Corporate Social Development

Leaders in Human Development

T-Systems South Africa is deeply aware and fiercely dedicated to meeting the social and economical challenges facing South Africa.

Which is why T-Systems is devoted to making a positive change through shareholder, employment and commercial equity, partnership and business development, AIDS awareness, as well as a massive focus on education and skills transfer at all levels.

T-Systems' commitment is even more evident in our support of CIDA (Community and Individual Development Association) City Campus, which was founded in 1999 in downtown Johannesburg. It's a fully accredited higher education institution, with more than 1700 learners with 90% of the students originating from rural areas and townships. The campus attempts to resolve the dilemma of providing quality higher education on a mass scale.

CIDA is a blueprint for future higher education models in developing countries. The way the campus operates is unique and innovative. The entire institution is services by students who manage everything from the canteen facilities to the administration and cleaning of the campus.

When it comes to crossing the digital divide, T-Systems and CIDA lead the way. In this regard, T-Systems spearheads a program to implement an on-campus ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Academy. With generous financial support from German funding agency DEG, the academy provides a curriculum offering socialized skills that are demand driven. In the end the project will aim to provide Microsoft, Java, Oracle, SAP and Unix-based training. T-Systems will also assist in providing internship training for these students.

A cumulative investment of approximately R3.2m was provided to a variety of initiatives, including HIV/AIDS programmes, education initiatives as well as a variety of other community initiatives. A remarkable difference was made possible to Faranani (a group of previously disadvantaged specializing in Microsoft support) in the form of business contracts, rent of premises, infrastructure (i.e. network etc.) computers as well as time spent with employees of T-Systems.