced himelf as the Innovation Champion in the Vhem-be District Municipality.
Dr Mbongeni Maziya, Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Rural Development, welcomed officials, partners, and participants to the launch of the MTN Foundation’s Digital Skills for Digital Jobs pro-gramme, in partnership with Datacom. He described the initiative as essential for bridging the digital divide and empowering youth for the future workforce, particularly for unemployed IT graduates in Limpopo and three other provinces. Dr Maziya highlighted the programme’s focus on equipping participants with critical digital skills like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data anal-ysis, vital for thriving in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He expressed gratitude to the MTN Foun-dation, Datacom, and government stakeholders for their support and praised the learners for their commitment. He emphasised that the programme addresses youth unemployment and the dig-ital skills gap in underserved regions, urging participants to take advantage of this opportunity to shape their futures. In conclusion, he quoted Former President Nelson Mandela saying, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Dr Maziya then thanked attendees for their presence and encouraged them to embark on the transformation together.
Mr Percy Mkhosi, the CEO of Datacomb Development Hubs (DDH), emphasised the significance of digital skills in transforming industries and empowering rural communities. He expressed grat-itude for the MTN SA Foundation’s continued support. Mr Mkhosi highlighted that DDH’s work is focused on rural development and commercialisation, particularly through initiatives such as agricultural advancements currently taking place in Levubu. He pointed out the global shift in industries, noting the emergence of 12 key sectors since 2005. While these sectors previously contributed around 5% of total turnover, they now account for approximately 15%. Mr Mkhosi stressed the way technology is reshaping the future of work, which has considerable econom-ic implications, especially in agriculture, tourism, hospitality, and information and communication technology (ICT). He further identified emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), cyberse-curity, cloud services, electric vehicles, and e-commerce. He continued to highlight the necessity for skills in data analysis, software development, and systems management. Finally, he encour-aged learners to take full advantage of MTN’s Skills Academy platform, stating that acquiring these foundational skills will pave the way for innovation, entrepreneurship, and global opportunities.
Dr Agnes Mathaulula, Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Rural Development at the Uni-versity of Venda, delivered a focused and compelling address at the Digital Skills for Digi-tal Jobs Open Day, highlighting the initiative’s role in tackling youth unemployment and ad-vancing rural development. Representing the university, she emphasised its commitment to empowering youth through digital innovation and strategic partnerships. She described the MTN Digital Skills for Digital Jobs Programme as “a transformative effort,” not just a training initiative, targeting unemployed IT graduates in underserved areas like Vhembe.
With support from the MTN Foundation and Datacomb, the programme equips over 100 young people with essential skills in network and systems administration, preparing them to lead in a rapidly changing digital economy. Dr Mathaulula noted the programme aligns with the Vhembe District Local Economic Development Strategy and UNIVEN’s Strate-gic Plan, both of which prioritise innovation and producing globally competitive graduates.
She stressed the importance of extending the programme beyond training by incorporat-ing mentorship, job placement, enterprise incubation, and access to innovation spaces. She called for continued collaboration among stakeholders to ensure long-term impact, stat-ing that digital inclusion is no longer a luxury but a right and a necessity. She added that UNIVEN’s role as host reflects its intent to ensure that knowledge generated at the universi-ty contributes meaningfully to community upliftment. Urging young people to take full ad-vantage of the opportunity, she concluded by affirming that this marks the beginning of a district-wide digital transformation driven by skills, innovation, and inclusive development.
Mr Mukundi Mushaphi, Local Economic Development (LED) Manager at Vhembe Dis-trict Municipality, delivered a passionate address at the Digital Skills for Digital Jobs Open Day, directly engaging with the youth and emphasising the critical role they play in shap-ing the district and the country’s future. He acknowledged the efforts of MTN and part-ners, noting, “you are doing a job, and you are doing your job well,” but focused his mes-sage on the youth, whom he described as the first cohort shaped by this programme.
He urged them to seize the opportunity to acquire skills, stressing that commitment, discipline, and excellence would not only secure their own future but also pave the way for those who fol-low. Referencing the country’s past failures to build self-reliance, particularly during the global vaccine rollout, he warned that without building capacity, “we will remain crying” and dependent. He pointed out the dangers of over-reliance on foreign technologies and systems, using exam-ples from international conflicts to highlight the strategic importance of local digital capability.
Mr Mushaphi challenged the youth to lead South Africa toward digital independence, as-serting that “the future of South Africa is in your hands” and warning that a passive, com-plaint-driven generation would only inherit a nation in decline.Concluding his remarks, he called on young people to take this opportunity seriously, to innovate, and to build a Vhembe and a South Africa that can stand on its own in a fast-evolving digital world.
Mr Anele Ndziweni, a Senior Specialist in Community Programmes, delivered a powerful and in-spiring message that highlighted MTN’s strong commitment to digital inclusion and youth em-powerment. He explained that MTN’s mission is to ensure that everyone benefits from a mod-ern connected life, particularly in communities where digital and financial access is limited.
He highlighted that, through initiatives like the Digital Skills for Digital Jobs (DS4DJ) programme, which currently supports over 100 learners in Limpopo province, MTN provides access to de-vices, internet connectivity, and multimedia labs in underserved schools and communities.
However, he said that access alone is not sufficient; that is why MTN also emphasises upskill-ing youth with critical digital skills, enabling them to engage in the digital economy and drive in-novation. Mr Ndziweni further stressed that true digital inclusion is built upon three pillars: ac-cess, skills, and innovation. He shared inspiring success stories of past participants, including a young teacher who, after completing the programme, joined a leading education network.
He encouraged the learners to strive for excellence and distinguish themselves, even beyond the programme. He concluded by thanking the University of Venda, Datacomb, and other part-ners for their support and dedication. He assured the learners that MTN is fully committed to helping them grow, succeed, and transform their communities through digital empowerment.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
