Technology of the future

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.

Unisa CIO and Vice-Principal of ICT Mathabo Nakene-Mginqi says the university embeds sustainability into IT decision-making from procurement through to responsible end-of-life asset disposal.

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.

Cloud modernisation has moved beyond an IT upgrade to become a defining business strategy. Drawing on global examples and local experience, Nzama Mathebula argues that without a clear roadmap and committed executive leadership, cloud initiatives are likely to fall short of their promised value.

Cassava Technologies’ South Africa and Botswana CEO, Ziaad Suleman, emphasises that digital infrastructure is the foundation of digital transformation. Connectivity, coupled with sovereign data hosting powered by AI GPU computational power, along with practical use cases, is crucial for unlocking opportunities across industries and the continent.

In a South African market shaped by frequent power outages, fragile infrastructure and rising compliance pressure, stability has become a strategic imperative. CIOs are adopting an AlwaysOn philosophy that brings operational excellence, application modernisation and continuous innovation into one layered framework, writes iOCO Digital sales executive Archie Marincowitz.

What can South African enterprises learn from CIOs who have navigated IT landscapes across the globe, especially when it comes to shared services? This was a key question posed during a panel discussion at the recent 2025 IT Indaba.

Accounting software company Sage explores the trends shaping the finance industry in 2025 and outlines a playbook for CIOs leading technology strategies in finance enterprises.

Dr Steven James, computer scientist and AI researcher at Wits University, recently delivered a masterclass on AI and machine learning tools at the 2025 IT Indaba, focusing on the skills CIOs should prioritise to build AI-ready teams.

Equinix, CIO South Africa’s trusted partner, hosted the Equinix Engage event at the Marriott Melrose on 7 October to explore the opportunities and challenges around building AI-ready infrastructure.

Healthbridge CTO Anton Fatti discusses the company’s rollout of Nora AI and shares practical tips for implementing AI with purpose.

To understand the legalities, challenges, and opportunities of AI in South Africa, CIO South Africa interviewed a law expert and three leading CIOs.

Galeboe Mogotsi, chief information and security officer (CISO) at the University of the Witwatersrand, discusses the imperative to fortify the cybersecurity foundations of generative AI. 

Hamzah Asmall, the GM for digitalisation at Al Baraka Bank, explains how consulting paved the way for his career in IT, how his religion keeps him grounded, and underscores the fulfilment derived from paying it forward.

It was the unexpected gift of a keyboard from his aunt that ignited Mbusiswa Nyuswa's passion for technology, which he still displays to this day.

Yasvanth Singh and Kurt Kruger explain why it’s time South African CIOs get on board – or get left behind.

EOH's Ziaad Suleman talks about the emerging technologies that will give businesses a competitive edge.

Berdine Viljoen has a three-step process to ensure each division has the support it needs.

The investment will include a subsea cable into Africa, low-interest loans for small businesses and more.

So, whose job is digital transformation? Who is ultimately responsible?