Malatsi calls for inclusive digital future
Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has called for a more inclusive digital future, warning that government cannot effectively serve people who remain disconnected from the digital world.
Speaking at the Social Media Summit at the University of Johannesburg on Wednesday, Malatsi said meaningful digital inclusion is about more than technology; it is about ensuring every South African can access opportunities, public services and have their voices heard.
He said communities without affordable internet access or reliable communications infrastructure were often left out of government decision-making because they are not meaningfully connected.
"We can't serve citizens if we can't hear them. For any digital state to be trusted, it must be inclusive. It must be inclusive even of the smallest constituencies because their voices also matter."
Malatsi said citizen engagement should not revolve solely around platforms, algorithms, or social media analytics, but should instead place people at the centre of government communication. He urged communicators to ask who is still being excluded from the conversation.
He said digital public infrastructure should eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and make services easier to access.
However, he cautioned that digital transformation would fail if it only benefited people with smartphones, affordable data, and strong internet connectivity.
"A promise made only to those who are connected is not a promise to a nation, but rather a segment of that nation," he said.
Malatsi acknowledged progress in expanding South Africa's digital network, but said major gaps remain. He stressed that affordable connectivity, accessible digital services and improved digital literacy are essential to preventing existing social inequalities from being replicated online.
He also warned that the government must improve the speed and reach of its communication, saying misinformation often spreads faster than credible public information.
"If misinformation excludes communities faster than credible public information does, then the government has not only a communications problem, it has a trust problem," Malatsi said.
He concluded that building an inclusive digital state requires collaboration between government, the private sector and academia to ensure every South African, regardless of language, location or income, can participate fully in the digital economy and access public services.
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