Meet Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams the commander of the 4th Industrial Revolution talking to Jewish youth

Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is a young woman full of vibrant ideas and enthusiasm for the 4th Industrial Revolution which is upon the world.

Addressing Jewish young leaders on their role in building the county and its economy at the Werksmans office on Rivonia Road, Sandton, Ndabeni-Abrahams said the youth of South Africa has an incredible role to play in building this country and taking it into the 4th Industrial Revolution.

“We are living in the digital world of robotics that can do all the chores and tasks that need to be done anywhere, be it at home or in the workplace and people need not fear its arrival on our shores but embrace this technological advancement as a betterment of the life and times of the people of the world,” she said.

Ndabeni-Abrahams noted that many were fearful of the advent of robotics which they say will lead to massive unemployment as these gadgets were coming in to take the place of humans and that human beings will no longer find employment anywhere. “Who’s going to employ a person when they can create a robot that will do all the work for no pay?” the minister said she was constantly asked on social media and other platforms.

“We need not fear this development but embrace it and run with it. Most people thought the arrival of computers was going to put multitudes of people out of employment but that has not happened and I do not foresee it happening either with the arrival of robotics in our midst.”

Describing herself as ‘the commander of the 4th Industrial Revolution’, Ndabeni-Abrahams said she was in need of an army to help her execute what she described as a much-needed revolution and that ‘army is me and you and all of us’.

“Imagine the relief of not having to do all the chores that need to be done in your home. With robotics, you will only programme it to do the task that you envisage it to do and they will be done for you.”

Ndabeni-Abrahams, whose talk was facilitated by media personality and young entrepreneur Arye Kellman and forms part of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) #MakeUsCount Campaign, urged the education departments to change their focus from Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) to Istem, which then adds ‘innovation’ as the first letter of Stem.

“We should now teach our children to innovate,” she said.

Also check out:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/124812/sandtons-jewish-community-rejoices/