SA can shape Africa's future

The country is in a position to lead by example, building a tech ecosystem that benefits everyone

- Tracy Tafirenyika

South Africa is uniquely positioned to shape the continent's digital destiny, provided it leads responsibly, a leading academic and technologist has said.

The country has the infrastructure, talent and ambition to lead Africa into a technology-driven future, said Dr Siddhartha Paul Tiwari, who has advised national research bodies across the continent.

However leadership in the Digital Age is not just about innovation, but also inclusion, ethics and responsibility, Tiwari added in an interview.

As one of Africa's most industrialised and connected economies, SA is in a position to either lead by example — building a tech ecosystem that benefits everyone — or risk deepening inequality in a country marked by social divides.

"SA can serve as a model for how to build a tech-driven but ethically grounded future, when it empowers a broad base of its population with digital skills and opportunities, it sets a benchmark for other African nations to follow," he said.

The building blocks for leadership are in place. South Africa consistently ranks near the top among African nations in digital readiness and innovation. It boasts widespread mobile connectivity, a thriving fintech and e-commerce sector, and several promising tech hubs that are attracting investment and ideas.

These are strong foundations for progress, but they must be backed by a deliberate effort to make technology work for all.

That empowerment, however, must go beyond a few pilot projects.