On the eve of last week’s Africa Tech Festival, the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) and South African Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) hosted a ministerial-level forum focused on building a sustainable Africa through the development of ICT technologies.
Present was the Minister for the DCDT, Solly Malatsi (pictured above), who was also a fixture at the Festival in the following days.
Malatsi and representatives of communications and digital technologies from Uganda, South Africa, and Kenya, together with the ATU, signed a joint communiqué to reaffirm their commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa.
“They have also agreed that such action will start with ICT technologies, including the development of national cloud infrastructures to meet the needs of intelligence and AI adoption; developing solar micro-grids to rapidly increase electricity coverage across sub-Saharan Africa; and expanding network connectivity coverage in rural areas and developing smart education to further bridge the urban-rural divide,” shared Huawei in a release with Hypertext, which was also a key partner at the forum.
2024 marks the third year that Huawei has supported the forum during Africa Tech Festival, and this year the company launched three position papers alongside the ATU, Digital Council Africa, and GSMA.
Shifting to the South African minister, he shared his thoughts on what elements need to be prioritised locally when it comes to digital transformation.
“For South Africa and the broader African continent to succeed in this digital transformation, we must attract investment—both domestic and international—into ICT. The potential for growth in the digital economy is immense, and South Africa is well- positioned to be a leader in this space. Our strategic location, our growing ICT sector, and our commitment to renewable energy make us an ideal partner for investors looking to capitalize on Africa’s burgeoning digital market,” said Malatsi.
“We are committed to creating an enabling environment for investment, through regulatory reforms, incentives, and initiatives that support the growth of the digital economy. Our vision is to make South Africa a hub for innovation and digital services, driving economic growth and creating jobs, especially for our youth,” he continued.
Along with digital transformation, renewable energy, and sustainability, the minister outlined the need for the continent to integrate connectivity in its Digital Transformation Strategy.
“This strategy outlines key areas of focus, including the need for affordable, accessible, and reliable digital infrastructure, as well as the promotion of digital skills among our people. However, the challenge is not just about infrastructure and access. It is also about ensuring that citizens are equipped with the skills necessary to use digital technologies effectively,” he explained.
“Digital literacy is at the heart of digital inclusion. It is not enough to simply provide access to technology; we must also ensure that our people are digitally literate, that they can navigate the digital world with confidence, and that they understand how to leverage these tools for their own personal and professional growth,” he emphasised.
With Malatsi promising several things in Cape Town last week, including the development of a tax-free phone to make digital devices more affordable locally, it remains to be seen whether his department and the government of national unity (GNU) can deliver on many of its ambitious goals.
Regardless, its success will now be measured by whether sustainability and renewable energy will feature heavily in the digital transformation journey.
