Professor Barry Dwolatzky, JCSE

The Tshimologong precinct – a planned technology hub in Braamfontein – has raised nearly R5 million needed for construction to begin renovating buildings, which officials hope will be completed by August.

The University of the Witwatersrand’s Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) is spearheading the development of the tech hub, which aims to foster innovation in production and consumption of local ICT products and services.

The JCSE last year called on the private and public sectors to pledge funds towards building the precinct, and officials say the R5 million raised will be used for the first phase of construction.

Professor Barry Dwolatzky, CEO of the JCSE, says construction will begin in April and another R5 million is required to renovate the building to be used as the precinct’s training and meeting venue.

Five buildings covering half a city block will be renovated to house the precinct, also dubbed Tech-in-Braam.

Dwolatzky says the project “desperately needs more funding” to cover both the construction process and furniture for the buildings.

The JCSE is in discussions with national and provincial government departments, according to Dwolatzky, and early indications are that there is interest, “but budgeting processes are long and complex”.

“We hope to have the precinct up and running by mid-August and we’re planning to run a digital technology festival in Braamfontein and central Joburg at the time, which will include conferences, digital arts exhibitions and a games festival.”