EDITORIAL FOR THE MEDIA
2013-03-14
South Africa is alive and well!! Congratulations to the deputy president of the ANC and the Kagiso trust for challenging the business sector in South Africa to step up to the plate and assist in investing in education. Mr Cyril Ramaphosa argues that government alone cannot address all the overwhelming challenges facing South Africa’s educational problems. In this context, the generous commitment of a R 100 million rand donation from his Shanduka group, as well as a further R 100 million rand donation from the Kagiso trust, to financially assist Free State schooling projects, is particularly commendable and significant, particularly with the announcement by the Free State department of education to match the R 200 million commitment with a further R 200 million of the department’s own funds.
Also rising to this challenge, in Kwazulu natal, is a new 100% B.E.E. company, the Inkunzi Group, headed by two young, dynamic entrepreneurs. These two young lions have persevered against all odds during the past three years, to finally be recognised for their outstanding efforts in designing a total electronic communication platform, the ITECP. This comprehensive Inkunzi total electronic communication platform, designed specifically for schools in South Africa, incorporates the basic Inkunzi schools biometric fingerprint time book system. The Inkunzi Group qualified for the finals of the department of science and technology’s sponsored top 100 technology awards, in November 2012, with this same project. The unique power point presentation was shown to the full management committee of the department of education KZN in October 2012, after the incorporation of extra modules into the electronic platform, following concerns voiced by the H.O.D. dept. of education in KZN Dr. Sishi, at a presentation to him and members of his executive in July 2012. A successful due- diligence study was then carried out by senior members of the department, mandated by MANCO and the senior general manager, Mrs Judy Dlamini. As a result, at the end of November 2012, a final meeting was held in Pietermaritzburg at the office of the senior general manager. Inkunzi group were finally given the green light to roll out their system in KZN in February 2013, shortly before the minister of basic education Angie Motshekga made her announcement on February 9th in Tongaat KZN that every school in South Africa must have a biometric fingerprint system by 2015.
Now the good news! The Inkunzi Group has found sponsors who are each prepared to fund one of the 4 components making up the Inkunzi fingerprint time book, at a total market related value of R 25 000 per school, for every school in South Africa. The roll-out has already begun in KZN with all 12 district offices under the department of education having received documentation within the last month from the office of the SGM. This provincial sponsorship equates to R 150 million on 6000 schools in KZN. The only reasonable proviso made by the sponsors, is that schools pay the equivalent of R 500 per month for a 36 month contract, to ensure that the system is kept operational for the full period by way of unlimited technical internet and telephonic support at all times during all school terms, Mondays to Fridays, from 8 am to 3 pm. Also included in this fee, are an extended factory warrantee on the fingerprint reader, which has been programmed to give verbal instructions in any of South Africa’s official languages, unlimited replacement of readers during the contract by the inclusion of an insurance policy, and a job creation program to be introduced by the Inkunzi Group, in order to facilitate the training of, and skills transfer to, hundreds of young men and women in the biometric and i.t. related fields.
The Inkunzi Group wishes to emulate the actions of the ruling party’s deputy president, the Kagiso trust and the dept. of education in the Free State, by challenging the dept. of education in KZN to contribute financially, towards the support contract committed to by each school taking advantage of Inkunzi’s sponsorship offer. Inkunzi further challenges the department of education in Gauteng, under the direction of the H.O.D. Mr Ngobeni, to also take up the challenge, as their department is even now considering the roll- out of this sponsorship initiative in their province, following a comprehensive conference call presentation to them last week. All other provincial departments of education are also challenged to take advantage of the Inkunzi Group’s sponsorship offer.
The Inkunzi Group also challenges all companies who are interested in supporting their initiative in the education sector, to adopt a school and contribute towards the monthly support investment made by a school. They can contact Inkunzi by telephoning Nhlakanipho (Wiseman) Mlambo on 031 7015135 or 0861101738, or Mthandeni Mchunu at mthandeni@inkunzigroup.co.za or visit their website www.inkunzigroup.co.za/dev/itecp
Please note: all meetings, power point presentations, emails and supporting documents pertaining to the writing of this editorial, can be verified to substantiate the authenticity of this project and the persons named herein. The Inkunzi Group can further attest to the fact that to their knowledge, there has not been any other company or individual, who has offered the department of national education or the KZN department, any similar project or solution to date.
This letter is from the Inkunzi Group, at 1 Scott Road, Manors Pinetown, KZN. The directors names are shown above, as well as their contact details. We believe our story should be told so that the small businessmen in South Africa get a chance to receive exposure and get response from government departments. It is almost impossible to do so under normal circumstances, and we do not want to be seen to be creating waves. With this in mind, we believe that our approach is the most polite and practical way to be heard.
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Author: Mthandeni Mchunu from Inkunzi Group. Originally distributed by MyPR.co.za.
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