To: All media
Date: 28 March 2025

UNLOCKING NEW OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: CYBER LAB LAUNCH IN MPUMALANGA

The Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon Mondli Gungubele, has officially handed over a Cyber Lab to teachers and learners of Mdzabu Secondary School in Nkomazi, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province, as part of the National Cyber lab Programme coordinated by SITA, with the aim of preparing young learners for a digitally positioned future in the global village.

The Mdzabu Secondary School in Mpumalanga joins a cohort of schools from the North-West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Gauteng, Western Cape, KZN and soon to be joined also by the Free State that have been digitally connected through state-of-the-art Cyber labs. These laboratories are cutting-edge computer facilities equipped with high-end technology and digital tools including laptops, digital screens, servers and internet connectivity.

The handover programme is an initiative of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), the leader in Government ICT and an entity of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT).

Deputy Minister Gungubele told attendees at the handover that “the Cyberlab initiative goes beyond simply installing computers and internet connectivity in schools it is one of the tangible steps the Professor speaks about. It is a bold commitment to skills development and digital transformation, empowering our communities by giving learners access to cutting-edge technology, while also equipping educators with the tools needed to excel in a digital classroom environment.”

The world economy is now run online through digital technology, and a lot of economic value is locked in this technology,” says the minister, adding that the fastest way for the country to access this value going into the future is in connectivity and skills development.

While Cyber labs are providing this skills development to learners in schools, the DCDT through the SA Connect Programme is installing digital infrastructure with a target to connecting 80% of South African households to internet in the next three years.

“With these digital resources, we aim to empower both teachers and learners to explore new ways of learning. These tools will support interactive lessons, encourage collaboration, and foster critical thinking skills that are so crucial in today’s rapidly changing world,” says Deputy Minister Gungubele.

The Deputy Minister was also joined by the MEC of Education in Mpumalanga, Honourable Cathrine Dlamini who committed to supporting the school through the integration of digital infrastructure which will deliver value and shape the new business models for the province.

Learners at the schools where Cyber Labs are introduced are taken through lessons in different digital technologies, including Robotics, Coding, Digital Skills and Artificial Intelligence. Other stakeholders such as Honor and Telkom equally added value with donations of school bags and other learning materials. A session on cyber security was held with the learners to equip them with skills and knowledge on how to be responsible digital citizens and navigate the internet safely.

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Issued by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies

Download Document here: Unlocking New Opportunities Through Digital Transformation: Cyber Lab Launch in Mpumalanga