E-Government Development in South Africa

The National Department of Communications and Digital Technologies was established in 2019. It is the leader of South Africa digital transformation and is mandated to foster the adoption of technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in the country. 

State Information Technology Agency (SITA), overseen by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, is the main entity responsible for execution of the National e-Government Strategy and Roadmap. As stated in the SITA 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, the Agency has been a driving force behind the digitisation of the public sector.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) was created in 2000 as a merger of the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). The mandate of the Authority is to promote competition in the ICT sector. 

The Information Regulator is an independent body established under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of 2013. It is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with POPIA and the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), ensuring the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies.

According to the 2022 UN Survey on E-Government Development, South Africa has become the continent’s leader in e-Government development with an EGDI (E-Government Development Index) value of 0.7. Digital development in South Africa is guided by the National Development Plan: Vision 2030 developed in 2012 by the National Planning Commision with the objective of making South Africa an inclusive digital society. The National e-Government Strategy and Roadmap, worked out in 2017 by the Telecommunications and Postal Services Department (The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies since 2019), outlines a new approach to electronic government development and sets a programme of action. As stated in the Strategy, more focused attention was planned to be given to infrastructure development, acceleration of the expansion of e-Government services and development of e-Government platforms.

State Information Technology Agency (SITA), overseen by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, is the industry leader and is in charge of execution of the Strategy and Roadmap. As stated in the SITA 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, the Agency has been a driving force behind the digitisation of the public sector.

Cybercrime Law

The Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 is South Africa’s primary legislation aimed at combating cybercrime and enhancing cybersecurity. Signed into law in June 2021, the Act addresses the growing threat of cybercrime by consolidating existing laws and introducing new offences related to digital activities. 

Data Privacy Law

​The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), enacted in 2013 and fully effective from 1 July 2021, is South Africa’s comprehensive data protection legislation. It aligns with global standards, such as the EU’s GDPR, aiming to safeguard individuals’ personal information and uphold their constitutional right to privacy.

E-Government Standards

In 2024, the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services drafted the Digital Government Policy Framework (DGPF) aimed to establish guiding principles for further development of policies targeting the use of digital technologies in public service delivery. Among the key objectives of the Framework are institutionalization of a governance mechanism for public service transfer into the digital sphere; identification of norms and standards for the departments; and analysis of the necessary technology interventions for digital transformation. 

Interoperability Framework

​South Africa’s e-Government Interoperability Framework is primarily structured around the Minimum Interoperability Standards (MIOS) of 2007, which provide comprehensive guidelines to ensure seamless interaction among government information systems. These standards are pivotal for enhancing public service delivery through integrated digital platforms. In addition to MIOS, South Africa has developed sector-specific interoperability frameworks, such as the Health Normative Standards Framework (HNSF) for the health sector, to address unique requirements and promote standardized practices within specific domains.

Electronic Signature Law

The use of electronic signatures in South Africa is regulated by the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 (ECTA) of 2002. The act distinguishes an electronic signature and an advanced electronic signature. The latter requires a digital certificate issued by an accredited service provider, viz. the one that has been designated as a preferred authentication service provider with its products accredited by the South African Accreditation Authority. According to the Electronic Signature Guidelines, South Africa Post Office (SAPO) and Lawtrust are the accredited authentication service provided under the ECT Act. SAPO is the provider preferred by the Government.

AI Regulations

​In May 2019, South Africa endorsed the OECD Council’s Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence. This non-binding agreement established the first international standards aimed at fostering trustworthy AI that respects human rights and democratic values. ​

Building upon this foundation, in August 2024, South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) unveiled the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Framework. This framework seeks to harness AI’s transformative potential while addressing ethical, social, and economic considerations. Key objectives include promoting inclusive growth, ensuring transparency and accountability in AI systems, and safeguarding human rights. The policy emphasizes the development of a robust AI ecosystem through coordinated research and development, talent cultivation, and infrastructure enhancement. ​

SITA has implemented the e-Government Portal that serves as a single point of entry to more than 100 services, including birth, health, education, employment and social services. The platform provides G2B and G2C services. All public services are interoperable and can be accessed through the website of the Government of South Africa.

National Population Register (NPR) operated by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is used to verify the identity, status and rights of citizens. The NPR contains biometrics (thumbprints and facial biometric data). However, under the broad ICT Modernisation Programme, initiated by the DHA in 2012 and aimed at refurnishing the department’s delivery systems, the National Identity System (NIS) will replace the NPR. According to the Official Identity Management Policy published in 2020, the new system will facilitate the security and reliability of civil and immigration status bound to identity and biometric data. While the NIS was initially slated for implementation by March 2024, recent updates indicate that the system is still undergoing development and testing. The DHA continues to work towards full deployment, with the goal of enhancing service delivery and ensuring the security and reliability of identity verification processes.

The Department of Home Affairs allows citizens to submit ID and passport applications online as well as make online payments for applications via eHomeAffairs. The Smart ID Card, which replaces the green ID book (a previous type of identification document), has a unique identity number and stores the biometrics of a person. In order to register on the website an ID Number is required.

The ABIS (Automated Biometric Identification System) project started in 2016 and conducted by the Department of Home Affairs is an upcoming integrated multi-modal system. ABIS is expected to serve as a centralised source for biometric authentication across public and private institutions. Fingerprints and facial recognition currently stored within the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) will be transferred to the new system.

In March 2025, the DHA announced a comprehensive upgrade to its digital verification system, significantly improving performance and reducing error rates to below 1%. This upgrade enhances the reliability of identity verification for services such as banking, social grants, and other public services.

South African Revenue Service (SARS) eFiling platform serves as a tool for submitting tax returns and declarations and provides a range of related services, including registration for income tax, tax product registration, and filing income tax returns. Taxpayers, tax specialists, enterprises and organisations are able to register, submit declarations and make payments within the platform.

​The SARS MobiApp was developed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to mirror the functionalities of the eFiling platform, allowing users to file returns, make payments, and access tax information on-the-go. The app is available for download on major platforms, including the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei AppGallery. WhatsApp service is also available by messaging SARS at 0800 11 7277, so taxpayers can request services such as tax reference numbers, statements of account, and return statuses.​ USSD service via Dialing 1347277# provides access to services like Personal Income Tax registration, tax calculators, and account balance inquiries. SMS service functions while sending specific keywords to 47277 allows users to receive information on tax reference numbers, return due dates, and more.

Source: SARS eFiling

Source: Google Play. SARS Mobile eFiling – Apps on Google Play

The National Policy on ICT in Education, adopted in 2019, provides a framework for integrating ICT into the education system. It emphasizes the development of digital infrastructure, teacher training, and the creation of digital content to support learning. The policy aims to ensure that all learners and educators have access to quality digital resources and are equipped with the necessary skills to utilize them effectively.

Launched in 2015, Operation Phakisa focuses on accelerating ICT integration in education through five key workstreams, namely connectivity and ensuring schools have access to reliable internet services; devices to provide learners and educators with appropriate digital devices; teacher professional development and availability of training programs to enhance educators’ ICT competencies; digital content development and distribution to Create and disseminating quality digital learning materials; and e-Administration aimed at implementing digital systems for efficient school management. 

The Health Patient Registration System managed by the Department of Health provides the Patient Registry and the Master Patient Index utilising citizen’s unique identification number. The Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) can be used for the identification of patients as well. The System enables medical workers to access the demographic information and medical records of the patients.

The National Health Insurance (NHI) is a health financing system designed to provide access to health services free of charge for all the citizens. Citizens can take advantage of the health facilities using an NHI Card.

The Department of Health grants the ability to improve one’s professional skills by enrolling on a course within the Knowledge Hub. The platform offers a vast variety of courses and webinars in the medical sphere as well as allows the use of eLibrary.

The documents and legal acts of South Africa can be accessed through the website of the Government. Keyword search and filters on document type and subject are available.

The Integrated Justice System (IJS) is a government initiative designed to modernize and integrate the criminal justice process across multiple departments, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Department of Home Affairs, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Department of Correctional Services, and the National Prosecuting Authority. In 2024, briefs on implementation of the system were held between SITA and agencies responsible for legal affairs. As of early 2025, new components such as the Integrated Person Management (IPM) solution are being piloted. 

Court Online is an e-filing system used for litigation. Through the system, pleadings and documents could be issued to the court online. ​The system, which encompasses Evidence Management Application (CaseLines), was implemented in January 2020 in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, encompassing both Pretoria and Johannesburg. This followed a successful pilot phase conducted during the third and fourth terms of 2019. Court Online is a comprehensive digital platform designed for e-filing, case management, and evidence handling. It enables legal practitioners and litigants to electronically file documents, manage court schedules, and handle evidence without the need for physical presence in court. The platform supports real-time updates and facilitates virtual hearings. 

Source: IJS – Providing an Integrated BI & Reporting. Platform for GBV in the JCPS Cluster

In March 2025, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) hosted a three-day conference to launch South Africa’s first Green Paper on e-voting. The event marked the beginning of a six-month national consultation aimed at gathering input from voters, political parties, civil society, and other stakeholders. The goal is to develop a comprehensive policy on e-voting that aligns with South Africa’s social and infrastructural landscape. 

The South African Multiple Option Settlement (SAMOS) system is a real-time gross settlement system (RTGS) operated by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) which provides domestic settlement services. Regional settlement services are processed by the South African Development Community (SADC)-RTGS system that was put into operation in 2013. In 2018, the SARB introduced the National Payment System Framework and Strategy: Vision 2025 with the aim of raising awareness on electronic payments.

BizPortal is a platform developed by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) with the objective of alleviating business operations in South Africa and eliminating the paper-based approach. The Portal offers company registration and a variety of related services including tax registration and domain name registration.

SME South Africa platform grants access to a vast array of business guides and reviews of business software and technical tools. Within this platform citizens can also find funding for their businesses. After filling in the form on the website the person is connected with the lenders. The partners of SME South Africa are Lulalend, a privately held company financed by the Venture Capital, Retail Capital, a division of TymeBank Limited, and Genfin, which is a part of the Genfin Holdings Group, an investment company operating in South Africa and the UK.

Source: BizPortal. Services

Public Procurement

The eTender Publications Portal managed by the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) is a website where all public sector tender opportunities are published. Information on Procurement Data and Procurement Plans is also provided.

The service was introduced in order to reduce government expenditure on public procurement procedures since, according to the OECD calculations based on the data from Government Finance Statistics, South Africa ranked 2nd on the continent (after Rwanda) in terms of government procurement spending as percentage of GDP. As per IMF ‘Public Procurement In South Africa: Issues And Reform Options’ report (2023), in 2021/2022 fiscal year the public procurement spending in South Africa comprised 15% of GDP.

Source: eTender

Labour services

Employment Services of South Africa and the South Africa Labour Market Information System allow both individuals and organisations to search a database operated by the Department of Labour. Individuals have an opportunity to browse employment possibilities, while organisations may post the information on the open positions in the company.

Employment Equity Online Reporting (EE) is an online service for employers to submit their employment equity reports in compliance with the Employment Equity Act, which was adopted with the purpose of promoting equal opportunities and fair treatment in employment. The information on the login procedure and deadlines for the submission are provided on the home page of the portal.

The KZN e-Recruitment system is an online platform developed by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Provincial Government in South Africa to streamline the job application process for positions within provincial departments and public entities. In 2023, the system was put online. It allows job seekers to register, create profiles, upload necessary documents, and apply for vacancies online.​ This initiative, part of the “Sthesha Waya-Waya” (“working anytime” in Zulu)  campaign, aims to modernize recruitment processes and enhance accessibility for job seekers across the province.

Source: Employment Equity Online Reporting (EE)

Source: KZN Online. Vacancies & e-Recruitment

Tourism

The Government of South Africa enables tourists to access the South African Tourism website. The website consists of 4 sections, namely, Corporate and media, Travel, Travel Trade and Business events. For instance, the ‘travel’ section stores information on tourist activities, destinations and events, while the ‘business events’ part enables discovering the meeting venues.

Source: South African Tourism

Vulekamali is a website which stores South Africa online budget data. Users can download a pdf file of a national budget review, explore interactive Consolidated Budget Summary and National Budget Summary and examine the budget of each department.

​The Digital Government Platform Ecosystem (DGPE), introduced in South Africa in 2020, is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing digital service delivery across government departments. The DGPE was established to facilitate interoperability and efficient data exchange among public sector entities. The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has incorporated the DGPE into its digital strategy, emphasizing the development of scalable digital platforms to improve citizen experiences. 

This middleware infrastructure facilitates seamless, secure, and standardized data exchange among various government departments and public entities. By enabling interoperability between disparate systems, the GSB aims to break down information silos, enhance service delivery, and improve decision-making processes across the public sector.​

The GSB supports real-time sharing of verified citizen and service data—such as identity, employment, and benefits—thereby underpinning initiatives like the Integrated Justice System, e-Home Affairs, and the National Integrated Social Protection Information System (NISPIS). By promoting efficient, citizen-centric public services, the DGPE and its GSB component play a critical role in South Africa’s digital transformation strategy.

The establishment of the Government Private Cloud is a project of SITA. The work on the project began in 2014. The Government Private Cloud Ecosystem (GPCE), built in partnership with Huawei, IBM and Gijima, was launched in 2018. The objective of the Agency was to build and operate a private cloud in order to facilitate interoperability of all South African Government departments. The project consisted of providing an open data platform and developing a policy framework to direct implementation of Cloud computing by Government departments. According to the SITA Strategic Plan 2020-2025, one of the further objectives of the Agency is to ensure that new applications are written to run on the cloud, as well as that the existing applications are migrated to the cloud.

Source: SITA Strategic Plan 2020-2025

In 2022, the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) in collaboration with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) launched a beta version of the Digital Earth South Africa data cube platform. The Digital Earth SA system is expected to enable users to leverage the full geographic data analysis capabilities. The data from commercial satellite providers is distributed to government institutions and state-owned entities, whereas private sector users are only allowed to access open satellite datasets. Additionally, SANSA offers private sector data users Analysis Ready Data (ARD) products at an affordable cost.

The SANSA focuses on four programme areas: Earth Observation, Space Engineering, Space Operations, and Space Science. SunSat was the first satellite built in South Africa and launched into orbit in 1999. SumbandilaSat, constructed in collaboration with Stellenbosch University, the CSIR, and SunSpace, was launched by Roscosmos in 2009  on a Soyuz-2 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. In 2012, the SANSA started the development of the country’s third Earth Observation Satellite (EO-Sat1). South Africa’s first cubesat, ZACube-1 (also known as TshepisoSat), was launched in 2013, whereas ZACube-2, which used to be the most advanced nanosatellite in Africa, was launched in 2018 by Roscosmos as well.

Fragmented Digital Initiatives: The lack of a unified digital strategy has led to siloed efforts across government departments, resulting in inefficiencies and duplicated processes;

Outdated ICT Infrastructure: Many public service systems rely on obsolete hardware and software, hindering efficient service delivery and integration;

Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Frequent incidents, including unauthorized disclosures of citizen data, have undermined trust in digital platforms;

Limited Data Sharing: Inadequate mechanisms for interdepartmental data exchange restrict the potential for integrated services and informed decision-making. 

e-Voting: the South African government has already initiated the process in this area, however digital solutions are yet to be implemented; 

Digital Agriculture: a range of private startups and projects on digital agriculture are already operational in the country, with Farmonaut being of the most prominent ones. Government initiatives are limited in this area. Establishment of public-private partnerships is suggested; 

According to the Digital Government Policy Framework (DGPF), use of cloud computing, internet of things (IoT), big data, mobile innovations, etc. is inevitable for e-government development. Introduction of Iot and AI for citizen-oriented public services, such as digital farming solutions, is recommended for strategic data management. 

National Best Practices

The Government of South Africa has achieved significant progress in the sphere of G2C services, with availability of labour-oriented ones. Regional services such as the KZN e-Recruitment system and online tools of the Department of Employment and Labour provide a worth-sharing experience. 

Digitalisation of taxes has also seen a large progress over the years, with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) eFiling platform and mobile application having largely increased the revenues and compliance. 

Regional inspirations

Given that the Government of South Africa is yet to fully roll out e-elections, responsible agencies could benefit from the experience of their counterparts. 

Kenya 

In 2022, more than 55,000 electronic machines were deployed across the country for identifying voters and sending results. Biometrics for voter registration and identification were used during the 2013, 2017, and 2022 presidential elections. 

Morocco

As of April 2025, Morocco has implemented e-voting mechanisms within certain governmental institutions, including the House of Councillors (Chambre des Conseillers, upper house of Parliament), which adopted remote electronic voting for legislative sessions in May 2020.