MiDO Academy, committed to supporting youth development and cybersecurity readiness across South Africa, is proud to announce its official accreditation by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) as a national Skills Development Provider (SDP). This prestigious recognition enables MiDO Academy to offer the Occupational Certificate: Cybersecurity Analyst (NQF Level 5, 173 Credits)—a first-of-its-kind programme on the national framework designed to combat South Africa’s cybersecurity skills shortage. A Milestone for Industry and Youth Empowerment
This is not just a win for MiDO—it’s a significant leap forward for the South African cybersecurity ecosystem. The Occupational Certificate: Cybersecurity Analyst is a fairly newly established qualification. “This accreditation is a game-changer,” says Dale Simons, CEO of MiDO Academy. “It allows us to equip young South Africans with industry-relevant cybersecurity skills that are nationally recognised, practical, and in high demand. At the same time, it offers South African organisations a credible partner for building internal cyber resilience while advancing their enterprise development and skills strategies.”
What This Means for Employers and Partners:
For companies operating in South Africa, partnering with MiDO as a QCTO-accredited SDP offers numerous benefits:
- Access to Accredited Talent Pipelines: Train and hire job-ready Cybersecurity Analysts with verified competencies aligned to national occupational standards.
- Enterprise Development & B-BBEE: Support a purpose-driven, youth-focused training initiative that delivers measurable transformation and socioeconomic impact.
- Skills Development ROI: Invest in a high-impact, nationally recognised qualification that contributes directly to organisational cyber resilience.
- Customisable Workplace Integration: MiDO’s blended learning model includes formal instruction, simulated exercises, and supervised workplace experience tailored to your context.
- Tax and Compliance Incentives: Benefit from Section 12H tax deductions, SDL (Skills Development Levy) returns, and enhanced B-BBEE scorecard contributions when investing in accredited training programmes through MiDO.
Tackling the Cyber Skills Gap, One Learner at a Time
With cybercrime on the rise and a limited pool of skilled defenders, South Africa faces an urgent need to develop local cybersecurity capacity. The QCTO-accredited qualification ensures that learners acquire both the theoretical foundation and hands-on workplace readiness to defend against real-world threats.
Through this programme, MiDO aims to empower underrepresented and underserved youth, particularly young women, to enter and thrive in the digital economy—creating pathways out of poverty and into high-impact careers.
Special thanks goes to all our ecosystem partners, especially the Africa Cyber Programme, a project funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Knowbe4 for their guidance and unwavering support through this journey.
About MiDO Academy
MiDO Academy is a purpose-driven educational initiative committed to creating meaningful employment opportunities for youth through digital and cybersecurity skills. As a founding member of South Africa’s cybersecurity ecosystem and supporter of the MiDO Cyber Power Girls programme, the Academy combines community upliftment with industry excellence to build a safer, more inclusive digital future.