ECITI - A champion for a connected, empowered and informed Eastern Cape.

With a proven track record with some of South Africa’s leading Information Communication Technology companies and projects, Luvo Gwiliza took the biggest risk of his career and formed up and coming niche solution provider, Afrocentric IP, in 2009.

The following year, Afrocentric IP joined the Eastern Cape Information Technology Initiative (ECITI) incubation programme. ECITI is a non-profit organisation initiated by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) that facilitates the introduction, support and business sustainability of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Film Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the Eastern Cape through its business incubation programme.

Two years on, Afrocentric IP is receiving industry awards for excellence and it has already achieved Novell GOLD partnership status. It was also nominated for a Novell award for the Best newcomer for 2010/11.

“On Wednesday, Afrocentric IP will be one of three inaugural graduates (companies) that will graduate from the ECITI incubation programme. Afrocentric IP, computer hardware distributor Khula Holdings as well as information security and privacy specialists Zweni ICT Solutions will graduate from the rigorous incubation programme.

“This means these small ICT businesses have met the objectives of the programme and their businesses are operating a sustainable business model. ECITI will also be piloting its post-incubation aftercare support programme through these companies,” says ECITI executive manager Patricia Dlamini.

ECITI has partnered with Afrocentric IP to establish an office in East London, and the incubator has connected Afrocentric IP to South Africa’s first science and technology park – the Innovation Hub in Pretoria. While currently operating from the Innovation Hub and experiencing solid growth in Gauteng, the enterprise still hopes to further develop its Eastern Cape client base.
 
Dlamini says ECITI was able to afford Khula Holdings well priced infrastructure and exposure within industry forums. As a result, Khula Holdings is the first NComputing sub-distributor in the Eastern Cape. It is also Mecer agent for the State Information Technology Agency, it has a reseller agreement with global IT company Tarsus Technologies as well as partnered with Siyakhula Living Lab, a Rhodes University research project which installs computers in schools.

Dlamini explains that ECITI provides on-site and off-site incubation support for small businesses in the ICT and Film space. This includes tailor-made business development and mentorship support.

“These three ICT businesses have contributed significantly to the increased turnover of ECITI’s 16 graduates this year. The turnover in the first nine months of the current financial year grew to R4 million from 2010/11’s R1,8 million.

SMMEs benefit from shared office facilities and spaces, as well as IT infrastructure and connectivity to reduce the cost of doing business. It also reduces the risk of failure thus fast-tracking them into sustainable enterprises.

“ECITI rallied with me, and we have emerged successfully from the tough market conditions thus far. ECITI provides office space at an affordable rental, sponsors all-day internet connection and subsidized our exposure to the industry through the Eastern Cape ICT Summit and Govtech, which have literally become a source of business for us,” says Jabu Mangena who co-owns Khula with wife, Akhona.

Mlandeli Zweni, owner of Zweni ICT solutions which specializes in information security and privacy, ICT law compliance, computer and cellphone forensics as well as ICT asset management recently celebrated his 11th year of trade. Zweni ICT is an affiliate of an online leag firm and the reseller of NetTrace software that helps consumers track and recover computer assets and smart phones in South Africa.

“Today we are established with a well-crafted service offering in the realm of information security, privacy and management.

“ECITI has provided access to organizations such as The Bandwidth in Cape Town and the incubator has assisted me to build a niche business in the ICT domain,” says Zweni.

For more information contact:

Patricia Dlamini
ECITI
Tel. 043 722 4453
pdlamini@eciti.co.za

For ECITI media relations:

Lunga Mtshizana
MediaEQ
Tel. 043 726 8833
Cell. 083 618 7557
Email. lunga@mediaeq.co.za