Hamilton Ratshefola, the group CEO of ICT services firm Gijima, has died at the age of 56. In a statement, the company stated that he died after a brief illness and was surrounded by loved ones. Ratshefola, who won the IT Personality of the Year Award in 2007, joined Gijima in May 2022 and has made significant strides in his short tenure, including improving staff morale and relationships with partners, customers, and vendors. He was the founder of Auxilium Capital and the Cornerstone group of companies, and previously worked for IBM as the general manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Gijima’s executive chairman, Robert Gumede, praised Ratshefola as a “paragon” leader, friend, mentor, and innovator who was passionate about all things ICT as well as the company’s turnaround and sustainability. Ratshefola’s death, according to Gumede, was a significant loss for the company, its shareholders, board of directors, employees, and the ICT industry as a whole.
Ratshefola was well-known for his commitment to the ICT industry, particularly in training and education. As a consummate teacher and leader, he worked tirelessly to make practical training and continuing ICT education available to young ICT professionals at an affordable price. He was also passionate about personal integrity, ethical business practises, and the continent’s potential.
Ratshefola was a devout Christian who served in churches throughout his life, in addition to his professional accomplishments. According to the company, his faith was a key cornerstone of his life, and he attributed all of his successes to God’s grace.
Gijima extended its heartfelt condolences, thoughts, and prayers to Ratshefola’s wife, Sis Mapule, and their children, who had walked every step with him and, more recently, with Gijima. The company expressed hope that they would find comfort in knowing that Ratshefola was loved, appreciated, and admired by everyone at Gijima and the industry at large.
To summarise, Hamilton Ratshefola’s death is a significant loss to the ICT industry and, in particular, Gijima. He was an exceptional leader, mentor, and innovator who made significant contributions to the company during his brief tenure. His commitment to training and education in the ICT industry, as well as his passion for personal integrity and ethical business, will be sorely missed. During this trying time, the industry’s thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.
