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DSTI Minister, Prof. Blade Nzimande addressing the 16th GovTech Conference in Durban, 8 September 2025.
Science and Technology Minister Prof. Blade Nzimande says it is important for South Africa to develop its own technology.
Nzimande was speaking during the 16th edition of the GovTech Conference at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC).
The three-day conference will focus on using GovTech to improve digital government services and collaboration.
Video | SABC speaks to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande:
Nzimande says if the country develops its own technology, it will give local developers an opportunity to be innovative.
Nzimande emphasised that if the country continues to import technology, then that deprives South African innovators a chance to do local technologies which will be cheaper than imported technologies whilst also developing the country’s identity.
“Even the technologies we might import we must adapt to our own conditions so we secure what we call digital sovereignty. In other words we have got our own digital systems that we can control that actually respond to our needs,” adds Nzimande.
DSTI Minister, Prof. Blade Nzimande addressed the 16th #GovTech2025 Conference in Durban. He emphasised the role of the DSTI in supporting South Africa’s national digital master plan and highlighted the importance of digital sovereignty in building South Africa’s digital future pic.twitter.com/zFnwXMbMEN
— DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION (@dstigovza) September 8, 2025
