From rural connectivity to AI: Celebrating Mzansi’s women in tech

Mzansi’s leading women in technology will be honoured in Johannesburg for the strides they have made in this male-dominated field that was once perceived as being out of women’s reach. Innovator Trust’s Women in Tech Awards (WIT) returns this month, yet again shining the spotlight on engineers, tech entrepreneurs, AI innovators and other segments of STEM.

Tashline Jooste on evolution and longevity

CEO Tashline "Tash" Jooste reflected on the impact of the platform, saying the organisation has observed previous winners optimising the visibility and opportunities created through the platform to achieve massive growth for their businesses. She cited Glynn Mashonga of Globescope Security Solutions, whose business has transcended geographical boundaries, cementing itself in other parts of Africa.

WIT has been intentional about keeping up with the evolution of the tech space, putting a bit more focus on AI and initiatives that support rural women so that they, too, do not get left behind. Tash said the platform is guided by its purpose of ensuring that women and technology SMMEs have opportunities to participate in South Africa’s digital economy, and ensuring that innovation is not confined to major cities.

“Our programmes reach entrepreneurs across the country, including cohorts in the Northern Cape and alumni in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, many operating in rural communities. As technology evolves, we remain committed to equipping small businesses with the capabilities, networks and opportunities to grow. We believe talent exists everywhere, but access to opportunity is not always equal. Our role is to help bridge that gap,” she explained.

The platform has also celebrated various initiatives by young, emerging women in tech as Tash and her team believe that early recognition builds confidence, visibility and ambition. She says their Believe Forward philosophy is rooted in believing what these youths can achieve, and investing in the support and opportunities towards these projected achievements.

At its core, Innovator Trust provides scaffolding for small businesses by focusing on strengthening technology SMMEs through business development, market access and meaningful partnerships. What has given the platform longevity is being purpose-driven, strong partnerships and the ability to evolve with the industry. Tash and her team continue carving spaces where women are not only celebrated, but are supported to lead, innovate and shape the future of technology.

A word from this year’s honourees

Yandisa Sokhanyile’s first encounter with WIT was in 2019 as part of the enterprise and supplier development programme. Her telecommunications and digital infrastructure company, Konekta, turns wireless connectivity into smart business intelligence and revenue. In addition to the cash injection from the development programme, Yandisa is even more appreciative of the ongoing business support that has helped her grow.

“You also get to be part of a network that supports and celebrates women. Being part of an ecosystem is important for entrepreneurs, especially those who are women, because it can be quite lonely and isolating given the dynamics that women face when building businesses,” said Yandisa.

For her, having a network of women she can share frustrations with about how this impacts on her familial responsibilities, as well as possibly collaborate with from a business perspective, is why she says she will never stop rooting for Innovator Trust.

In her capacity as the Konekta founder, Yandisa has also embarked on her own empowerment venture, WiTechnology, which supports, mentors and funds women-led technology start-ups across Africa. As someone whose business growth was impacted by the support of others, Yandisa initiated this CSI project as a way to pay it forward.

“I had no experience in telecoms when I first started. I met people along the way who guided and supported me. While getting educated about the sector, I learnt how expensive it can be, and I didn’t want other women to make the same costly mistakes that I made. It’s important for women to meet the right suppliers and mentors.”

WiTechnology hosts an annual summit in August that brings suppliers, funders and procurement specialists together under one roof, fostering a networking environment and forming partnerships with Kenya and Nigeria as well. This year, the UK government also threw its weight behind the summit, opening up possibilities for expansion outside Africa.

For Yandisa, connectivity is the base of evolution, and rural connectivity, in particular, is close to her heart because of lessons she learnt while connecting Wi-Fi to a tavern in an area that is so remote that it didn’t even have visibility on GPS maps.

“One day while driving past, I saw school kids outside the tavern because they are underage and not allowed inside. They had their books and mobile phones, connecting to the tavern’s Wi-Fi to do their schoolwork, and this made me realise the importance of connectivity.”

SAMO Engineering founder Nonhlanhla Moloko described her business as a service integrator with various projects across the provinces, offering electrical and telecommunications solutions. She shares that SAMO’s Wi-Fi connectivity and Smart Village project in Limpopo recently proved how the collaboration between service providers, government and OEMs can be effective.

“Over the years we have trained and incubated engineering graduates. Our youth development lens favours interns who are in our technical space,” Nonhlanhla said.

Her business was founded nearly 20 years ago. Responding to how researchers have said that a lot of businesses seldom survive their first five years, Nonhlanhla said after that timeline, longevity and growth also present new challenges to overcome as the business progresses. Since the inception of SAMO, Nonhlanhla is proud of the growth she has seen and the quality of her customer base, which includes Vodacom FTTH and Madimbo Smart Village.

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