Kabo Mokgoabone and Wanetsha Mosinyi
3 September 2008
The newly appointed Group MD of RPC Data, Vincent Seretse, says the company needs to consolidate its position in Botswana, the rest of Africa and in Asia so that it may compete head to head with other global players.
The potential is there,Seretse says. As opportunities avail themselves, we need to be quick to get involved.
But we should make also make sure we don't stay away from our core specialty, which is software development.
The former BTC CEO was speaking at the presentation of the company's results.
Seretse, who takes over at a company that has a P10.9 million in its kitty and is free from any external debt, believes they must take risks if the Group should consolidate its position.
We will have to compete with some of the global players who have more experience and monetary power in some of the countries that we have targeted for our expansion. So we need to take calculated risks, he says.
Seretse took over as the first Motswana Group MD of the Botswana holding company on July 1, but he was introduced only yesterday when RPC Data announced its annual results for the year ended 31 May 2008.
He takes over from Rob Pool who led the Group through its infancy through to its listing on the BSE and other milestones.
Acting Board Chairperson Emeldah Mathe says the board believes Seretse's knowledge of the ICT sector, his experience in developing new businesses and optimising existing operations makes him ideally suited to lead the group during the next phase of business development.
Unlike when he took over the then ailing BTC, Seretse inherits a company with revenue that has increased by a gratifying 74 percent.
Mathe says the increase in revenue was mainly driven by a breakthrough consultancy project undertaken for the Kenyan Ministry of Finance.
However, due to levels of tax incurred, the overall tax charge for the year was negatively impacted, she says.
RPC Data was formed in 1989, operating in Botswana, Uganda, Zambia and India.
It is eyeing expansion, mergers and acquisitions in 2008 and intends to have an aggressive approach.
Says Mompati Ngwako, the company's Executive Director:On acquisitions, we are eyeing any opportunity that comes up, and Botswana remains the first because this is the market we are familiar with.
RPC Data has previously won major government tenders in the region, including the development and implementation of Botswana government?s accounting and budgeting systems.
Under the systems known as GABS, government accounts for money received and spent and RPC Data works in tandem with the Botswana government's payroll, pensions and passages systems.
The company has also developed the automation of Value Added Tax (VAT) and tax systems for the Botswana Unified Revenues Services (BURS).
The company has also been selected to develop a pension management system in Kenya for over 160 000 pensioners.
The number expected is to grow to 400 000 over the next three years.
In Uganda, RPC Data has rolled out the equivalent of GABS and has successfully developed and implemented a road management system in India.
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