Microsoft South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing digital transformation and artificial intelligence within the country’s public sector by participating in GovTech 2025 as a lead sponsor at the conference.
With over three decades of operations in South Africa, Microsoft brings extensive local market understanding and proven expertise to its public sector partnerships, enabling government to confidently navigate digital transformation while ensuring solutions are tailored to South African regulatory requirements and citizen needs.
“Our sponsorship of and participation at GovTech 2025 reflects a deep commitment to supporting South Africa’s digital government agenda,” says Lerato Mathabatha, Public Sector Director at Microsoft South Africa. “We’re not just providing technology—we’re partnering with government to build a more efficient, responsive, and citizen-centric public sector that leverages AI and cloud technologies responsibly and ethically.”
The company’s continued investments in local data centers provide government with secure, resilient digital infrastructure that supports sensitive workloads without compromising data sovereignty, while its responsible AI framework ensures these powerful technologies are deployed ethically, with appropriate governance structures that maintain public trust while maximizing citizen benefit.
An example of this transformation in action is the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which has significantly enhanced the tax filing experience for South Africans by integrating AI and machine learning into its operations, making tax compliance more straightforward and efficient for taxpayers.
Transformative skilling initiatives drive digital inclusion
Microsoft’s investment in the country extends beyond technology provision, encompassing comprehensive skilling programs that form the foundation for modern innovation and build local digital capacity. The National School of Government is currently implementing Microsoft’s AI Fluency curriculum to train thousands of public servants through the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa’s online platform. This multi-year initiative includes practical learning on responsible AI use, digital policy design, and applying tools like Microsoft Copilot to enhance service delivery and productivity.
Complementing government-focused training, Microsoft South Africa has introduced an AI-driven technology skills program for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). Leveraging the low-code capabilities of Microsoft Power Platform, this initiative equips SMMEs with the skills to build data and AI-fueled solutions that support government modernization efforts.
“By making AI technologies and skills accessible to SMMEs, we’re driving a more digitally inclusive and active business landscape in South Africa,” explains Mathabatha. “These businesses become critical partners in the government’s digital transformation journey, developing homegrown solutions that improve decision-making, unlock efficiencies, and generate cost savings.”