by Phumla Mkize
South Africa must focus on next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) skills, as well as the implementation of the AI strategy and public procurement policies to accelerate inclusive growth.
This was some of the advice from experts in industry, academia and government gathered in Pretoria for the fourth Annual Future of Work Dialogue hosted by the Tshwane University of Technology’s Institute for the Future of Work. The two-day Dialogue, now in its fourth year, is held themed “The Intersection of Policy and Technology: Opportunities for Inclusive Growth”.
Speaking on the first day of the Dialogue on 1 October 2025, Lloyd Chego – the Chief Information Officer at Telkom Corporate – said South Africa must take advantage of the opportunities presented by “frontier” or “next generation” AI skills to become globally competitive.
He posited common-narrated critical skills such data engineering, cloud, cybersecurity and machine learning will become saturated in the future, while frontier skills such as quantum computing, AI-driven material science, semiconductors and microeletronics uncover new opportunities for growth.
According to Chego, unlocking these opportunities requires alignment between academia and industry. He said in the past it was the collaboration of the defence industry, universities, research institutions and state-owned aerospace and military enterprises in South Africa which was instrumental in developing frontier skills and world-renowned missile technology.
“This requires deliberate action and investment at scale,” he said. He warned that AI skills should not be scattered pockets of excellence. “We must move from isolated areas of excellence to implementing projects at scale,” he added.
Lloyd Chego – the Chief Information Officer at Telkom Corporate
TUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tinyiko Maluleke set the stage for the Dialogue in his opening address, referencing Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah’s 1960s speech, in which he highlighted the role of technology in Africa’s development.
“Were Nkrumah alive today … Would he be satisfied that Africans have built on his 1963 vision?”
“Would he be happy that Africans have catapulted themselves into the 4IR?”
Maluleke said that though it is commendable that South Africa has a 4IR strategy, it is not being fully implemented to unlock the country’s potential.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tinyiko Maluleke
Aspen Pharma Group’s Dr Stavros Nicolaou, who is responsible for Strategic Trade Development, lamented that 20 years ago, manufacturing in South Africa represented about 21% of gross domestic product, while in 2025 only 12%.
He said one way of reducing the country’s high unemployment rate was through reindustrialisation. “It has been demonstrated around the world that manufacturing creates both up- and downstream activities, as well as multiplier effects back into the economy,” he said.
“Public procurement is the single most important lever to establish proper transformation and introduce black industrialists into the economy.
“The procurement of goods and services is about R1-trillion … in 10 years, grow that by inflation and it is around R12-trillion. We should as far as possible be spending that R12-trillion on our own companies’ manufacturing in our own country. But we are not doing that,” he said.
He made an example of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), saying with 6.5 million people on ARVs in the country and needing more than two billion tablets a year, South Africa is importing the drugs from India.
“We have outsourced the manufacturing of ARVs to India. All the jobs, tax, skills, talent and capital investment are being spent in India. We are merely consumers,” he added.
Nicolaou bemoaned that the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act introduced 25 years ago was not being implemented by all line departments, while the newly enacted Public Procurement Act of 2024 is facing its own set of challenges, given that there are still no regulations to implement it more than a year after it became law.
Acting Director of the TUT AI Hub of the AI Institute of South Africa, Prof Anish Kurien, highlighted the four components of developing a comprehensive accountability strategy. He said it takes into consideration the continental framework to ensure unified policies across Africa. It must also consider local realities by looking at the national legislation. Technical requirements are also key to ensuring issues of transparency and auditing. Lastly, Prof Kurien said it is important to get the view of civil society to ensure multi-stakeholder participation in the development of the strategy.
“A comprehensive strategy requires us to look at blending these four aspects to ensure that AI misuse does not create algorithmic biases, while at the same time ensuring that we can harness the potential of AI,” he said.
Prof Anish Kurien is the Acting Director of the TUT Hub of the AI Institute of South Africa
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Chairperson, Mothibi Ramusi, spoke on AI and sustainable development, saying inclusivity and sustainability go hand in hand. He said skills and communication on AI must focus on practical rather than technical aspects to bridge the digital divide.
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Chairperson Mothibi Ramusi