Gijima urges RSA to Strengthen digital sovereignty as government technology takes centre stage

South Africa needs to invest more deliberately in securing control over its digital infrastructure, data and technology systems as government becomes increasingly dependent on digital platforms, Gijima Deputy CEO Roberta Gumede says.

Gumede’s comments come ahead of GovTech 2026, which takes place in Durban from 21 to 23 September under the theme “South Africa as Architect of its Digital Destiny for Citizens.”

The conference is expected to place greater emphasis on how the country can turn its digital ambitions into practical outcomes, with issues including delivery, accountability and sovereign technology capability featuring prominently on the programme.

For Gijima, the discussion around digital sovereignty is closely linked to national security and the country's ability to make independent decisions about critical technology infrastructure.

“Digital sovereignty is a vital component of state security,” Gumede says, pointing to issues ranging from protecting against election interference to ensuring that government is not locked into infrastructure it does not control.

Gijima, a 100% black-owned South African ICT company with more than three decades of experience, will participate in GovTech 2026 as a sponsor. The company says it will use the conference to contribute to discussions about the development, ownership and operation of South Africa’s public-sector digital architecture.

The question of who controls government data

Gijima Chief Technology Officer Christo Abrahams says digital sovereignty requires government to look beyond simply having access to technology.

“At GovTech, we bring the full digital sovereignty experience and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) experience to the vital conversation that must be had on how to fully secure South Africa's capacity to develop, own and operate its own public service digital architecture,” Abrahams says.

Gijima has previously been involved in the development and implementation of the State Information Technology Agency’s government cloud infrastructure, working alongside technology companies including IBM and Huawei. SITA remains the owner and operator of the government cloud, which was designed to consolidate government ICT infrastructure and provide departments with a shared platform.

However, the company argues that government’s digital environment remains fragmented, particularly at municipal level.

According to Gijima, some government departments and municipalities have entered into separate software agreements with international technology providers, with some data hosted on servers outside South Africa.

Abrahams says this creates questions about long-term control, particularly where government becomes dependent on systems governed by laws and commercial arrangements in other jurisdictions.

The concern is not limited to where data is stored. Software licensing costs and the ability to move information and systems between platforms can also become significant considerations for government.

“You are paying in euros, dollars and yen and that goes into billions of rands,” Abrahams says, citing an Industrial Development Corporation report in making the case for addressing the issue.

Lessons from government health technology

Gijima also points to its work on the Gauteng Department of Health’s integrated health information system as an example of how digital infrastructure can be used to improve public-sector services.

The company was appointed in 2020, under a SITA-awarded contract, to implement and provide managed support for the system.

The core system is operational, while the wider clinical and digital patient-record rollout is being implemented progressively.

Once fully operational, the system is intended to give the department a single view of a patient across its different points of care.

Abrahams says this could reduce duplication and improve efficiency, using the example of blood tests that would not necessarily have to be repeated when patient information is available across the system.

A wider national conversation

The debate over digital sovereignty comes as governments globally grapple with questions around data security, cloud infrastructure, foreign technology dependence and the strategic importance of digital systems.

For South Africa, the challenge is finding a balance between adopting technologies that can improve public services and ensuring that critical systems remain sufficiently secure, sustainable and controllable.

Gijima believes the country needs to address this issue sooner rather than later.

“Gijima has the capacity and capability to help the government secure South Africa’s digital sovereignty. It’s only going to become harder and more expensive, financially and otherwise, to do,” Abrahams says.

With GovTech 2026 bringing government, technology companies and other stakeholders together in Durban, digital sovereignty is likely to remain an important part of the conversation about how South Africa builds its digital future.