BETTER ACCESS OPORTUNITY
On Mandela Day, 18 July 2025, when South Africans were serving their 67-minutes through cleaning libraries, or old age homes, and others serving food to the needy, as requested by the former statesman before his passing in 2013, in the heart of Kwa Guqa, Witbank, locals between the ages of 18-30 sat in class learning Microsoft skills.
All this is thanks to Net Nine Nine’s Marketing team in their quest to ploughing back to the community, and it was a unique concept of bringing a positive impact on the people it serves to address social issues.
What began as a simple idea to honour Mandela Day has blossomed into a powerful three months initiative to change lives through digital literacy, and indications are that many will leave the hall with their tails held up high, armed with accredited certificates, an official credential that validates their new skills to potential employers.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION!
At 10am, on 18 July 2025, the youth had already converged at a local community computer centre to kickstart their three months journey, and Head of Marketing Richard Genlloud took them through the first day’s activities, and usher in reasons why they invited them to sit in one room to take lessons from local computer genius, Sphamandla Mkhonza, who is the course facilitator.
At the end of it all, there will be a certificate awarding ceremony that will go a long way in encouraging the attendees in the community transformation exercise, with one already having confessed to having no email address, while others weren’t sure on how to construct a resume (CV).
Tsholofelo Mmako, the visionary behind the program, noticed a troubling pattern in communities, exacerbated by the unemployment rate.
“We saw talented people between 18 and 30 who couldn’t access opportunities simply because they lacked basic computer skills,” explained the Brand Manager, her eyes reflecting both concern and determination.
MMAKO: THREE MONTHS OF POWER!
“Something as fundamental as creating a CV was an insurmountable barrier for many. We initially thought of a short course. But, after careful consideration, we’ve realised that they really wanted to learn and we didn’t want to limit them to one day. There’s a three months’ programme designed by the facilitator that will leave learners armed with knowledge.”
The Microsoft training program launched on a sunny morning with 10 nervous participants filing into a room filled with computers, some touching a keyboard with extreme care, Mmako reckoned many would be hesitant in participating.
“I’ve applied for jobs for three years with no response,” confided one participant.
“I’ve been writing my CV by hand and asking internet cafés to type it. You wouldn’t know what it looks like when potential employers receive it. Smart phones can do the work, but it must be installed with Microsoft programs.”
The program’s comprehensive approach addresses exactly these challenges.
NEW SKILLS TO CHANGE LIVES!
Participants learn Microsoft Word for CV creation, Excel for basic data management, and PowerPoint for presentations, skills that many take for granted but are transformative for those who’ve been digitally excluded.
As it is normally the norm in townships, the moment when someone creates their first professional document, it’s clear they can see their entire posture change.
“This is like seeing someone discover their own power, and this is what you will learn today,” quipped Mkhonza to attendees who listened attentively.
Beyond basic computer skills, the program includes specialised sessions on professional development.
The Net Nine Nine Head of Human Resources, Dricus Botha, through a recorded video, outlined what they look out for when conducting interviews, and that is very important for the attendees to take, as it might change their lives for good.
GENLLOUD: LINKEDIN KEY FOR ALL!
Genlloud emphasised the conduct on interview techniques, guidelines through processing and creating their LinkedIn profiles that showcase their talents effectively.
“We emphasise the difference between personal and professional online presence,” Mmako explained.
“Many didn’t realise that employers were searching for them online, or that LinkedIn could connect them to opportunities worldwide.”
Others felt invisible to employers without well-constructed professional CV, a LinkedIn profile with connections, and knowledge on how to search for relevant jobs online.
But from now onwards, they will be visible.
The program’s impact extends beyond individual participants.
Internet cafés report customers requesting more sophisticated services, and local businesses note an increase in digitally-prepared job applications, and indeed government encourages digital job employment.
ANTICIPATION FOR GRADUATION!
At the graduation ceremony, the room will abuzz with possibility, participants proudly displaying their certificates, many already sharing stories of interviews secured and opportunities discovered.
“This is not all about computers,” Mmako reflected, watching the graduates network confidently.
“It’s about dignity. It’s about inclusion in a world that increasingly demands digital fluency. It’s about ensuring that talent isn’t wasted simply because someone didn’t have access to basic tools.”
They will not just leave with certificates and skills, but with something perhaps even more valuable, a renewed sense of possibility, an achievement that would be Madiba happy with.
“Next time,” Mmako says with a smile that suggests she’s already planning, “we’ll go even deeper, guided by what the community tells us they need. This is just the beginning.”
In Kwa Guqa, the digital divide is closing, agreed Regional Manager William Ratladi, and indeed it is one Microsoft certificate at a time.
