GIJIMA’s Roberta Gumede: Digital sovereignty is about South Africa having agency over its digital future

South Africa’s digital future should not simply be about adopting new technologies. It should also be about developing the capability to make meaningful decisions about the technologies, infrastructure and systems on which the country increasingly depends.

That was the central message from Gijima’s Ms Roberta Gumede during GovTech 2026, where she addressed the 20th GovTech conference as part of a programme focused on digital sovereignty and South Africa’s ability to shape its digital future.

Gumede’s address formed part of the opening day of GovTech 2026, where she delivered the main sponsor spotlight for Gijima under the theme “Digital Sovereignty.” The conference programme placed the discussion within a broader agenda focused on connected government, digital public services, artificial intelligence, cloud, connectivity and cybersecurity.

For Gumede, the conversation can be reduced to a simple but significant idea:

“Sovereignty is agency.”

In reflecting on her contribution to GovTech, Gumede described digital sovereignty in terms of South Africa’s ability to build, own and strengthen the capabilities on which its digital future depends.

She emphasised that South Africa already has the talent and ideas required to contribute to that future. The challenge, she argued, is turning that potential into capability at scale.

Beyond adopting technology

The idea of digital sovereignty becomes increasingly important as governments depend more heavily on digital infrastructure.

Cloud platforms, artificial intelligence, data systems, software and connected digital services are becoming fundamental to the way governments operate and deliver services to citizens.

But having access to technology is not necessarily the same as having technological capability.

For Gumede, the question is whether South Africa can develop the skills, infrastructure and institutional capacity required to participate meaningfully in its own digital development.

That means looking beyond the immediate implementation of a technology and considering what happens over the longer term.

Who has the skills to operate it?

Who can maintain it?

Who can adapt it as requirements change?

And does the country have the capability to make strategic decisions about the systems on which critical services depend?

These questions sit at the heart of the digital sovereignty discussion.

Building, owning and strengthening capability

Gumede’s emphasis on building, owning and strengthening capability also shifts the conversation away from technology as something that is simply purchased and consumed.

South Africa has a growing technology ecosystem, with businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs and institutions contributing to the country's digital economy.

The challenge is to translate that existing capacity into sustainable capability that can support the country’s long-term digital ambitions.

This includes developing people and skills, strengthening infrastructure and creating opportunities for local technology companies to participate in the development of digital systems.

The objective is not simply to have more technology.

It is to have the capability to understand and shape the technology that increasingly underpins government and society.

Digital sovereignty and the citizen

The wider GovTech programme reflects why this conversation matters.

Following the opening discussions around digital sovereignty, the conference moved into issues including integrated and interoperable digital public services, digital identity, public safety, healthcare, education and tax services.

Digital transformation ultimately has to be measured by what it does for citizens.

A connected government should make it easier for people to access services, rather than requiring them to navigate multiple disconnected systems.

Data should be able to move securely between appropriate government services.

Digital identity should support access to services while protecting citizens.

And emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence should contribute to better decision-making and service delivery.

This makes digital sovereignty more than a technical discussion.

It is also about the country's ability to build digital systems that serve its own citizens and respond to its own priorities.

From digital sovereignty to an intelligent state

Artificial intelligence was another major part of the GovTech 2026 programme.

The conference included sessions examining the development of an AI-powered government, AI as a public good, data foundations for AI, trusted government AI and intelligent automation.

The relationship between these issues is increasingly clear.

Artificial intelligence requires data.

Data requires infrastructure and governance.

Infrastructure requires skills and security.

And all of these require institutions capable of making informed, strategic decisions.

Digital sovereignty therefore cannot be considered separately from AI, cloud, cybersecurity or interoperability.

They are increasingly interconnected parts of the same digital ecosystem.

Agency as the starting point

Gumede’s message at GovTech ultimately brings the discussion back to agency.

South Africa has talent.

It has ideas.

It has businesses and institutions capable of contributing to the digital economy.

The challenge is turning those resources into capability at a scale that allows the country to participate meaningfully in shaping its digital future.

That is the significance of the phrase “sovereignty is agency.”

Digital sovereignty is not simply about where technology is produced or where infrastructure is located.

It is about whether South Africa has the knowledge, skills, infrastructure and institutional capability to make meaningful choices about the digital systems that will increasingly shape the economy, government and everyday life.

As GovTech 2026 brings together discussions around digital public services, AI, cloud, connectivity and cybersecurity, that question is likely to become increasingly important.

For Gumede, the starting point is clear: South Africa must build the capability that gives it agency over its digital future.

Roberta Gumede, Deputy CEO Gijima Group