As South Africa’s digital economy continues to grow, new opportunities are emerging for young people to gain in-demand technology skills and participate in industries that were once out of reach. Yet for many young people in rural communities, limited access to training and exposure remains a barrier.
Growing up in Kuruman in the Northern Cape, 22-year-old Bontle Tikane never imagined a future in cyber security. Like many young women, she assumed careers in coding, networking and technology were not meant for her. Today, however, she is helping to challenge that perception.
Tikane is one of five young women selected for the first cohort of the WomHub Digital Skills Programme, a partnership between Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore business and WomHub that aims to equip young women from mining communities with industry-recognised digital skills and qualifications. Through training in networking, AI, data science and cyber security, the programme helps participants prepare for opportunities in the growing digital economy while addressing gender gaps in the sector.
The programme forms part of a three-year initiative to broaden access to opportunities for young women across the Northern Cape, with participants drawn from Kathu, Kuruman and Postmasburg.
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not always equally accessible. Through this programme, we want more young women to see themselves in technology, build confidence in their abilities and gain the skills needed to participate in the digital economy. We hope to inspire the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers and leaders from our communities,” says Kutlwano Takadi, Kumba WiM Integration Lead.
Tikane’s career path has not been a straightforward one. She had originally set her sights on a career in finance and enrolled at a college, but financial pressures forced her to drop out before completing the course. The WomHub Digital Skills Programme, she says, felt like an unexpected continuation of that ambition. “While the journey looks different the end goal isn’t far from what I wanted, and I’m glad I got this opportunity, because I’m really learning a lot.”
Each day brings something new. Through the programme she gets to learn more about computer literacy, online safety, data privacy, coding in Python and the fundamentals of cyber security. “It’s not only about protecting my personal information and myself online,” she explains. “If you’re in a company, it’s also about how you protect its information.”
The support she gets from the programme extends beyond the curriculum. When Tikane lost her phone and SIM card, the programme replaced them without hesitation, ensuring she could continue participating without interruption. She says her confidence has also grown alongside her new skills. Once hesitant to post on social media, she now understands privacy settings well enough to manage her digital footprint without fear.
Tikane is optimistic about her future and what she has gained: industry-relevant skills, practical experience and the confidence to pursue opportunities in a rapidly evolving digital economy. With just a few months left before she completes it, she is already thinking beyond herself. She says these new skills can help other young women in her community build CVs, type emails and start small businesses, without travelling long distances to nearby towns for help.
Her story reflects a broader reality facing many young people in South Africa, that talent exists everywhere, but access to opportunity does not. Programmes such as the WomHub Digital Skills Programme are helping to close that gap, offering practical skills, mentorship and exposure to opportunity, one young woman at a time.
Tikane encourages other young women to keep an eye out for similar opportunities and not let their gender limit their ambitions. For those interested in learning more about the programme, can visit WomEng Digital Skills Programme page or follow updates from Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore for future application opportunities.
