In this article, Research ICT Africa’s Research Director, Dr Kola Ijasan, reflects on the digital governance implications of the 2026 State of the Nation Address, examining how commitments on Digital ID, infrastructure investment, and AI in policing can be translated into accountable, rights-centred public-interest governance.
The 2026 State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa set out a reform agenda that includes stabilising the macroeconomy, repairing local government, investing more than R1 trillion in infrastructure, digitising public services, and using AI and data analytics to deal with organised crime. The President stated: “We will harness digital transformation as a driver of growth, inclusion and effective service delivery.”
For Research ICT Africa (RIA), the speech signals something important. Digital systems are no longer peripheral to development; they sit at the centre of state reform. The question now is not whether South Africa will digitise, but how.
Digital ID: Inclusion by design, not by accident
The planned Digital ID and the expansion of the MyMzansi platform can transform how citizens interact with the state. Whether this means that a person can obtain a service, verify their identity, and complete an application without having to wait in a long line, it would make a practical difference in people’s lives.
Digital ID systems are often centralised and create greater reliance on digital infrastructure; if not managed properly, they can exclude those without reliable connectivity or adequate documentation. They can also heighten cybersecurity risks. As declared by the President, the government of South Africa will work closely with civil society, including RIA, to ensure that citizens’ protections and rights are safeguarded through this digital transition. That commitment is critical. The system should include privacy protection, data minimisation, effective oversight, and extensive community engagement from the outset. This is why our Just AI project explores the implications of introducing AI systems into African public institutions.
Digital infrastructure: Who will it grow for?
SoNA also included further investment in data centres and digital infrastructure. These trends are a sign of optimism in South Africa’s digital economy and its position in domestic and global markets. Infrastructure, however, does not guarantee inclusion. The real measure of success will be whether increased digital capacity translates into affordable access, improved public services, and expanded opportunities for small businesses, youth, and marginalised communities.
Expanded connectivity must be linked to competitive markets, effective regulation, and targeted initiatives to close access and skills gaps. Otherwise, the country risks developing sophisticated systems that serve only a small fraction of the population. RIA Research by RIA, including the After Access surveys, the Just AI Framework of Inquiry, and other recent studies, has consistently shown uneven connectivity and digital access, particularly among low-income households, women, and rural communities.
Police use of AI: Power must be accompanied by protection
The aspiration to become smarter and more efficient through the use of AI and other data tools to fight organised crime and strengthen criminal justice efforts is significant. AI systems may be used constructively to increase coordination among government agencies and to allocate limited resources where they are most needed.
Nevertheless, algorithms entering policing and law enforcement operate within a sensitive constitutional landscape. Opaque systems should not be embedded in decisions that affect freedoms, reputation, and access to opportunity.
AI can assist law enforcement, but it must operate transparently and within clear lines of accountability. South Africa’s constitutional order requires this. Efficiency gains cannot come at the expense of due process and equality before the law.
Creating a capable state in the digital era
The President repeatedly returned to the concept of an efficient, ethical, and developmental state. That ambition in 2026 cannot be separated from digital governance.
For RIA, this is a turning point. Technology is reshaping state machinery. Decisions taken today will determine how power is exercised over the coming decades. Digital transformation does not simply mean faster systems. It concerns who holds control, how decisions are made, and how rights are protected in a context where code increasingly shapes people’s lives.
What this means for RIA
The SoNA 2026 vision positions technology at the core of growth, security, and inclusion. For RIA, three contributions are required at this moment:
• Evidence-based research: rigorous analysis of how AI and digital systems are implemented in government agencies.
• Policy direction grounded in African realities: ensuring that imported governance models are adapted to institutional capacity.
• A public-interest focus: placing rights, inclusion, and accountability at the centre of digital reform.
South Africa has re-established its macroeconomic base and set out an ambitious reform agenda. The next test is whether digital transformation will strengthen democracy and broaden opportunity, or whether it will outpace the constitutional safeguards designed to protect citizens.
