NEMISA achievements and challenges; with Deputy Minister

Meeting report

Ms T Modise (ANC, North West) was acting Chairperson and noted an apology from the Chairperson who was expected arrive shortly. She encouraged the representatives from the provincial legislatures to participate and handed over to the Deputy Minister to provide an overview of NEMISA before its presentation.

Ministry remarks
Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mr Philemon Mapulane, said the purpose of the meeting was to address NEMISA's performance and challenges. He applauded NEMISA for its good performance, highlighting its achievement in receiving a clean audit from the Auditor-General for 2022/23 and NEMISA had been successful in meeting its targets. He emphasized NEMISA's role in implementing the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, expressing satisfaction with its performance in digital skills development.

He mentioned efforts to expand digital skills development by partnering with council members and private sector entities. He referred to a digital skills conference held in the Eastern Capein 2023 where pledges were made by private sector partners to collaborate with NEMISA. He assured that follow-up actions were underway to realize these pledges.

NEMISA achievements and challenges
Ms Nomonde Hlatshaneni, NEMISA board member and chairperson of human resources, remuneration, and nominations board committee, highlighted NEMISA's efforts to sharpen its competitive edge over the years. She emphasized the importance of partnerships and learning from past mistakes to stay ahead in the digital world. NEMISA is proactive in managing talent according to the evolving demands of critical skills, especially in the digital realm. She is confident that NEMISA is well-prepared to compete globally in the digital economy. Despite minor challenges, NEMISA was committed to fulfilling its mandate, with the support of stakeholders from the higher education and private sector.

Mr Trevor Rammitlwa, NEMISA CEO, said NEMISA operates as a non-profit educational institution to promote creative media and digital skills among South Africans. Initially focused on broadcasting skills, NEMISA evolved to encompass a wider array of creative media skills and digital technology with a focus on transforming South Africa's electronic media sector.

The target demographic includes youth, women, people with disabilities, SMMEs and government. NEMISA also places emphasis on serving rural and township areas, prioritizing these communities in its efforts.

He explained the NEMISA eight strategic focus areas. These included:
- Partnering with the basic education and post-schooling sectors in line with the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy. This was crucial for exposing individuals to digital skills from a young age and to ensure alignment with educational initiatives.
- Supporting SMME digital entrepreneurship, acknowledging the important role of technology in business operations. By promoting the use of e-commerce and other technological tools, NEMISA aimed to enhance the performance and competitiveness of SMMEs.
- The ongoing importance of creative media and broadcasting. Given the growing nature of the industry, efforts were directed at developing skills to align with emerging trends and advancements in the field.

Mr Rammitlwa delved into electronic media and technological transformation, highlighting its evolving nature. Audio-visual and media communication remained important drivers of the industry. However, there has been the democratization of content development. While mainstream broadcasting houses once dominated, social media platforms have allowed individuals from diverse backgrounds to share news and content, changing the skills required in the industry.

The emergence of social media platforms, have greatly impacted content consumption patterns and increased social diversity. The increased use of digital platforms, social networking sites, and streaming services emphasize the industry's ever changing nature, making necessary the development of relevant skills to seize emerging opportunities. There was a fast growth in podcasting and user-generated content, and he emphasized the impact of the analogue to digital transmission transition on broadcasters.

In response, NEMISA expanded its offerings, providing full certificate qualifications through the Media, Information and Communication Technology Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) in areas such as Radio Production, Television and Film Production, 2D and 3D Animation, Interactive Media, and Graphic Design. Short courses were also introduced to cater to emerging trends, including podcasting, storytelling using mobile devices, livestreaming, digital photography, newsroom skills, and workshops aimed at future-proofing community media.

Administrative achievements included the clean audit for 2022/23, as noted by the Deputy Minister, enhancing its reputation. Irregular expenditure was reduced as NEMISA vacated the premises associated with this irregular expenditure stemming from a lease agreement dating back to 2009 and relocated to SABC facilities.

NEMISA has for the past three years achieved over 90% of its targets in its Annual Performance Plan (APP).

NEMISA had implemented an approved revised organizational structure aimed at strengthening its capacity. A transformation and change strategy were introduced to address areas that need improvement, including IT systems, curriculum development, and human resource capacity. Employee wellness services and skills development initiatives were introduced to increase organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction. These measures collectively contributed to NEMISA's overall administrative progress.

Challenges included the organizational culture still required a lot of improvement; need to enhance the suitability of the current NEMISA building; job stability for employees on fixed-term contracts; difficulty in attracting and keeping employees due to non-competitive salaries. To mitigate this, NEMISA initiated benchmarking exercises to align its salary structures with industry standards, while considering budgetary constraints.

Notable achievements on partnerships included establishing strategic partnerships with major entities such as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as CISCO. Collaborations with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) involved training teacher assistants, with over 32 000 assistants already trained. Plans were underway to extend this training to teachers, influencing curriculum development in digital literacy, coding and robotics.

Partnerships with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) focused on introducing creative media and digital skills delivery at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and Community Education and Training (CET) colleges. NEMISA expanding partnerships with Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), starting with the MICT SETA, Banking Sector (BANKSETA) and Public Service Sector (PSETA), with plans for further expansion.

There was a challenge with partnerships over funding expectations from potential partners. Some partners anticipated full funding from NEMISA, while NEMISA anticipated to receive funding from them, creating a challenge in aligning expectations.

NEMISA's collaboration initiative aimed to extend its delivery model to all provinces. Currently, there are eight collaborations: North West University collaboration, Vaal University of Technology covering Gauteng and Northern Cape, Sol Plaatje University covering Northern Cape, Durban University of Technology in KZN, University of Mpumalanga, Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape, University of the Western Cape, the Central University for Free State, and University of Limpopo. These partnerships played an important role in extending NEMISA's reach and impact.

Achievements in skills development over the past two years, excluding the current year which is expected to show great progress, were training:
- 137 880 learners in basic digital literacy, with a focus on women and youth, contributing to rural development.
- 10 973 SMMEs, including start-ups and existing ones from both formal and informal sectors, received training, allowing them to make use of digital tools for trading purposes.
- 6 579 individuals in areas of data science, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cybersecurity.
- 700 young people benefited from creative media short courses and learnerships.
- 200 individuals on cell phone repair. Many past trainees initiated SMMEs, particularly in rural areas, focusing on cell phone repair services and accessory sales.

NEMISA also implemented a learning management system, offering online learning accessible anytime, anywhere with data connectivity. Efforts were made to make the platform zero-rated, although accessing videos still required data; however, plans were in place to develop an offline format for these elements.

Technical skills courses were introduced, covering cell phone repairs, broadband installation and maintenance, wireless internet service provision, and digital and terrestrial television installations and maintenance. Research efforts were put in place to identify additional programs that needed development. The main goal was to boost the growth of SMMEs in telecommunications, broadcasting services, and internet service provision.

NEMISA introduced digital entrepreneurship to encourage SMMEs to make use of e-commerce as a digital tool. It achieved reaccreditation for its creative media courses through the MICT SETA.

NEMISA launched the Ya-Rona digital literacy program, appointing digital ambassadors within local communities. These ambassadors were trained by NEMISA and then tasked with educating their communities, to reduce digital illiteracy and create employment opportunities.

NEMISA developed an over-the-top (OTT) platform, which is a blend of YouTube and Netflix, to spread edutainment content about digital technologies. Collaborations with Government Communication Information System (GCIS) resulted in the establishment of a government television streaming channel on the platform. Partnership with the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) facilitated the launch of community radio stations with streaming platforms, increasing accessibility to information. These initiatives aimed to empower individuals with digital skills and knowledge, fostering a more digitally inclusive society.

The biggest challenges encountered in skills development was infrastructure that was not up to standard, particularly outbound delivery of training programs in rural areas. Lack of connectivity and lack of devices hampered training delivery. Efforts were made to secure partnerships and sponsorships for resources but results were not as expected.

NEMISA faced budget limitations that made difficult expansion of training delivery to increase the number of trainers. Some young people in rural areas lacked basic necessities, leading to assistance expectations in training sessions, including meal provision and toolkits.

Despite achieving an average online learning completion rate of 20% on non zero-rated platforms like Microsoft Community Training, a large number of online learners did not complete their training. While this completion rate exceeded the 5% global average, improvements were sought. Although over 300 000 individuals registered on the learning management system, many did not complete courses, decreasing the potential impact of NEMISA's efforts. Addressing these challenges was important for adding to the effectiveness and reach of skills development initiatives.

Digital literacy demographics for 2022/23 were 43 165 females trained, showing a higher participation of women in the training programs. Training initiatives reached all provinces, though with varying numbers, highlighting the need for further expansion over time.

The majority of trained SMMEs were black owned. This training significantly impacted SMMEs, fostering the adoption of e-commerce business models, thereby broadening their reach and potential customer base. The training enhanced the online presence of SMMEs, bolstering their visibility and accessibility.

In the realm of creative media, beneficiaries were trained to produce high-quality content for social media platforms, allowing them to effectively make money from the content they produced. This training also led to the establishment of creative media SMMEs, empowering participants to venture into the media industry and related sectors. Beneficiaries also engaged in the gig economy through freelancing. Top of Form

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The impact of digital literacy training significantly contributed to reducing the digital divide, as more individuals utilized digital tools to enhance their lives. Participants were empowered to utilize mobile devices for both work and personal purposes. According to an impact study, 91% of respondents agreed that the training had increased their interest in exploring the internet and other digital devices; 97% expressed interest in pursuing more advanced digital courses, indicating increased productivity and efficiency in their work. Participants utilized their devices for various tasks, such as scanning, document creation, and job searches, with 65% utilizing mobile banking applications for transactions. Moreover, participants embraced new methods of communication and interaction through mobile devices, showcasing the significant impact of the training.

On emerging technology training, increased confidence amongst participants was reported, particularly in applying for jobs in the IT industry. Female participants, often confronted with perceptions of ICT as a male-dominated field, gained confidence and motivation to engage in this space. Various training delivery channels were employed, including online, blended, and face-to-face sessions conducted through platforms like NEMISA OTT, NEMISA OTT Platform live classes, and NEMISA Campus sessions. Learner support was provided through partnerships to access devices, with plans underway to establish pop-up labs to facilitate training resource accessibility. These efforts underscored NEMISA's commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering individuals through digital literacy training.

Mr Rammitlwa noted the establishment of a multimedia production house (MMPH) within NEMISA. This unit aimed at generating income while advancing the massification of digital skills among South Africans. Utilizing animation, video, audio, podcasts, and online platforms, MMPH contributed to NEMISA's mandate. Almost 30 interns, unemployed youth, were appointed every two years to assist in delivering services within MMPH, gaining valuable work experience in the process.

On the provincial reach of the Ya-Rona digital literacy project, it commenced in KwaZulu-Natal (2020/21), creating 57 employment opportunities. It reach Limpopo (2022/23), generating 58 employment opportunities, and then to North West, where 76 employment opportunities were created. In the current financial year (2023/24), the project extended to the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, creating 50 and 35 employment opportunities.

Mr Rammitlwa discussed achievements and challenges in research and innovation. NEMISA implemented a research agenda to stay at the forefront of digital skills development. They organized a digital skills summit colloquium and a datathon, similarly to a hackathon but focused on utilizing data and data science for solutions. Over the years, NEMISA collaborated with universities and researchers, resulting in the publication of several full papers in journals. Through the datathon, they have come up with numerous innovation solutions across sectors like health, agriculture, and education. However, commercializing these solutions has presented a great challenge. To address this, NEMISA engaged with organizations like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and innovation hubs including the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) for funding support.

On monitoring and evaluation, NEMISA established a monitoring and evaluation framework. They conducted annual impact assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs. However, inadequate capacity stood in the way of their ability to monitor all training programs effectively. Despite this challenge, NEMISA ensured quarterly monitoring and evaluation reports by conducting site visits to various programs to verify delivery quality.

Strategic risks faced by NEMISA were identified annually and reviewed quarterly. One risk was the widening gap between creative media and digital skills development and NEMISA's capacity to keep pace. Mitigation strategies included conducting research in this area. Another risk was cybersecurity incidents, with measures in place to monitor and address potential attacks on infrastructure. NEMISA faced challenges due to inadequate internal research capabilities, which they aimed to address by collaborating with universities to develop researchers.

Another risk was inadequate brand awareness and positioning, particularly in rural areas, which they aimed to improve through partnerships, including with SABC. The organizational culture did not fully support the organizational strategy, but efforts were underway through induction programs, surveys, and cultural strengthening initiatives. Low employee morale and job dissatisfaction stemmed from non-competitive salaries, which NEMISA sought to address to attract and retain talent.

NEMISA also faced challenges in digital transformation and change management, which they addressed through a change management plan and ongoing monitoring.

Discussion
Ms L Bebee (ANC, KZN) appreciated the detailed and interesting presentation, particularly noting the mention of challenges, which is often not the case with other entities.

Ms Bebee asked how NEMISA ensures that the digital skills provided to SMMEs are effectively utilized to enhance their operations. Secondly, she raised concerns about NEMISA's marketing challenges and emphasized the importance of public awareness about the institution and its digital skills offerings.

Ms W Ngwenya (ANC, Gauteng) asked about the representation of employees with disabilities within NEMISA, asking for the number and if they are in all provinces. She emphasized the importance of representation across all provinces since the NCOP represents nine provinces.

She asked about the current vacancies in NEMISA and how the vacancy rate has impacted the institution's performance and ability to fulfil its mandate.

Ms Ngwenya asked for the intended timeline of rural intervention programs focusing on digital training to cover all rural communities across provinces.

The Chairperson thanked Ms Modise for leading the session. He appreciated the thorough presentation and acknowledged NEMISA's effective performance in mainstreaming the importance of digital technology, facilitating easier service delivery and communication, which are crucial aspects of a developmental state linked to technological intelligence.

He asked besides the funding received from National Treasury through the Department, does NEMISA have other revenue sources to supplement its budget allocation to ensure its mandate is met?

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 The Chairperson noted that while the NEMISA digital skills program utilizes webinars and virtual summits, these platforms often exclude rural populations due to limited access to digital devices and network challenges. He asked how NEMISA ensures its presence in rural areas, providing opportunities for marginalized individuals to contribute meaningfully to the digital sphere. It was important not to let talented youth miss out on opportunities in the digital revolution.

Lastly, Mr Mkiva asked about NEMISA's alignment with the National Development Plan (NDP) and the broader Africa Agenda. Given South Africa's role as a hub for companies investing in Africa, he asked about NEMISA's Africa Agenda and its partnerships across the continent. He asked about NEMISA's international partnerships aimed at providing world-class services to South African citizens while facilitating access to global knowledge and expertise to enrich local processes.

NEMISA response
Ms Hlatsaneni replied to the Chairperson, saying that within his questions lay elements of a proposal. NEMISA had a comprehensive marketing strategy targeting all regions NEMISA also collaborates with higher education institutions, known as CoLabs to extend its reach into rural areas. These collaborations involve working with municipalities to ensure broader coverage. Additionally, initiatives like the Ya-Rona project, directly engages with municipalities and contribute to NEMISA marketing efforts. She requested that the politicians, as public representatives, incorporate information about NEMISA's work into their public awareness campaigns, particularly in rural constituencies where development initiatives are vital. This would spread awareness of NEMISA services.

On the representation of people with disabilities in the provinces, during a strategy session in November, they prioritized this and requested a presentation from the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE). Despite efforts to encourage applications from people with disabilities when advertising vacancies, there has been a shortfall in the expected number of applications. However, CGE had introduced NEMISA to Disabled People South Africa (DPSA), an association for people with disabilities.

On SMMEs and how their skills utilization is ensured, Mr Rammitlwa explained that an annual impact assessment study is conducted to assess if these SMMEs are benefiting as intended. Initial feedback received during training sessions often includes updates such as the establishment of social media presence or website development by the SMME. However, he acknowledged the need for improvement, suggesting the creation of a database to track SMMEs more effectively and receive feedback more regularly. NEMISA aims to develop a cloud platform for e-commerce to further support these SMMEs and progress is underway for this.

Mr Rammitlwa noted ongoing marketing strategy efforts. NEMISA is looking into partnerships with MDDA to access more community media platforms. Positive responses have been received from community radio stations, community TV channels, and SABC, in the dissemination of information about NEMISA.

Mr Rammitlwa addressed the query on people with disabilities, saying it was a significant challenge. There have been efforts to establish partnerships with associations for persons with disabilities to address this. NEMISA has also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities to initiate programs specifically targeting this demographic.

On its reach across provinces, NEMISA has a presence in all provinces, but the main challenge is reaching rural areas within these provinces. To address this, they have initiated the signing of memorandums of agreement (MOAs) to extend collaborative efforts to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, which are closer to communities. Already, 15 MOAs have been signed. They aim to sign agreements with all 50 colleges to fully operationalize NEMISA's reach. Additionally, partnerships with the Department of Basic Education have been established to engage with schools, and approximately 2000 lecturers at community colleges have been trained to further educate learners in these areas. These strategies are seen as important in expanding NEMISA's outreach, particularly in rural regions.

On the vacancy rate at NEMISA, there were currently 34 vacancies being advertised due to the revised organizational structure approved by the Minister. The recruitment process was initially aimed to conclude by 31 March, but due to various delays, including consultations with unions, it is now expected to finish within the first quarter of the new financial year. This delay has been attributed to necessary procedural steps in the recruitment process.

The strategies for the extension of programs to reach rural areas involved partnerships with TVET colleges, community colleges, and schools. They are actively identifying rural areas where they have not established a presence before, aiming to ensure sustained engagement rather than temporary visits. The Ya-Rona digital literacy program, which primarily delivered in rural areas, further contributes to this effort.

NEMISA is collaborating with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform on the NARYSEC program which provides young people with a year-long work experience opportunity in communities. Through this partnership, NEMISA plans to train participants in digital and creative media skills, thereby enhancing its presence in rural areas. This initiative involves working closely with traditional authorities and is set to commence in 2024/25. The agreement includes leveraging the stipends already provided to participants in the rural development program. This holistic approach aims to empower young people and expand NEMISA's reach into rural communities.

On funding sources beyond National Treasury, since 2020, the NEMISA board had revised the funding model to reduce reliance solely on fiscus funds, recognizing their insufficiency. As a result, NEMISA had actively looked for additional funding sources and successfully secured funds from organizations such as BANKSETA and PSETA. They are exploring opportunities with the UIF and the National Skills Fund, with applications already submitted but awaiting feedback. Collaboration with the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) is underway to secure additional funding for expanding training programs.

NEMISA is also in discussions with the mining sector to leverage their Social Labour Plans (SLP) for skills development initiatives in surrounding communities. Although this initiative is still in its early stages and has yet to materialize, it demonstrates NEMISA's commitment to diversifying its funding sources and expanding its reach.

On the potential exclusion of people in rural areas due to the use of webinars for training, NEMISA makes use of online learning methods that offer virtual training where individuals attend in person while others participate remotely. Face-to-face training sessions are also conducted in collaboration with local municipalities, schools, TVET colleges, and traditional authorities to ensure accessibility in rural areas. This approach aims to prevent the exclusion of individuals who may not have access to online resources.

NEMISA is actively working on developing an offline version of their online learning platform to address connectivity challenges in rural areas. This initiative has been researched by the University of Mpumalanga on behalf of NEMISA, and they plan to test its feasibility. By offering both face-to-face training and an offline learning platform, NEMISA aims to ensure training opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of location or connectivity limitations.

On NEMISA's Africa Agenda, particularly partnerships supporting it and its alignment with the National Development Plan (NDP), NEMISA has collaborated with STEM Power, a US-based organization, and the German government funding agency, GIZ, in this initiative. STEM Power donates computer and engineering labs to public institutions in various African countries. Upon learning about NEMISA's work, STEM Power expressed interest in deploying where centres have been established in universities. It had successfully tested this initiative in Rwanda and Zimbabwe and aims to expand it to 17 countries in the upcoming financial year. Through GIZ, NEMISA participates in the Africa Digital Skills Summit, providing insights into the digital skills space and forming partnerships as needed.

Mr Rammitlwa highlighted NEMISA's involvement with UNESCO, where he serves on the communications and information sector committee. This role allows NEMISA to contribute best practices and insights into digital skills development, both nationally and internationally. NEMISA shares its reports with other national commissions in Africa and engages in forums to exchange practices globally.

NEMISA collaborates with platforms like Young Software Engineers’ Society (YSES) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) through the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), benefiting from shared insights and contributing valuable input.

Deputy Minister comments
Deputy Minister Mapulane commended the detailed responses to the questions. The allocation received from Treasury, slightly over R100 million, is not enough to meet the demands for digital skills in the market. To address this shortfall, efforts have been made to collaborate with partners. Last year, a national digital skills conference was hosted in East London, resulting in pledges from private sector partners to work with NEMISA. The aim is to pool together resources dedicated to skills development, particularly in digital skills, to maximize impact.

NEMISA has established partnerships with organizations such as BANKSETA and the military veterans department. Through these partnerships, NEMISA serves as a training partner, recently completing a training program valued at over R50 million with BANKSETA. Another partnership involves training military veterans, showing creative approaches to securing additional funding for skills development initiatives.

Digital skills were important in the current era, particularly digital literacy, and the country need to address this skills gap effectively.

He highlighted NEMISA's Ya-rona digital ambassadors program, expressing strong support for its community impact. Despite funding challenges, the program aims to allocate sufficient resources as it directly benefits communities. Unemployed graduates are recruited and trained by NEMISA, provided with digital tools such as laptops and computers. Following training, these graduates, supported by municipalities, receive stipends and impart basic digital literacy skills to communities.

The program has been successfully implemented in provinces, including Buffalo City Municipality, Limpopo, Northern Cape, and Northwest, with positive outcomes.

Another key program highlighted by Mr Rammitlwa was focusing on cell phone repairs. Implemented in collaboration with institutions like Walter Sisulu University and Central University of Technology, this program equips unemployed graduates with skills relevant to the growing cell phone repair market.

Deputy Minister Mapulane stressed the importance of reclaiming this market space to ensure South Africans participate, especially considering the dominance of foreign nationals in the industry.

The Chairperson appreciated NEMISA's commendable work and encouraged them to persist in their efforts. He advised them to enhance their international strategy by strengthening ties with the BRICS countries. Focusing on building relations with these countries could yield substantial benefits. He wished them success in their organizational growth endeavours.

The Committee adopted the minutes of the 6 March 2024 meeting and the meeting was adjourned.