South African Business 2019 edition

OVERVIEW
ICT
Incentives are encouraging investment.
Companies and educational bodies in the ICT sector can
apply for incentives from the National Department of Trade
and Industry (dti). These include:
• The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme
(THRIP): companies and educational institutions working to improve
technology; 50/50 cost sharing grant to a maximum of R8-million
• Technology Development Fund: the Technology Innovation Agency
makes up to R50-million available for up to 10 years
• Technology Venture Capital: managed by the Industrial Development
Corporation; commercialisation of innovative products, processes
and technologies.
Liquid Telecom paid R6.5-billion in 2017 to buy South African network
operator Neotel. Liquid Telecom is part of the Econet group. Royal
Bafokeng Holdings will take up a 30% shareholding in Neotel as part
of the deal. The transaction significantly expands the reach of the fibre
network which, it is claimed, will be Africa’s largest broadband network.
Twelve countries are currently connected by 40 000km of fibre network,
with more expansion part of the business plan.
The Information Technology Association (ITA) is the trade
and employer body of the Information Technology industry in
South Africa. The ITA represents more than 200 companies which
SECTOR INSIGHT
Fibre is being rolled out in
some low-income areas.
• Neotel has changed hands
for R6.5-billion.
supply information technology
equipment, systems, software
and services. Members include
IBM, Microsoft SA, Siemens, SAP
and Axiz.
A new technology venture
was launched when Cape Town
hosted AfricArena 2017, a conference
that aimed to be a “bridge
between international technology
stalwarts and African technology
innovators”. A collaboration
between Silicon Cape and
La French Tech Cape Town, it
brought together investors,
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