Portia Matsena has been appointed chief digital officer at the State Information Technology Agency (Sita), bringing more than two decades of technology and executive leadership experience to an institution central to South Africa’s public-sector digital transformation.
The seasoned technology executive takes on a formidable mandate to advance inclusive, citizen-centred public services at a defining moment for digital government and artificial intelligence in South Africa.
Her appointment comes as government faces increasing pressure to modernise legacy systems, improve interoperability, strengthen cybersecurity and deliver accessible, reliable digital services to citizens. It is a mandate that extends beyond technology implementation to the transformation of how public services are designed, delivered and experienced.
For Portia, the appointment represents an opportunity to contribute to a national agenda in which technology must serve a purpose beyond the systems themselves. “Throughout my career, technology had to serve a purpose greater than building systems,” she says. “It must improve lives, create opportunities and address real societal challenges.”
She believes the public sector carries a distinctive responsibility. “The citizen is not simply a customer who can choose another provider,” Portia explains. “Citizens depend on government services for their livelihoods, dignity and fundamental rights.”
Against this backdrop, she sees Sita as a strategic enabler of a more connected and responsive state. “What attracted me was the magnitude of the responsibility,” she says. “Sita occupies a critical position in South Africa’s digital transformation journey.”
Her priorities include helping to advance digital modernisation, interoperability and the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence, while keeping accessibility, trust and the needs of citizens at the centre of transformation. Her guiding conviction is that technology should never determine who is included; it should ensure that no one is excluded.
Portia also emphasises the importance of organisational culture and collective leadership. “I intend to approach this chapter with humility and a willingness to learn,” she says. She is committed to an environment in which professionals can challenge ideas constructively, collaborate openly and remain accountable for outcomes.
Her career spans both public and private-sector institutions. Previous positions include divisional executive of hyper-automation at Nedbank, managing director for cash management at Absa, chief information officer at BankservAfrica and acting group chief information officer at the South African Post Office.
Portia holds a master of business administration from the University of South Africa and a master of commerce from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
As she begins this chapter, her focus is on helping Sita strengthen its contribution to a digital government that works more effectively for the people it serves.
