The Life and Legacy of Ms. Xoliswa Kakana (1964–2025)
Early Life & Influences
Born in Mvenyane (Cedarville), Eastern Cape, Xoliswa Kakana grew up in a household that deeply valued education; her parents were teachers, and her grandmother, uMaDlamini, managed a large family and livestock, instilling a sense of responsibility, dignity, and purpose in young Xoliswa.
Her fascination with technology and engineering started early. In primary school, she used the proceeds from selling popcorn to buy a slide projector, then a camera, and in high school, she was known among friends for “fixing” broken electronics.
Attending Inanda Seminary in Durban, she experienced an environment that emphasized leadership among young Black women, honing a sense of community, purpose, and self‑belief.
Education & Early Career
Xoliswa earned a BSc in Mathematics & Applied Mathematics from the University of Transkei. She continued her studies at the FH Giessen‑Friedberg in Germany, earning a Diplom Ingenieur in Electronic Engineering. Additional advanced qualifications include an MBA and a Masters in Technology Management and Innovation from institutions such as MIT and Harvard University.
Her first roles included working at Hewlett‑Packard South Africa as an Engineering Assistant, rising to Systems Engineer and Project Manager. She then moved to roles that blended technical, commercial, and regulatory exposure — one trajectory that informed her future entrepreneurial focus.
Founding ICT‑Works & A Vision for Africa
In 1999, she founded ICT‑Works with the belief that Africa needed home‑grown technology companies solving local problems at global standard. As she put it:
“I envisioned ICT‑Works being the heartbeat of the African tech revolution… solving African problems through the advancement of technology.”
Under her leadership, ICT‑Works achieved significant recognition: an Oracle Platinum‑level partner, Level 1 BBBEE status, and notable contracts in public transport, civic infrastructure, cloud services, transport concessions, and advisory solutions. Her leadership philosophy emphasized that “technology is only as good as the use it is put to”.
Leadership Style & Principles
Xoliswa was known for living core values of integrity, adaptability, and Ubuntu. She often said,
“The only constant is change, and therefore adaptability is absolutely crucial.”
On entrepreneurship, she pointed to three key lessons:
- “Cash is the oxygen of any business.”
- “Adaptability and integrity are indispensable.”
- “Borders exist only in the mind.”
She believed in inclusive growth and gender equity in technology. ICT‑Works employed a majority female workforce and partnered with educational institutions to bring more women into STEM
Impact & Legacy
Through her work, Xoliswa impacted:
- National and municipal transport systems (for example, her address at the Durban University of Technology referenced the MyCiTi EMV‑based fare collection system).
- Policy and regulation – participation in BEE Charter Committees and leadership of the Women in ICT Forum.
- Mentorship of young African professionals, particularly women and youth in tech, believing they should become creators, not just consumers of technology.
Her ethos:
“Technology must always be centered around the preservation of intrinsic human values and rights.”
Final Reflections
Xoliswa’s path was marked by resilience: from her roots in the Eastern Cape, to engineering studies, to founding a company that became a force in African tech. She turned setbacks into stepping stones; once failing her third year at university, she used that moment to fuel greater achievement.
Her legacy at ICT‑Works lives on: not just in systems deployed or contracts won, but in a culture of possibility, African leadership, and human-centered innovation.
