The Great Lie: How MTN’s Digital Skills Programme is a Recipe for Disaster
As we celebrate 30 years of democracy in South Africa, we must also acknowledge the devastating impact of youth unemployment on our nation. And yet, MTN’s Digital Skills for Digital Jobs programme is a slap in the face to the very people it claims to help.
The programme, which promises to upskill 900 youth and women across nine provinces, is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to exploit the desperation of the unemployed. By offering a one-week training block, MTN is merely throwing a bone to the masses, while simultaneously perpetuating the cycle of poverty and inequality.
But what’s even more egregious is the programme’s emphasis on "ICT skills development" and "STEM fields". This is nothing more than a euphemism for "exploiting the skills of the poor to benefit the wealthy". By focusing on ICT skills, MTN is simply reinforcing the existing power structures that have always favored the privileged few.
And don’t even get me started on the "women empowerment" rhetoric. MTN’s CFO, Dineo Molefe, claims that the company is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in the communities it serves. But what does this really mean? Is it simply a hollow promise to appease the masses, or is it a genuine attempt to dismantle the systemic barriers that prevent women from entering the STEM fields?
The truth is, MTN’s Digital Skills for Digital Jobs programme is a cynical attempt to distract us from the real issues facing our nation. It’s a Band-Aid solution to a much deeper problem, and it’s nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to exploit the desperation of the unemployed.
So, let’s not be fooled by MTN’s empty promises. Let’s instead demand real change, real solutions, and real opportunities for the people of South Africa. Anything less is just a recipe for disaster.
