Founder Fridays : CyberM8

When people think about cybersecurity, they think about protecting systems and preventing attacks. For Thabang Phala, it is also about creating opportunities. Over the past decade, he has built CyberM8 from a small awareness programme into a community that spans eight African countries, connecting students, professionals, government institutions and businesses while helping more young Africans build careers in cybersecurity.

As Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of CyberM8, Thabang Phala believes Africa’s digital future depends not only on stronger technology but also on developing the people and businesses behind it.

Finding Opportunity in an Emerging Industry

Thabang’s interest in cybersecurity began a few years after graduating, when he started attending industry events to better understand the field and the opportunities it offered.

“I wanted to be part of the conversation,” he says. “I wanted to understand what was really happening within the sector and how young people who had never been exposed to these opportunities could enter the space.”

As he attended more conferences and engaged with policymakers, Thabang noticed a clear gap. Cybersecurity was attracting growing attention, but very few young people and small businesses were part of the discussion. That insight led him to launch CyberM8 during Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2016. What began as an awareness programme has since grown into an organisation focused on skills development, awareness and collaboration.

Today, CyberM8 operates across all nine provinces in South Africa and several African countries through a volunteer network of more than 240 students, academics and industry professionals who support awareness campaigns, training programmes and policy initiatives.

Building Africa’s Cybersecurity Ecosystem

For Thabang, cybersecurity is about more than defending organisations against cyber threats. He believes it is also an opportunity to build African technology businesses, develop local expertise and create jobs.

He argues that many organisations still rely on imported cybersecurity products, even though African companies are capable of developing their own solutions. Through CyberM8, LuminaLeap Technologies and BizM8, he is working to strengthen local capability while supporting digital skills, cybersecurity awareness and innovation.

CyberM8 also works closely with government, universities, research institutions and the private sector. The organisation partners with several national government departments, state-owned entities and institutions such as the CSIR to develop programmes that strengthen cybersecurity capacity and digital skills across South Africa.

Creating Opportunities for Young Innovators

Supporting young people has remained an important part of Thabang’s work. Through the Abuti Rams Foundation, he has worked with more than 2,500 young people across South Africa and says the biggest challenge is not a lack of ideas.

“They’re not lazy,” he says. “They’re innovative. They can come up with solutions. What they’re often missing is support and opportunities.”

He believes many young entrepreneurs spend too much time trying to meet compliance requirements and funding conditions before they have had the opportunity to test and develop their ideas. Creating more accessible pathways into entrepreneurship, he says, is just as important as providing funding.

Lessons from Building a Business

Building businesses has given Thabang a realistic view of entrepreneurship. He speaks openly about losing talented employees to larger organisations, managing difficult partnerships and dealing with slow client payments. The COVID-19 pandemic added another challenge, forcing some of his businesses to adapt quickly while others struggled.

The experience changed the way he thinks about running a business. He believes businesses should develop multiple sources of income instead of depending on a single service or product. He also invests in software that automates customer management, invoicing and routine administration, allowing his team to spend more time supporting clients and less time on manual processes.

Advice for the Next Generation

For young people considering careers in technology, Thabang’s advice is straightforward: start learning, stay curious and build practical skills. He encourages aspiring professionals to explore fields such as computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity and data analytics while continuing to build their knowledge throughout their careers.

“Don’t stop learning,” he says. “Stay curious.”

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