To : All Media
Date : 06 March 2026
South Africa Launches African Digital Transformation Centre to Accelerate Digital Innovation and Empower ICT SMEs
The Deputy Minister of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele (MP), today officially launched the African Digital Transformation Centre (ADTC) at The Innovation Hub in Pretoria, marking a major milestone in South Africa’s efforts to accelerate digital innovation and support technology-driven entrepreneurship.
The ADTC will serve as a continental platform to nurture digital entrepreneurs, strengthen the ICT small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) ecosystem, and drive inclusive economic growth through technology.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister Gungubele described the Centre as a catalyst for Africa’s digital future, “Today, we do not simply open a building. We light a beacon of innovation, ambition, and Africa’s determination to shape its own digital future,” said Deputy Minister Gungubele.
The Centre will provide ICT SMEs and digital entrepreneurs with access to world-class facilities, business development support, mentorship networks, funding pathways, and market linkages both locally and internationally.
South Africa is positioning itself as a regional digital innovation hub, supported by national policy initiatives such as the Digital Economy Masterplan, the Fourth Industrial Revolution roadmap, and the draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework. These efforts align with the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy 2020–2030, which seeks to harness digital technologies to transform Africa’s economies and societies.
The ADTC is established in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as part of its global Network of Acceleration Centres under the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development. The initiative aims to bridge the digital innovation divide and support the growth of inclusive digital economies in developing and emerging nations.
Deputy Minister Gungubele emphasized that ICT SMEs play a vital role in job creation, innovation and economic transformation, “Across South Africa, digital entrepreneurs are building solutions in fintech, agriculture, health, and other critical sectors. The ADTC will help unlock their full potential by providing the environment, support and partnerships needed to scale their innovations,” he said.
The Centre will operate as a collaborative ecosystem bringing together government, private sector, academia and civil society to accelerate digital transformation and ensure that emerging technologies translate into real economic opportunities.
Deputy Minister Gungubele also acknowledged the role of The Innovation Hub as a key partner in hosting and operationalising the Centre, describing the collaboration as a model for effective public-sector partnerships that support innovation and enterprise development. The launch of the ADTC signals South Africa’s commitment to building a digitally empowered economy and positioning the continent as a global producer of technology solutions, “The African Digital Transformation Centre is open. Let the transformation begin,” concluded the Deputy Minister.
Media enquiries :
Ms Tlangelani Manganyi : DCDT Media Relations
Email/Cell : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / +27 60 886 4670
Facebook : Department of Communications & Digital Technologies
X : @CommsZA
Issued by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies.
Download Document here: South Africa Launches African Digital Transformation Centre to Accelerate Digital Innovation and Empower ICT SMEs