We believe that technology should be a bridge to opportunity, and in South Africa and across the continent, we are helping to build that bridge through expansive skilling initiatives. We are bringing AI into the heart of education in South Africa through Microsoft Elevate, a programme designed to unlock opportunity at scale.
The newly launched Ikamva Digital Platform, endorsed by the Department of Higher Education and Training, is designed to support all 50 Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges with free access to in-demand digital and AI skills. But technology alone isn’t enough. Which is why we have also initiated in-person skilling for educators and school leaders across the country, in partnership with Marvel Technologies, Edunova and AfrikaTikkun. And through a $2 million collaboration with the Trevor Noah Foundation, we are investing in teacher training, non-profit capacity building and scalable education innovation.
Our goal is clear: the ensure that technology enhances human potential.
Across Africa, developers and researchers are taking AI in remarkable directions. Teams in Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa are building new applications that reflect local languages, priorities, and creativity. We’re proud to support this work through collaborations with organizations such as the Masakhane Research Foundation and Lelapa AI, helping advance African language models like InkubaLM and AfroXLM-R. These projects are a powerful reminder that innovation doesn’t belong to one geography — it grows wherever talent is given room to flourish.
As we move through the age of AI, we believe that governments have a unique opportunity, and responsibility to lead with vision and purpose.
Take the South African Revenue Service (SARS) as an example. By integrating AI and machine learning, SARS has revolutionised the tax filing experience, making compliance simpler, faster, and more efficient for millions of South Africans. With tools like Microsoft Copilot, SARS has reduced administrative burdens, allowing staff to focus on strategic priorities while delivering a smoother experience for taxpayers. This is just one way AI is transforming governance—not by replacing humans, but by amplifying their ability to serve.
In the City of Johannesburg (COJ), our cybersecurity solutions have strengthened digital infrastructure, protecting critical systems from growing threats. By leveraging Microsoft’s secure cloud platforms, COJ has enhanced its ability to safeguard citizen data and ensure resilient public services. These examples demonstrate how technology can drive efficiency and trust in government operations.
The importance of showing up