2026 IT Indaba: Thousands of tech leaders gather for Africa’s premier IT event

During a CIO Dinner that took place at The Westcliff hotel in Johannesburg, on 13 October, CIOs said AI rebuilt an undocumented application in 18 hours, yet replacing a core system still costs from R1 billion to R5 billion or more.

The third annual Executive Day saw 230 of South Africa’s top executives come together to bridge the tech divide by focusing on the relationship between AI, human capital and corporate strategy.

During a breakaway session on tackling workplace tension, Zeda CIO Pulana Ngwasheng unpacked her five types of corporate friction. She was joined by Auditor-General CTO Phila Ndarana and AB InBev VP of people Inette Swart.

An elegant ballroom at the NH Johannesburg Sandton set the stage for the 11th annual Executive Communities women’s dinner. Under the theme The Power of Presence, leading female executives from across sectors gathered to share authentic insights, trade boardroom strategies and build lasting connections.

Over 120 CIOs, IT leaders and sales executives gathered on the 20th floor of The Venue Green Park in Morningside. Set against panoramic views of Sandton business district, the event delivered on its promise: four-minute pitches with absolutely no fluff.

On 2 July, CIO South Africa hosted an exclusive dinner at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, bringing together senior IT leaders for unfiltered discussions on how AI is being adopted in their companies.