Ralph Berndt | Head | Sales & Marketing | inq. | mail me |
If you ask any South African tech leader what keeps them up at night, chances are the answer will not just be the country’s unreliable energy grid or regulations. You can add skills to that list as well. More precisely, the lack thereof.
As businesses push ahead with digital transformation, the demand for specialised IT skills has never been higher. Yet at the same time, thousands of qualified young South Africans remain locked out of the formal economy. This tension between demand and accessibility shapes the future of the tech sector.
The tech sector is struggling to find desirable expertise
We are seeing this contradiction up close. On one hand, we are building intelligent edge solutions. We are deploying software-defined networks and enabling real-time business intelligence across sectors. On the other hand, we are hiring. And we are finding it increasingly difficult to source candidates with the right blend of technical expertise and applied experience.
Skills like cybersecurity, cloud architecture and data science now form the foundation of the modern enterprise. Roles such as Security Analysts and Data Scientists have become critical. This is especially true as organisations try to navigate sprawling digital environments and respond to growing cyber threats. But technical know-how alone is not enough.
What we are really looking for are professionals who can work across domains. We need those who can understand how cloud, network and security functions interact. Just as important, we need them to deliver business outcomes in real-world settings. The future of the tech sector depends on these capabilities.
Workplace experience
This is where the gap starts to show. Many graduates entering the market today have a solid theoretical grounding. However, they often lack practical exposure to enterprise-grade technologies. The result is a clear work readiness gap.
It is not that these young professionals are not smart or capable. Rather, they have not had enough opportunities to apply their skills in live, high-pressure environments. As we look toward the future of the tech sector, this readiness gap becomes an urgent issue to address. This is not a uniquely South African problem.
But in a country where youth unemployment is alarmingly high, and where digital transformation is essential for economic competitiveness, the disconnect is particularly pressing.To mitigate this, we have taken an active approach.
For example, our internship programme does not just tick boxes. It immerses young professionals in real client projects across cloud, cybersecurity and networking. These are not shadow roles or hypothetical case studies. Our interns contribute meaningfully from day one. They gain experience that builds both confidence and capability.
Looking ahead, we are preparing to roll out expanded youth development initiatives. These include participation in South Africa’s B-BBEE YES programme and a formal graduate intake. These efforts reflect our long-term commitment to helping young talent enter and thrive in the tech sector.
Guidance in the tech sector
We have also found that mentorship is key. Pairing emerging talent with seasoned engineers and business leads creates a learning loop that benefits both parties. It ensures that institutional knowledge is passed on.
At the same time, it challenges our senior team to keep learning too. Of course, we cannot do it alone. There are valuable efforts underway at the national level.
For example, SETAs, industry bodies, and public-private partnerships are all playing a role. However, if we want to create a tech ecosystem that is truly inclusive and future-fit, the private sector needs to step up. It must do so with urgency and intent.
This means more than just hiring interns. It requires investing in skills development with a long-term view. It also means designing roles that stretch and develop young professionals. Equally important, it means creating a culture where continuous learning is embedded in how we work.
Confidence in work
We believe that African innovation can compete on a global stage. But it starts with building a skills pipeline that is not just competent, but confident.
By backing young talent with real opportunities and support, we lay the foundation for a stronger, smarter and more connected digital economy. The future of the tech sector will be built on these very foundations.
And if we get that right, the question will not be whether we have enough skills to meet demand. It will be how far South African innovation can go.
