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Our History & Timeline

CyberM8 was established in 2017 as a flagship program under BizM8 Communications (now BizM8) and Abuti Rams Consultancy (now LuminaLeap Technologies). Its primary goal was to spark youth interest in the field of cybersecurity—a vision inspired by the passion of founder Thabang Ramoroka (now Thabang Phala), who was widely known as Abuti Rams.

The program ran successfully until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a pause. It was subsequently revived in 2021 under Agape Youth Movement as part of the Child Online Safety Programme (now Tshireletso Child Online Safety Initiative). In 2024, CyberM8 was formally registered as a Non-Profit Company (NPC), solidifying its mission to empower communities through cybersecurity awareness and education.

2016

Founder, Thabang Phala creates news on advocacy for inclusion of youth and small businesses within Cybersecurity discussions

2017

  • Cybersecurity and Crimes Bill advocacy drive for inclusion of youth and small businesses’ inputs
  • Cybersecurity Campaign is officially launched in October
  • ICT Skills Bootcamps (now Next-Gen Skills Bootcamps) are launched in November in collaboration with Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS), now Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), NEMISA, Standard Bank, CSIR, .ZADNA, and Geekulcha.

2020

COVID-19 pandemic necessitates a pause on programme implementation

2021

Programme is placed under Agape Youth Movement’s Child Online Safety Programme with the Department of Basic Education (DBE)

2024

CyberM8 Initiative NPC is registered with Companies And Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)