In a bold move to shape the country’s AI future, South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) today officially launched the National Artificial Intelligence Stakeholder Forum, bringing together researchers, technologists, ethicists, policymakers, and private sector leaders to co-create an inclusive, ethical, and sustainable AI ecosystem.
Led by Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele, the forum marks a milestone in South Africa’s Digital Economy Masterplan and Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework, aiming to foster deep collaboration across all sectors of society.
“We are not here to gatekeep progress, but to enable it,” Gungubele declared. “Together, we are building an AI ecosystem that is inclusive, capable, and sustainable. We must do so with urgency and boldness.”
Collaboration Over Coordination
Gungubele emphasized the need to move beyond traditional government coordination to genuine collaboration between stakeholders:
“Coordination is when you receive a document. Collaboration is when you build something together,” he said. “That is what this moment requires.”
The forum addressed Africa’s unique AI challenges and opportunities, including infrastructure, trust, data equity, and local innovation. Gungubele underscored that AI is not just a tech trend, but a general-purpose technology akin to electricity or the internet, capable of transforming health, education, public services, and economic inclusion.
Trust, Equity, and Representation at the Core
“We must move at the speed of trust,” the Deputy Minister said. “When trust is deep, decisions are fast. When trust is shallow, progress is slow.”
The forum concluded with a call to action for stakeholders to stay engaged in shaping AI development, with a strong focus on youth, women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented communities playing central roles in the national dialogue.
