In a pivotal move for South Africa’s digital future, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies officially launched the National Artificial Intelligence Stakeholder Forum in Pretoria yesterday. The forum marks a major step toward building a responsible, inclusive, and forward-looking AI ecosystem in the country.
Bringing together a wide range of stakeholders—from tech experts and researchers to civil society leaders and government officials—the forum aims to create a collaborative space where ideas, policies, and frameworks for ethical AI development can take shape.
Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele, speaking at the event, emphasized the forum’s goal of ensuring that artificial intelligence technologies benefit all South Africans, not just a privileged few. He highlighted the importance of aligning AI innovation with the country’s development goals, human rights values, and economic transformation agenda.
The forum also serves as a platform to tackle challenges such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, and equitable access to AI tools—while encouraging innovation and local capacity-building. As South Africa positions itself within the global AI race, this initiative signals the country’s commitment to being both a player and a guardian in the tech-driven world.
