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By Charmaine Ndlela
The Maharishi Invincibility Institute on Wednesday opened a new technology campus in Johannesburg’s CBD, saying it aims to train unemployed youth for work in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science.
Housed in a newly unveiled 10-storey, 10 065m² campus at 56 Main Street in Marshalltown, the institute aims to equip unemployed youth with high-demand digital skills while contributing to the revitalisation of the inner city.
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The launch forms part of the Institute’s broader “Education Town” vision — an urban renewal initiative focused on transforming the CBD into a safe, vibrant hub for learning that leads directly to employment opportunities.
MNIT will focus on preparing students for careers linked to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, offering training in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, cloud engineering and digital skills, as well as financial and professional services such as insurance, banking and financial markets, in partnership with industry leaders.
Delivering his keynote address during the launch, CEO and co-founder Dr Taddy Blecher said the initiative builds on the institute’s long-standing mission to empower young people through education.
“This is more than a building; it is a promise to our youth that they will not be left behind by the AI revolution,” Blecher said.
“This building is not just infrastructure, it is a centre for accelerating tech talent and giving young people access to opportunities that were previously out of reach.”
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“We are training youth in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science, because these are the skills that will define the future of work.”
According to the institute, it has already trained 25 995 young people, 70% of whom are women, with graduate earnings supporting an estimated 175 000 family members. It also says it has provided training to more than 18 000 employed individuals.
“If we can educate 100 000 young people and connect them to meaningful employment, we can inject billions into South African households and fundamentally shift communities out of poverty,” Blecher said.
The institute says its model has delivered a 98% conversion rate of graduates into permanent or long-term employment.
“Our approach is simple — when one student succeeds, they uplift others. Every graduate supports another student and contributes to education in their own community,” he added.
The new campus will further expand these efforts by enabling tailored training for corporate partners, while also creating a pipeline of skilled talent for South Africa’s growing digital economy.
“For 20 years, we have seen that when you unlock the potential in young people, they can compete at the highest global levels,” Blecher said.
“This initiative is about ensuring that young people from underserved communities are not left behind in the digital revolution.”
The development was made possible through the support of South African tech entrepreneurs and philanthropists David Frankel and Tracey Frankel, who supported the new campus. The building was donated by the couple.
“We believe in a future where Johannesburg becomes one of the pre-eminent tech capitals on the continent,” David Frankel said.
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“By providing this infrastructure and nurturing cutting-edge programmes, we are confident that young people will emerge as future tech leaders.”
Tracey Frankel further said that they look forward to seeing students “engaging in learning inside this magnificent building and eventually working in the job that they have been praying for. That is our dream.”
The Maharishi Invincibility Institute is also part of Jozi My Jozi, a coalition that includes major businesses and other partners working to restore economic activity in the inner city.
As part of its Education Town model, the institute has already introduced projects such as Maharishi Park and sports facilities in the CBD, along with safety initiatives in the area, including solar-powered street lighting for students.
By its fifth year, the MNIT campus is expected to reach full capacity and serve as a blueprint for similar tech talent development hubs across South Africa.
“We are not just building a tech institute. We are building an ecosystem where education leads directly to employment and long-term impact,” Blecher said.