• 4Sight Holdings renovated a school in Diepsloot and introduced digital tools and training.

• South Africa faces 46.1% youth unemployment, largely due to a digital skills gap.

• Experts stress the need for long-term teacher training and integration into national policy.

In a bold move to address South Africa’s digital divide and soaring youth unemployment, South African tech company 4Sight Holdings launched a digital education programme at Laezonia Primary School in Diepsloot, Gauteng, on July 28.

The company renovated classrooms, provided computers and IT equipment, and secured reliable internet access. It also launched a basic IT training programme aimed at preparing young learners for an increasingly digital job market.

South Africa’s youth face alarming unemployment levels. Stats SA reported that 46.1% of people aged 15 to 34 were unemployed in the first quarter of 2025. Many lack the digital skills needed for growing sectors such as telecommunications, data analysis, and IT.

By starting at the primary school level, this initiative lays the groundwork for digital inclusion and long-term employability. It equips learners with essential skills early and builds confidence in using technology.

This initiative forms part of 4Sight Holdings’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Company staff actively contributed to the school upgrade, reinforcing the model of local, skills-based engagement.

South Africa ranked 59th out of 63 countries in the 2022 Global Competitiveness Index for technology infrastructure. In this context, private-sector partnerships play a key role in closing gaps left by limited public resources.

To create lasting change, experts say these programmes must go beyond one-off interventions. Schools need continuous teacher training, curriculum integration, and institutional support to deliver results.

Similar models are emerging elsewhere in Africa. Microsoft runs coding clubs and digital learning hubs in Tanzania. Liquid Intelligent Technologies is building education connectivity networks in Kenya. However, their long-term success depends on alignment with national education and digital transformation strategies.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou (intern)

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum