Netstar has invested R500,000 in the Johannesburg-based Melisizwe Partnership Computer Lab Project, establishing a technology training hub designed to equip young South Africans with critical digital skills and create pathways to meaningful careers in technology.
Addressing South Africa’s skills gap
South Africa faces a significant challenge: while the country offers exceptional potential as a global technology destination, many talented young people lack access to quality ICT education and career opportunities. This skills gap represents both a lost opportunity for individuals and a constraint on the country’s economic growth.
The investment addresses this challenge directly. Through the Melisizwe Makers Hub in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, Netstar is funding a fully equipped computer lab that will serve as the foundation for comprehensive technology training programmes.
Expanding access through innovation
The computer lab will support training programmes that reach 4,700 young South Africans annually. Through virtual connectivity, the hub extends its impact to 13 satellite school sites across the region, ensuring geographic location does not limit access to quality education.
The programme includes:
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60 girls participating in the Girls in STEM Programme annually.
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3,220 youth engaged in hub activities.
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250 learners attending AI Future Makers Workshops.
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1,170 learners reached through STEM Awareness Workshops.
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Ongoing mentorship and entrepreneurship development opportunities.
Building tomorrow’s technology leaders
The Girls in STEM Programme represents a strategic focus on diversity and inclusion in technology sectors. By ensuring young women from all backgrounds have access to advanced technology education, the programme works to address historic underrepresentation in these fields.
Beyond technical training, the hub develops entrepreneurial skills, providing young innovators with the knowledge and networks needed to transform ideas into viable businesses. This comprehensive approach prepares participants not just for employment, but for leadership roles in South Africa’s evolving digital economy.
Strategic investment in national development
“This investment represents our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young South Africans to participate in the digital economy,” said Jeandre Koen, Managing Director Netstar SA. “We are investing in the talent that will drive South Africa’s technological advancement and economic growth.”
The initiative aligns with Netstar’s broader vision of developing South Africa’s technology capabilities while ensuring opportunities remain accessible to young people regardless of their background or circumstances.
Netstar sees this investment as part of a broader strategy to cultivate local talent that can deliver world-class solutions for both domestic and international markets. The programme’s success will be measured by participant numbers, innovative solutions developed, businesses established, and economic impact generated.
In South Africa, fewer than one in three STEM graduates are women, and women make up less than a quarter of the STEM workforce. Too many girls fall out of the pipeline at school level due to limited access, confidence gaps, and the absence of role models. That’s why initiatives like Girls in STEM Africa and our STEM Awareness workshops are so vital, they spark curiosity, build digital skills, and empower young women to see themselves thriving in science and technology careers. Netstar’s generous contribution of R500,000 to the Girls in STEM Africa initiative is truly life changing. It enables us to reach more learners, open doors to new opportunities and inspire the next generation of innovators. We are deeply grateful to Netstar for helping us build a future where girls can lead and succeed.” – Candice Kern-Thomas, CEO of Melisizwe Long-term Vision for Technology Development.
This partnership with the Melisizwe Makers Hub reflects Netstar’s commitment to sustainable development through strategic collaboration. By investing in education infrastructure and skills development, the company contributes directly to building the technology workforce South Africa needs to compete globally.
The computer lab is just the first phase of what Netstar envisions as an ongoing commitment to technology education and youth development, with success measured by the tangible impact on participants’ careers and contributions to South Africa’s technology sector.
