Gijima

GIJIMA a diversified ICT group founded in 1997 by the Chairman Robert GUMEDE, immediately after Nelson Mandela became the first democratic elected President of South Africa, following the demise of apartheid minority government .

 

Guma identified an opportunity to build a 100% owned new generation Black Information Technology group to focus on providing ICT services to the New Democratic government.

 

GIJIMA became a resounding success as a niche company focused in System Integration . GIJIMA made significant inroads in providing cutting-edge technologies to government departments . The company grew to over 600 strong employees and was profitable with quality clients .

 

Whilst GIJIMA grew in the government sector it found it challenging to penetrate the private sector . Gijima managed to gain few private sector clients .

 

In 2005 Gijima found an opportunity to orchestrate a reverse takeover of one of the then major white owned ICT Outsourcing companies, AST Limited, a Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed company . AST listed in 1999 and became very successful, growing its turnover to about R2.4bn  . The management of AST stretched the resources and management in its pursuit to grow their international business . This led to AST losing money , key staff and some clients . AST had to borrow expensive money to stay afloat .

 

AST then embarked on seeking a buyer or a merger with competitors. Many multinational ICT companies looked into acquiring AST , but when they conducted the due diligence and got the negative results they all walked away .

 

Gijima being a entrepreneurial and hands on group , saw an opportunity whilst others saw problems . Gijima made a bid and in spite of the major financial challenges , declining revenues , loss making , exodus of key staff, Mr GUMEDE identified the challenges and came up with solutions for each one . The biggest AST  attraction to GUMEDE was inter-alia:

 

- Quality clients ( amongst 70 of the top 100 Johannesburg Stock Exchange public listed companies. )

- Top ICT savvy staff members - Gaining largely fellow white skills

- Long term private sector clients contracts

- Long term and highest accreditation with major OEM's like SAP, Microsoft, Cisco , Oracle , NEC Phillips , HP , IBM etc

- Solid base to launch a turnaround in a merged entity with Gijima .

- Saving majority fellow white jobs

 

GIJIMA injected into AST the much needed stability , arrested the decline in revenue cash , new clients , management and added the entrepreneurial spirit.

 

GUMEDE being an entrepreneur, understood that the merged entity will be unique as Gijima will own 37% unencumbered shares after the reverse takeover of AST by Gijima . The company changed its listed name to GijimaAST because GUMEDE believed that the AST name still had value and brand recognition whilst the then AST management wanted to ditch the AST name .

 

GUMEDE use the example of what President Mandela did in maintaining part of  " DIE STEM" in our national anthem .

 

After five years the company changed to its name to Gijima .As part of the evolution of the company Gijima , GUMEDE through GUMA Group bought out all minority shareholders and delisted the company as a the " ONLY " largest 100% BLACK OWNED ICT company of it's size in Africa .

 

- Gijima today's has over 70 points of presents in South Africa and operations in some of the African countries .

- Gijima employs over 2600 staff members .

- Gijima remains an example of African pride

- Gijima is an employer of choice

- Gijima is owned 100% by the GUMEDE Family Trust ( a Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Group ) Level 2

- Gijima is innovative

- Gijima has women in top management positions

- Gijima has Blacks in top management positions

- Gijima has a Rainbow Nation management team

- Gijima has over 55% Black staff members

- Gijima is focused in growing its business in the African continent

- Gijima offers SAQA technical training to individuals and companies staff members

- Gijima is a transformation agent

 

About GIJIMA VALUE PROPOSITION  THROUGH ITS STAND ALONE DIVISIONS:

Following our successful turnaround we decided to set up five stand alone divisions to address our respective clients and markets in a ring fenced model . Our intention is to make sure that each division can grow its business at its own pace under the Gijima banner

 

1- OUTSOURCING DIVISION

2- CLOUD COMPUTING DIVISION

3- TELECOMMUNICATIONS & NETWORKS  DIVISION

4- HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRAINING DIVISION

5- SYSTEM INTEGRATION  DIVISION

 

Each of the division's is managed by a MANAGING DIRECTOR with a strong management team . The Gijima Group Executive provides leadership and shared service support to the divisions .

GUMEDE has instilled family values and client centricity in Gijima . He normally reminds all at Gijima and the GUMA Group of companies :

 

- CLIENT IS ROYALTY ( King & Queen )

- CLIENT IS A REASON FOR OUR BEING

- GIJIMA STAFF MUST GIVE CLIENTS A SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT (SWAN)

- GIJIMA MUST BE ENTREPRENEURIAL YET DISCIPLINED

- Be Smart - GIJIMA