Thabani Kunene recently stepped into the role of CIO at the Water Research Commission (WRC), a move which aligned with his personal aspirations, academic ambitions and commitment to digital transforming the public sector.
Two key factors shaped Thabani’s decision to join the WRC. First, its focus on water research and its academic alignment with his ongoing PhD studies made the organisation an ideal fit. Second, Thabani is passionate about redefining perceptions around digital transformation. He aims to clarify the distinction between digital transformation and digitalisation – terms often misunderstood in the industry – and to showcase the transformative potential of technology within the public sector.
“Digital transformation is relatively new in South Africa, and we haven’t fully embraced or leveraged its potential in the public sector,” says Thabani.
Thabani’s primary goal as CIO is to lead a comprehensive digital transformation of the WRC. As the research arm supporting the Department of Water and Sanitation, the WRC collaborates extensively with academic institutions and other stakeholders.
He envisions creating a fully digital, paperless environment that optimises processes across the entire project lifecycle – from concept notes to proposals, awards, implementation and post-project evaluations.
“In the brief time that I’ve been with the WRC, I’ve observed how reliant we are on partnerships with universities and other institutions, all of which involve complex processes like funding applications,” he explains. “These need to be transformed to achieve seamless, paperless workflows. Establishing a digital transformation framework is the first step to ensuring holistic transformation, keeping the diverse needs of stakeholders in mind.”
With nearly two decades of experience in ICT, Thabani brings a wealth of knowledge to the WRC. His expertise spans business architecture, ICT strategy, corporate governance, and consulting.
Thabani’s career began as a trainee business analyst at the National Department of Agriculture. He later joined the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) as a business analyst and subsequently served as deputy director of business analysis and architecture for the Western Cape Government, where he aligned IT strategies with business objectives. Returning to SITA in 2015, Thabani worked as a senior specialist business analyst before taking on the role of senior manager for ICT at the Robben Island Museum. His first CIO position was with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) prior to joining the WRC.
Thabani completed his BCom in management information systems at the University of Zululand and his honours in information systems at the University of the Western Cape, followed by his master’s in information management from the same institution. He is currently pursuing his PhD in information systems with a focus on digital transformation at Wits University.
