Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) CTO Phila Ndarana is a people-first IT leader who believes in cultivating dignified technology environments that serve both business and people.
When Phila Ndarana talks about technology, he doesn’t start with systems or software. He starts with people. “IT and computers are very important but without the people, there’s no chance of success,” he says. It’s a sentiment that threads through every story he tells, from his early days as a university student to leading one of the most ambitious digital transformation programmes in the public sector today.
Phila’s career in technology began unexpectedly. “I stumbled upon IT at university. My intention was to be a chartered accountant. But in my second year, I got exposed to IT and it was mind-boggling. I could see its potential and I knew this was what I wanted to do,” he recalls. He went on to complete a degree in economics and information systems, a combination that would later enable him to bridge business and technology.
After starting his career in the private sector across retail, banking, insurance and private wealth, Phila eventually sought a deeper sense of purpose. “In the public sector, you are no longer on the sidelines. You are part of the movement contributing to the sustainability and success of your country,” he says.
At the Auditor-General’s office, which oversees public spending and accountability across government, he found that opportunity. “You can see that the work we do makes a real impact on the lived experiences of South Africans. Sometimes I think the private sector was my training ground for where I am now,” he adds.
Innovative digital transformation
Under Phila’s leadership, the AGSA has embarked on a sweeping digital transformation agenda. Central to this is the Audit Software Programme (ASP), an end-to-end digitisation of the audit process. “We are replatforming the business and it’s one of the biggest programmes we will ever do as an audit office. It’s our lighthouse project,” he explains.
The programme is complemented by automation and data analytics initiatives. “We’re bringing in robotic process automation (RPA) to drive efficiencies. We’re integrating systems end-to-end so that we can touch data once and derive insights from it. And we’re migrating to a private cloud to strengthen security,” Phila adds.
For Phila, governance and innovation are inseparable. “You can’t digitally transform if you’re not serious about governance. Tech will always evolve, but if you don’t apply it correctly, it’s wasted effort.”
His governance background allows him to balance ambition with discipline. “We run big projects, so without governance, things can fall off the tracks easily. It’s what keeps everything together.”
Technology with a purpose
He’s quick to remind his peers that technology must serve purpose, not novelty. “We don’t just go on technical adventures,” he says. “Every project must have a business case and solve a real problem. Technology must align with business imperatives and objectives. Otherwise, it’s wasted money.”
That philosophy extends to how he leads people. “It starts with trust. We hire capable people through a rigorous process. Once they’re here, we invest in them. We use platforms like LinkedIn Learning and encourage continuous development,” he says.
Retaining talent in the public sector, he admits, requires more than competitive pay. “People must be engaged. They must find meaning in what they do. The purpose of improving the lives of South Africans is very powerful. It gives our work relevance.”
When asked how he drives adoption in a sector often resistant to change, Phila points to leadership alignment. “At the AGSA, IT has a seat at the table. I sit on exco and participate in strategy formulation and execution. Digital transformation is not a side project. It’s part of the business strategy. That’s where the magic lies.”
It’s this integration that fuels AGSA’s progress. “When IT sits around the table, you don’t talk about servers or code. You talk business. You understand what the organisation is trying to achieve and how technology can enable that.”
Another key factor to maintaining IT operations and driving safe innovation is cybersecurity, which Phila views as a daily commitment. “We monitor as much as possible those who try to penetrate our systems. We run awareness campaigns because often the problem is between the chair and the device. People clicking on links they shouldn’t click on, so it’s not just technology, it’s education.”
Creating dignified workplaces
Phila believes in empathy and grounds his leadership philosophy in kindness. “You can deliver products but deliver with broken souls and that’s not sustainable,” he says. “You can be kind and still hold people accountable. I don’t believe that those are not opposites. When someone leaves your space, whether you’re giving good news or bad, they must leave with their dignity intact,” he says earnestly.
Phila believes that what sets the AGSA apart is not the technology stack but the collective mindset. “This journey is not driven by IT alone. From top leadership down, everyone has embraced this collective mindset of leading with care. My colleagues often drive me to move faster. I work with a brilliant team of professionals who I love and respect with all my being.”
When reflecting on challenges, Phila doesn’t flinch. “There’s no way you can be a CTO without having had failures. The important thing is to fall seven times and get up eight. And not to repeat the same mistakes.”
Looking ahead, he sees technology as essential to restoring public trust. “People must trust the technology we deploy. But trust only exists where there is transparency and good governance. We must love the business we are in. Once we do, the technology we deliver will be built with care and understanding,” he adds.
Away from the office, Phila describes himself as a family man. “My family is my happy space, my sanctuary,” he says. “My wife and I try to run twice a week and go to the gym twice a week.”
He laughs when he admits he’s shy. “My team doesn’t believe me when I tell them I’m shy but I think I’m a teacher at heart, so I had to unlearn this shyness to begin to live out what I believe is my purpose as a leader, which is to teach.”
True to his passion for teaching, Phila embraces lifelong learning with equal enthusiasm. An avid reader, he enjoys immersing himself in books on strategy, business transformation and leadership during his down time.
For Phila, success in technology leadership will always come down to one thing. “People are the most important asset in any organisation,” he says. “Being happy at work is not an elusive dream. If we’re happy at work, it spills over into our families, our communities and our country. That’s what makes it all worth it,” he concludes.
