THIS IS A POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. Two South African corporations have come together to manufacture android smartphones and tablets. This joint-at-the-hip initiative is welcome news. Seemahale Telecoms and CZ Electronics are behind this bold and smart venture. 

CEO of Seemahale, Thabo Lehlokoe, said that "this project is a first in Africa as far as I'm aware. It's not right that out of a billion or more phones in Africa, none are made or manufactured [here]. He continued, "Some are designed here, but they're then made in China."

For the joint venture to be a resounding success, ST & CZE are importing the printed circuit boards--the most technical component of their business. 

This item of the breaking news is not on. It means South Africa's entrepreneurial muscle is not yet adequately competitive. We must raise our competitive advantage to the level of a fully-fledged economy, able to strengthen and service its manufacturing activities, from start to off-the-shelf finish. If we continue to lag behind, we will lose  our standing as a developing country to a developing country in the other direction.       

Yet, good news as it may, the situation has another part of it missing--a matter of too little too late.

South Africa's education policy is driving our economy to the ground. With smartphone technology brewing on the business front, the economy will suffer for depletion of technical skills as support system for this development. So the call for young people to engage in technology and innovation comes with a huge burden.

It poses now an urgent challenge to our education system at a competitive-advantage level. It will be interesting to witness how South Africa steps up to the idiomatic plate as well. Because science and technology is a foreground problem, the situation becomes delicate, both entrepreneurially and educationally.    

These 21st-century devises will be available in South Africa starting in 2014. And January 2014 will see pre-order sales opening to the consuming public.