South Africa outlines plan to expand meaningful digital connectivity

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies announced a package of policy, governance and investment measures to make connectivity “meaningful” and to stabilise portfolio entities.

• Budget & allocations: The Department’s expenditure allocation for 2026/2027 is R2.549 billion, with R1.749 billion transferred to portfolio entities. Specific transfers include ICASA R505 million, Film and Publications Board R112 million, South African Post Office R595 million (for the universal postal obligation), and SABC R234 million. The Department also cited R56.4 billion of private-sector commitments to nine confirmed ICT mega-projects (South African Investment Conference).
• Policy, governance & implementation actions: The Minister announced the withdrawal of the Draft National AI Policy after irresponsible use of generative AI in its drafting and appointed an Independent Expert Review Panel chaired by Professor Benjamin Rosman (members: Professor Vukosi Marivate; Professor Alison Gildwald; Ms Heather Irvine; Dr Tshepo Feela; Dr Jabu Mtsweni; Advocate Lufuno Tshikalange). Other commitments: completion of a funding-model study for the SABC, finalised SITA board chaired by Dr Stella Bvuma, rollout of 8 cyber-labs launched last year and 10 more planned this financial year, support to extend section 25BB of the Income Tax Act to cover digital fibre, towers and data centers (REIT regime), and measures including lifestyle audits for executive and board leadership across entities.