The much-anticipated Africa Tech Festival 2024 will take place from November 12-14 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Celebrating its 27th edition, the festival is set to bring together some of the world’s leading minds in technology, telecom, and innovation. Organizers have emphasized the event’s role in providing a comprehensive view of how technological integration is reshaping various sectors across the African continent. With a focus on telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, government, small businesses, start-ups, and manufacturing, Africa Tech Festival will highlight the real-world impact of technology and its role in driving enterprise excellence and socioeconomic development throughout Africa.
The event serves as a critical platform for top telecom executives, visionary entrepreneurs, and influential policymakers to engage in meaningful discussions on the future of technology in Africa. Africa Tech Festival aims to foster collaboration, encouraging the exchange of ideas and strategies that will shape the continent’s tech landscape for years to come. According to Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani, Director-General of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, the festival offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative tech solutions not only for Africa but for the entire world. “This global platform will not only allow us to learn best practices but will also provide African SMEs with the opportunity to showcase their innovative solutions to more than 15,000 visitors from around the globe,” Jordan-Dyani explained. She continued, “We are committed to ensuring that Africa is not just a consumer of digital solutions developed elsewhere, but a meaningful participant in the digital economy—creating and exporting our own solutions and infrastructure that are tested and tailored to our local contexts.”
Key Speakers and Thought Leaders
The Africa Tech Festival 2024 will feature an impressive lineup of global thought leaders and innovators, including:
- Rose Pola Pricemou, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Economy for the Republic of Guinea
- Dejan Kastelic, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Vodacom Group
- Thomas Dohmke, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GitHub
- Bunmi Adeleye, Chief Strategy Officer for Shoprite Nigeria
- Faith Burn, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Eskom
- Alex Okosi, Managing Director for Google in Africa
- Naroa Zurutuza, CTO Giga at UNICEF
These leaders will share their insights on how technology is driving progress in key sectors, with a particular focus on advancing digital infrastructure, improving service delivery, and creating inclusive growth opportunities for the continent’s diverse populations. The festival will delve into the fast-evolving African tech ecosystem, examining how digital solutions are being adopted across sectors like telecoms, finance, healthcare, and government, with an emphasis on sustainability and scalability. One key theme is how tech integration can tackle pressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality by fostering inclusive growth and bridging the digital divide. With the global spotlight on Africa’s growing digital economy, the Africa Tech Festival is more important than ever as the continent becomes a vital player in the international tech scene. This year’s event promises to bring forward solutions that not only address local challenges but also have the potential for global impact.
Looking ahead, Jordan-Dyani stressed that Africa must move beyond being just a market for digital products developed in the West and instead become a supplier of digital solutions. The festival is a significant step toward positioning Africa as a hub for digital innovation, empowering the continent to lead in creating tech-driven solutions that address local needs while contributing to global development. The Africa Tech Festival 2024 will undoubtedly showcase the continent’s growing influence in the digital economy, with solutions and innovations that reflect Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities. For those looking to engage with Africa’s rapidly expanding tech scene, the festival promises to be an unmissable event, offering valuable networking opportunities and insights from the region’s brightest minds.
With 15,000+ attendees expected, this year’s edition is shaping up to be one of the most impactful yet, making Cape Town the go-to destination for anyone interested in the future of technology and innovation across Africa. Africa Tech Festival 2024 is not just about celebrating innovation—it’s about driving real-world change and empowering Africa’s tech ecosystem for years to come.
Africa Tech Festival: Digital transformation is projected to bring in 300,000 new jobs by 2028
As Cape Town hosts the Africa Tech Festival 2024, the GSMA South Africa Digital Economy Report has been released, shedding light on the profound impact of mobile and digital services in driving economic growth and advancing social progress. The report highlights how digital transformation is reshaping South Africa’s economy, creating jobs, and empowering underserved communities. One of the key findings from the research is that digital transformation is poised to contribute nearly 20% to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2028. This growth is expected to be driven by the expanding use of mobile and digital services across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and financial services. The transformation is also set to create approximately 300,000 jobs, significantly boosting employment opportunities in tech-driven industries.
Researchers emphasize that supportive policy frameworks and a concerted effort to integrate digital technologies can help address social challenges while fostering economic growth. Digital transformation is seen as a critical factor in improving access to essential services, enhancing education and employment prospects, and opening up pathways to sustainable, high-quality employment. The report also underscores the potential of digital technologies to empower underserved communities in South Africa. By increasing access to mobile and digital services, particularly in marginalized towns and rural areas, South Africa is experiencing significant strides in closing the digital divide. “Digital transformation in South Africa holds tremendous potential to enrich lives, enhance economic resilience, and foster greater inclusion,” said Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA. “By harnessing the power of mobile and digital services, we can open up meaningful opportunities, particularly for rural communities, empowering them to participate fully in the nation’s digital future.”
The report highlights how digital access is creating new opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs, providing them with tools for growth, innovation, and increased connectivity. Another major takeaway from the report is the impact of digital transformation on youth employment. As South Africa accelerates its digital adoption, there is an increasing demand for workers with digital skills. The study found that tech-driven sectors are expanding rapidly, creating a wealth of opportunities for young people who are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital economy. The report calls for a greater emphasis on digital skills programs to bridge the growing skills gap and prepare South Africa’s youth for the evolving job market. This would include upskilling and reskilling initiatives focused on the tech sector, particularly in areas like software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, and digital marketing. The rising demand for digital skills not only offers opportunities for young job seekers but also strengthens the overall resilience of the economy as the country becomes more reliant on digital solutions across industries.
A standout feature of the report is the impressive growth of South Africa’s fintech sector, which is forecasted to generate R 8.2 billion in annual revenue by 2024. This rapidly expanding market is being fuelled by innovations in digital payments and financial tools, which are increasing financial inclusion and expanding access to essential financial services, especially for micro- and small businesses. Digital payment solutions and mobile banking are enabling small businesses to access funding, streamline transactions, and reach new customers, helping to boost their economic participation and sustainability. The fintech sector is seen as a key enabler of inclusive growth, helping to integrate traditionally excluded communities into the broader financial ecosystem.
The findings of the GSMA South Africa Digital Economy Report paint an optimistic picture for the country’s future. With the right policies and investments in digital infrastructure, South Africa has the potential to become a leader in the digital economy of Sub-Saharan Africa. The report calls for further collaboration between government, businesses, and the tech sector to create an environment where digital transformation can thrive, offering both economic opportunities and societal benefits. As the Africa Tech Festival 2024 unfolds in Cape Town, it is clear that South Africa is poised to play a pivotal role in driving the digital revolution across the continent. From youth employment to financial inclusion, and from rural empowerment to job creation, the digital economy is becoming an essential pillar of South Africa’s sustainable growth and development.
