Pledge lodged
Submitted in support of the School–Industry Collaboration priority, covering technical subject support.
National Digital Education Infrastructure Programme
2030by 2030.
2,030 AI Digital Labs in South African public high schools by 2030 — an independent programme delivered by 1ICT and its partners, in support of South Africa's national education priorities. Proven at Lab 001, Phefeni Senior Secondary, Soweto. One school at a time. Every pledge on record.
- Aligned to the SA Education Accelerator
- Supporting School–Industry Collaboration
- Microsoft ecosystem partner
Programme at a glance
Lab 1
Delivered · Feb 2026
R 1,5M
Invested to date
Microsoft
technology partner
Ministers
Gwarube & Malatsi visited Lab 001
2,030
Schools · national target
9
Provinces · SME partner model
Inside the national framework
An Education Accelerator is live — and 2030 by 2030 is designed to support it.
The DBE and World Economic Forum launched the South Africa Education Accelerator on 28 May 2026 — a three-year national platform co-chaired by the Minister of Basic Education and the Group Executive Director of Naspers and Prosus. 2030 by 2030 is an independent programme delivered by 1ICT and its partners, in support of South Africa's national education priorities and aligned to the Accelerator's School–Industry Collaboration priority.
Guided by DBE data
Working from the DBE's publicly available school-level dataset — provinces, districts, quintiles and subject offerings.
Five key actions, one lab
Each AI Digital Lab is designed to deliver the practical support the DBE has called for from industry: practical activity review, equipment, teacher training, and quarterly industry demonstrations and visits.
Governance built in
Monthly progress reporting aligned to DBE reporting formats, school selection informed by provincial data, an independent programme auditor and POPIA-compliant data handling.
The demand signal
The DBE's own data shows exactly where labs are needed.
464
high schools offering Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Technology specialisations
426
DBE-identified focus schools nationally, across all streams — the cohort called out for school–industry support
26,400+
Grade 12 learners in the nine technical specialisations in a single year, before counting Grades 10–11
9
technical specialisations, every one software-dependent under CAPS
Source: DBE-published technical-schools dataset, July 2026.
Nine specialisations, one bottleneck
This is not an IT-subject programme — every technical stream runs through the lab.
Electrical Technology
Digital Systems · Electronics · Power Systems
Digital logic, microcontroller programming and circuit simulation ARE the curriculum. Digital Systems and Electronics cannot be taught without computers.
Mechanical Technology
Automotive · Welding & Metalwork · Fitting & Machining
Every Practical Assessment Task requires working drawings — done in CAD. Fitting & Machining introduces CNC concepts.
Civil Technology
Construction · Woodworking · Civil Services
CAD drawings plus quantities, costing and material schedules for the PAT. The lab is where the paperwork of building gets built.
Plus: the Microsoft 365 Education cloud layer serves the theory component of every subject — research, assessment and digital content across the whole school. Each lab pairs this cloud stratum with an offline-resilient 1ICT LabServer, so load-shedding and connectivity gaps never stop a lesson.
The challenge
South Africa does not only need devices.
It needs sustainable digital learning infrastructure.
Access to quality digital education is the single most effective pathway from township to economy. Without infrastructure — connectivity, hardware, security, software, and ongoing support — devices alone fail within months. The 2030 by 2030 programme is built to last: delivered, maintained, and sustained by a certified national network of black-owned ICT partners.
Curriculum readiness
CAT and digital subjects require functional labs. Infrastructure makes the curriculum real.
Youth employability
Digital fluency before matric is the difference between employment and exclusion in a digital economy.
Corporate legacy
Funders receive named recognition, verified impact reporting, and a school permanently in their portfolio.
Township economy
Every lab is maintained by a local black-owned ICT business — creating jobs and building capacity in the community it serves.
“By 2030, every South African high school learner deserves a functioning digital lab — not as a privilege, but as a standard.”
The road to 2030
From Lab 001 to 2,030 labs.
- 2026
Foundation
Lab 001 live at Phefeni. Top 100 first-wave selection guided by DBE-published demand data — KZN and Gauteng focus schools prioritised, township-first across the other seven provinces. First funded labs commissioned within 120 days of commitment.
- 2027
The technical-schools cohort
Targeting every school offering Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Technology by year-end — the R872m Target Fund (R622m build + R250m sustaining).
- 2028
Scale
Delivery engine at hundreds of labs per year; provincial SME partners active in all nine provinces.
- 2030
2,030 labs
One in three public high schools nationally running an AI Digital Lab.
Proof of delivery · Lab 001
Phefeni Senior Secondary School
Soweto, Gauteng — Delivered February 2026
Before the intervention
An under-resourced school in the heart of Soweto.
Phefeni Senior Secondary had the will but not the infrastructure. No functioning computer lab. No reliable connectivity. No pathway for learners to access the CAT curriculum their syllabus required. This is the school we chose as Lab 001 — not because it was easy, but because it was real.
What was delivered
Full lab refurbishment
Track A renovation
Fibre connectivity
Always-on, managed
Physical security
Access control + CCTV
Microsoft 365 Education
Full deployment
Managed support SLA
Ongoing helpdesk + on-site
The handover — February 2026
Handover ceremony — Phefeni Senior Secondary School, Soweto. In attendance: Minister Siviwe Gwarube (Basic Education) and Minister Solly Malatsi (Communications & Digital Technologies).
Photography: Lenola Sepotokele / DCDT
Lab 001 was made possible by:
Microsoft SA — Founding technology and funding partner
1ICT — Master implementation partner
✓ Delivered and operational
February 2026
The model
One proven model. 2,030 schools.
The delivery lifecycle is identical for every school — assessed, funded, built, connected, secured, handed over, and then sustained by a local black-owned ICT partner. Predictable. Verifiable. Scalable.
01
Assess
School needs assessment and scoping
02
Fund
Corporate partnership confirmed and structured
03
Build
Refurbishment or new build by 1ICT
04
Connect
Fibre, LAN, and wireless deployment
05
Secure
CCTV, access control, endpoint security
06
Handover
Formal school acceptance and sign-off
07
Support
Ongoing managed services SLA
08
Report
Annual impact report to funder
Funding tracks
Track A
Lab refurbishment
For schools with an existing space requiring hardware refresh, connectivity upgrade, security installation, and Microsoft 365 Education deployment.
R1.1m
per school · once-off capital investment
Typical delivery: 8–12 weeks
Track B
New lab build
For schools with no existing lab space — full construction or conversion, fit-out, hardware, connectivity, security, and Microsoft 365 Education.
R1.9m
per school · once-off capital investment
Typical delivery: 12–20 weeks
Blended programme average: R1.34m per school (70/30 renovation / new-build mix)
+ Sustaining Partnership: R100k – R180k per school per year
Covers managed helpdesk, on-site support SLA, hardware maintenance, software updates, and annual educator upskilling — delivered by a local black-owned SME, guaranteed by 1ICT.
How to partner
Choose your partnership pathway.
Every partnership is structured, reported, and recognised. Select the model that aligns with your company's investment scale, transformation objectives, and ESG reporting requirements.
Founding Partner
R10m+
Founding-level national commitment across the full programme. Named as a Founding National Partner on all programme materials, annual reports, and school infrastructure.
- Founding Partner naming rights
- Quarterly impact reporting
- Multi-province school portfolio
- Exco-level relationship management
- First right of recognition on new pipeline schools
National Strategic Partner
R5m – R10m
Fund a provincial cluster or national rollout across multiple schools. Named as a Founding National Partner on all programme materials, annual reports, and school infrastructure.
- Named programme partnership
- Quarterly impact reporting
- Multi-province school portfolio
- Exco-level relationship management
- First right of recognition on new pipeline schools
Provincial Anchor Partner
R2m – R5m
Anchor an entire province or district — funding 3 to 15 schools and becoming the named corporate partner for that region.
- Province-level naming rights
- Dedicated school portfolio reporting
- B-BBEE and ESD alignment documentation
- Annual school visit and handover events
- Media and communications support
School Transformation Partner
R1.0m – R1.5m
Fund the refurbishment or new build of a specific school lab. Your company is permanently associated with that school's digital transformation.
- Named lab partner at the school
- Delivery milestone reporting
- Before and after documentation
- School acceptance certificate
- Annual impact update
Sustaining Partner
R100k – R180k per year
Adopts one lab's running costs — support, licensing, refresh, insurance. R540k per 3-year cycle. Maintained by a local black-owned SME, guaranteed by 1ICT.
- Annual partnership renewal (3-year cycle)
- Maintained by local black-owned SME
- Helpdesk and on-site SLA reports
- Educator upskilling documentation
- ESD and enterprise development reporting
Technology Partner
Value in kind or cash
Contribute hardware, cloud licences, connectivity, cybersecurity tools, AI platforms, or training resources — structured as a formal technology partnership.
- Product/brand association
- Joint deployment documentation
- Tech stack credited in all reporting
- Co-branded case study option
Custom structure
Open — we will structure it
Have an existing CSI programme, transformation budget, or government grant structure? We will design a partnership pathway that fits your internal approval process.
Request a briefing →All partnership pathways include: a signed implementation agreement, delivery SLA, named account manager at 1ICT, and structured impact reporting.
Two ways in
Funders and implementation partners
The programme needs two distinct kinds of participation. Choose the route that matches your organisation.
For funders & corporates
Fund labs through CSI, ESD or B-BBEE budgets. Named school sponsorship, blended-average costing of R1.34m per lab, governance reporting and verified impact.
View funding pathways →For SME & implementation partners
Deliver on the ground — installations, cabling, connectivity, training and support in your province. Join the vetted partner network rather than funding a lab.
Apply to the partner network →Due diligence
Built for corporate due diligence.
Every 1ICT implementation is governed by a documented delivery framework — from school assessment to final impact report. Corporate funders receive structured accountability at every stage.
School needs assessment
Documented scope of work and infrastructure audit before any funding is accepted.
Signed implementation agreement
Legal agreement between 1ICT, the corporate funder, and the school governing body.
Itemised delivery budget
Line-item budget provided before work commences. No open-ended costs.
Procurement controls
All hardware and services procured against approved vendor list and delivery spec.
Asset register
Full register of all equipment installed, tagged, and transferred to the school on handover.
School acceptance sign-off
School principal and governing body sign off on delivery before the project is closed.
Before and after evidence
Photographic and video record of pre- and post-installation condition provided to all funders.
Maintenance SLA
Minimum 12-month maintained support SLA, delivered by the certified provincial SME partner.
Annual impact report
Funder receives a structured annual report: enrolment, usage, educator data, and lab status.
Partner recognition pack
Branded recognition for the school, media material, and acknowledgement across 1ICT platforms.
POPIA and safeguarding
All learner data handling complies with POPIA. No personal data shared without consent.
B-BBEE and transformation alignment
Funding structures can be aligned to CSI, SED, and ESD requirements. Documented on request.
Ready to begin due diligence?
Our governance pack — including the implementation framework, sample SLA, and delivery budget template — is available on request. We welcome structured procurement processes and formal proposal submissions.
The implementation partner
Why 1ICT.
1ICT is not a charity. We are a B-BBEE Level 1 South African ICT company with demonstrated delivery capability across enterprise clients, government departments, and now public education. We hold the SLA. We are accountable.
- 01B-BBEE Level 1 contributor100% black-owned. 135% procurement recognition value for your B-BBEE scorecard.
- 02Microsoft-aligned deliveryCertified Microsoft partner. All deployments use Microsoft 365 Education, Azure, and Intune.
- 03Single accountable SLA holderOne contract. One point of contact. 1ICT holds the delivery SLA end to end.
- 04Proven delivery — PhefeniLab 001 was delivered on time, on scope, and handed over with ministerial endorsement.
- 05Access, cloud, and securityFull ICT stack capability under one implementation — connectivity, hardware, cloud, and security.
- 069-province SME networkA certified, trained sustaining partner in every province. Local delivery. National accountability.
Enterprise development within enterprise development
One investment. Two layers of transformation.
Every rand invested in the 2030 programme creates two distinct transformation impacts — one in the classroom, one in the local economy.
Corporate funder
CSI · ESD · SED investment
1ICT — Master implementation partner
Single SLA · accountable delivery · programme governance
Provincial black-owned SME partner
1ICT-certified · trained · contracted · local
Digital education
Functional lab. Connected learners. Enabled curriculum.
Township economy
Local jobs. SME revenue. ICT capacity in the community.
9
Target provinces · SME partner model
10+ Per Province
Certified sustaining partner
2×
Layers of transformation per investment
For your board pack
Everything your team needs.
Download structured documentation for internal circulation — built for CSI, procurement, legal, and Exco review.
Request an ExCo briefing
For companies considering national, provincial or multi-school participation. We come to you.
Fund a school
Ready to fund a specific lab? Scroll down to select your partnership pathway and submit your details.
Get started →Nominate a school
Know a school in your area that needs a digital lab? Submit a nomination and our team will assess it.
Public commitments
Companies committed to the programme.
Companies that choose public recognition appear here once their commitment is confirmed and structured. Each listing is verified before publication.
Public commitments will appear here.
Companies that formalise their partnership and choose public recognition are listed here once verified by the 1ICT team.
Make a commitment.
Select a partnership pathway, enter your details, and indicate whether you would like public recognition. Our team will follow up within 48 hours to structure the partnership formally.
Delivered labs
