ITWeb (Johannesburg)
Lucas Ledwaba,
10 October 2002
Johannesburg — The Innovation Hub is helping young entrepreneurs from historically disadvantaged backgrounds to crack it in the tough world of information and communications technology.
Deon Morris registered a software development company known as Thlolo Communications.
The Innovation Hub is part of the Gauteng government's R1.7 billion Blue IQ project, which is responsible for 10 major projects conducted under the auspices of the Strategic Economic Infrastructure Investment Programme (SEIIP). The 10-year project is aimed at creating a home for the hi-tech entrepreneur, and is the only project in the SEIIP focusing on technology development.
One young entrepreneur taking advantage of the hub is 25-year-old Deon Morris, who comes from Sebokeng in Gauteng's Vaal region.
Morris, who has registered a software development company known as Thlolo Communications, is developing a computerised school administration system, which aims to enable teachers to concentrate more on teaching than on administration matters. The program, known as Informix, is in its pilot phase at six Vaal schools.
"I realised that the pen-on-paper system of administration was costing schools a lot of time. Most schools have computers, but use them only for typing. I also discovered that a lot of the schools still don't have a filing system. That is when I got the idea to develop this program," he says.
With his solution, schools will be able to input data about pupils, school fees, exam results and teachers into the system. "This will save a lot of time when it comes to drafting school reports and it means nobody will manipulate the data in the system because of the security system in place. Whenever they need any record, they will just pull it in seconds."
Morris is a beneficiary of the Innovation Hub's empowerment initiative programme. The programme identifies young entrepreneurs from historically disadvantaged groups and equips them with the skills to participate in the knowledge economy through participation in the Innovation Hub programmes.
"The Innovation Hub provides me with all the resources I need and they have assigned me a mentor to help me with the business side of things."
Morris is planning to forward a proposal on his project to the Department of Education with the hope of extending it to all schools in Gauteng and, ultimately, countrywide.
Also capitalising on the Innovation Hub is TCI Thoreb, a joint venture between TCI Holdings, Swedish company Thoreb and the Swedish-South African Business Partnership Fund. The company provides computerised electrical systems and real-time information for the transportation industry.
Its products are aimed at minimising risks associated with theft and hijackings, while others facilitate fault tracing in fleet vehicles and provide comparative passenger statistics.
The applications include an automatic fare collection system that enables the tracking of all ticket sale transactions and an automatic vehicle location system that continually logs vehicle positions, making it possible to track and monitor the movement of fleet vehicles.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2002 ITWeb. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
