News Release

Cisco Launches Networking Academy at South African State Information Technology Agency

South African Government's Company Offers Networking Curriculum to Address Growing ICT Skills Shortage
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Mar 08, 2010

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 8, 2010 - Cisco today announced the launch of a Cisco® Networking Academy® programme at the South African State Information Technology Agency (SITA) in Erasmuskloof. The launch brings the total number of establishments offering Cisco courses and certifications under the Cisco Networking Academy programme in South Africa to 65. SITA has joined forces with Cisco in an effort to meet the growing demand for information and communications technology (ICT) skills in South Africa.

South Africa is experiencing tremendous ICT growth. According to reports, at least 115,000 additional ICT jobs will be required to meet requirements for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in South Africa this year. Finding the right talent to support this growth is becoming a critical challenge for the government as well private and public organizations.

Highlights / Key Facts:

  • The Cisco Networking Academy programme aims to provide a consistently enriching learning experience by partnering with public and private institutions to develop and deliver innovative ICT courses, improve the effectiveness and accessibility of the programme, and increase access to education and career opportunities. SITA and Cisco have agreed to work towards a common goal of expanding the programme into a SITA training academy initiative.
  • The Networking Academy provides ICT skills to students globally to improve their career and economic opportunities. It operates in high schools, colleges, universities, technical and military schools, community-based organisations, and government bodies. Its curriculum combines the theory and practice of designing, developing and implementing the networks that underpin businesses and other organisations. In addition, its advanced technology curricula in areas such as security, wireless and Internet Protocol (IP) telephony provide exposure to the latest technology skills in those fields. It also has a module teaching computer technician skills.
  • The SITA Network Operations Centre, a unit within the Infrastructure Division, will be responsible for the maintenance of the academy, while the Training and Development Division will be responsible for the management and operation of the academy.
  • The SITA academy is affiliated with the regional Networking Academy program of the University of Pretoria. SITA learnership students and employees will benefit from the academy through scheduled training sessions offered by qualified SITA trainers.
  • The launch of the Networking Academy at SITA brings the total number of networking academies in South Africa to 65, and to 332 throughout Africa. In excess of 7,000 South African students have completed the programme to date.

Executive Quotes:

  • Alfie Hamid, area academy manager for Cisco South Africa
  • "The launch of the Cisco Networking Academy at SITA Erasmuskloof marks a major milestone for the programme in South Africa. With more than 5,500 students already enrolled in the programme throughout the country, the launch of this Networking Academy further increases accessibility to the curriculum."

  • Aggrey Rantloane, regional public sector sales manager for Cisco in South Africa
  • "Creating the right talent to support ICT requirements is becoming a critical challenge for government and organisations alike. With the site at SITA Erasmuskloof even more candidates will have access to vital ICT skills training."

Links / URLs:

About SITA

SITA is managed as a private company. It was registered with the Registrar of Companies as "State Information Technology Agency (Pty) Ltd", registration number 1999/001899/07, on 29 January 1999. However, the Government is the sole shareholder and the rights attached to the shares shall be exercised by the Minister of Public Services and Administration on behalf of the State. SITA was established to consolidate and coordinate the State's information technology resources in order to achieve cost savings through scale, increase delivery capabilities and enhance interoperability. It is committed to leveraging Information Technology (IT) as a strategic resource for government, managing the IT procurement and delivery process to ensure that the Government gets value for money, and using IT to support the delivery of e-Government services to all citizens. In short, SITA is the IT business for the largest employer and consumer of IT products and services in South Africa – the Government.

For more details about SITA visit:  http://www.sita.co.za/