Andile Ngcaba will chair a work stream on infrastructure and resources

Communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has welcomed the first meeting of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as a step towards achieving its objectives.

The commission held its first work session at the University of Johannesburg to develop a high-level road map towards achieving its set objectives and to establish and assign technical work streams.

The meeting was held on Saturday.

“The commission has committed to produce the strategy document to guide South Africa’s 4IR vision by March 2020. This will be preceded by a broad consultative process with relevant stakeholders,” said the department of communications on Wednesday.

The commissioners established and assigned the work streams as follows:

  • An infrastructure and resources work stream to be chaired by Convergence Partners chairman Andile Ngcaba;
  • A research, technology and innovation work stream to be chaired by CSIR CEO Thulani Dlamini;
  • An economic and social impact work stream will be chaired by MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter.
  • A work stream on human capital and the future of work to be chaired by creative industries expert Beth Arendse;
  • A work stream on industrialisation and commercialisation to be chaired by SA Women in Farming’s Nomvula Mkhonza; and
  • A policy and legislation work stream to be chaired by Cisco public policy director: Africa at Cisco Systems Charmaine Houvet.

The 31-member Commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April.

The commission is mandated to advise government on 4IR policies, develop a framework for implementation of a multi-sectoral 4IR strategy and coordinate, monitor and evaluate multi-sectoral initiatives that will position South Africa as a globally competitive player in 4IR.

The commission is set to meet with its chairman, President Ramaphosa, within the next few months.  — SANews