Zine Nkukwana, CEO South African Women in ICT
What is Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is the current and developing environment in which disruptive technologies and trends such as the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way we live and work. The fourth industrial revolution is growing out of the third but is considered a new era rather than a continuation because of the explosiveness of its development and the disruptiveness of its technologies. According to Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum and author of The Fourth Industrial Revolution, the new age is differentiated by the speed of technological breakthroughs, the pervasiveness of scope and the tremendous impact of new systems.
An array of people fear that the 4IR will bring drastic change and that robots may replace them in jobs, how does 4IR affect the employment landscape in South Africa?
Like the revolutions that preceded it, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world. To date, those who have gained the most from it have been consumers able to afford and access the digital world; technology has made possible new products and services that increase the efficiency and pleasure of our personal lives. Ordering a cab, booking a flight, buying a product, making a payment, listening to music, watching a film, or playing a game any of these can now be done remotely.
In the future, technological innovation will also lead to a supply-side miracle, with long-term gains in efficiency and productivity. Transportation and communication costs will drop, logistics and global supply chains will become more effective, and the cost of trade will diminish, all of which will open new markets and drive economic growth.
What is the role of South African Women in ICT Forum in ensuring that South Africans understand and take full advantage of 4IR to advance our society?
We strive to be pioneer and be thought leaders influencing and promoting the advancement, development, integration, participation of women within these industries. We are supported by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the Deputy Minister Ms Pinky Kekana is our Patron. What we offer includes but not limited to:
- Training (digital literacy)
- Fourth Industrial Revolution Entrepreneurship skills
- Cybersecurity Awareness
- Internet of Things, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing etc
- Career Development
The training programme is intended to assist in meeting the following objectives of the Forum: Provide resources, education, career and professional development opportunities for women in the ICT industry,
How is SAWICTF positively impacting the lives of upcoming women entrepreneurs in the ICT sector?
The recently appointed SAWICTF Board recently launched a theme called “Lift As We Rise” with the Deputy Minister of Communications, Pinky Kekana, giving the keynote address. The theme, Lift As We Rise is not just a theme, it is the very value and essence of our organisation. We believe that we have to be taking women and youth along in practical, target oriented, value driven initiatives that will improve their lives and provide them with life-long knowledge in an ever-changing digital economy. Women constitute the majority in the country, and we want to derive benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution opportunities and those we give full support to women entrepreneurs in the industry ensuring that they have access to information that will assist them to grow their businesses.
