Strategy & Leadership

Hanlie de Bod-Leaf never planned a career in technology. But as CIO at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, she's combining her love of problem-solving and innovation to build digital solutions that connect millions of young South Africans with much-needed work opportunities.

Kim Sim, CIO of Mr Price Group, has built her leadership philosophy around high-performance team culture, psychological safety and accountability while steering major technology transformation initiatives. Her approach earned her both the Strategy and Leadership Award and the High-Performance Team Award at the CIO Awards in 2025.

Gboyega Dada, chief digital and information officer at Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), has built a career at the nexus of curiosity and structure, drawn to the hidden systems that keep institutions moving.

From change freezes and on-call rosters to automated monitoring and transparent risk management, CIOs share how they approach business continuity during peak leave periods.

IoD certification equips South African CIOs with governance expertise crucial for board-level influence, but achieving true strategic impact ultimately depends on shifting organisational mindsets that still view ICT as a cost centre rather than a strategic partner, says Wits University CIO Dr Stanley Mpofu.

Free State department of health CIO Bandile Ntombela reflects on his career path and the evolving demands of technology leadership in the public sector.

The CIO in the office of the North West premier, Thato Matsipe, unpacks how governance reform, IT centralisation and strategic industry collaboration are repositioning technology from a support function to a core enabler of provincial service delivery.

On 24 February, CIO South Africa hosted an exclusive dinner at The Chef’stable Cape Town, bringing together industry leaders for lively discussions on building and leading intelligent teams.

Wilma Crosson, CIO at Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) South Africa, says her passion for innovation and data keeps her motivated in times of rapid tech change.

Technology leaders at the first Johannesburg CIO Summit of the year said speed has become the critical differentiator in the AI era, as organisations work to build seamlessly connected digital enterprises.

In 2024, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) fell victim to a devastating cyberattack. Less than a year later, Dr Sylvia Sathekge stepped into the role of CIO, a move carrying significant responsibility.

South Africa’s tech leaders must rethink their growing dependence on AI-assisted software development, writes Rennie Naidoo, IS professor and research director at the Wits School of Business Sciences.

Jörg Fischer, Standard Bank group CIO, took to the main stage for a fireside chat with Microsoft Middle East and Africa president Naim Yazbeck at the Microsoft AI Tour on 29 January 2026 to help guide technology leaders on adopting AI in their organisations.

Ravi Bhat, chief AI solutions officer at Microsoft South Africa, speaks to CIO South Africa about the rise of AI agents, the role of CIOs in driving change and what organisations that win in 2026 will look like.

With over two decades in the world of IT, Phila Msizazwe, CIO at the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa, has strategically risen through the ranks and says he has enjoyed every moment of the journey.

When Sne Dlamini stepped into AECI’s headquarters, she knew she wasn’t taking on a typical technology leadership role. As group VP of technology and digital, she inherited not just systems and networks, but the weight of a century-old industrial legacy and the responsibility to redefine its future.

In the enterprise, AI only earns the right to scale when it delivers auditable decisions, measurable value and governance-grade trust within a 90-day business cycle, writes former Sasol group CIO and IT expert Lungile Mginqi.

Two Mountains Group CIO Sahann van der Vyver believes effective IT starts with simplicity, alignment and strong communication. His focus is on enabling the business, not adding complexity.

2025 High Performance Team and Strategy & Leadership Award winner and Mr Price Group CIO Kim Sim outlines her priorities and expectations for 2026.

As AI and automation continue to proliferate in workplaces, there is growing tension in boardrooms across South Africa as cyber threats become an increasingly pressing issue for CIOs. IT leaders unpack how they are building cyber resilience while enabling innovation in their organisations.