The City of Johannesburg (COJ) has announced plans to transform South Africa’s economic hub into a “smart African city”.
Presenting the 2025 budget speech this week, councillor Margaret Arnolds, COJ member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for finance, outlined several technology investments and interventions the city is making in order to realise the smart city dream and improve service delivery.
Read more: ZA: Joburg harnesses tech in ‘smart African city’ ambitions
City Manager of eThekwini Municipality, Musa Mbhele, has outlined a bold new approach to boost service delivery that hinges on real-time accountability, regional management, and technology-driven innovation, while acknowledging systemic weaknesses that continue to frustrate residents.
Speaking during the 2025 Customer Services Symposium at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC in Durban and in an exclusive follow-up interview this week, Mbhele said a combination of unannounced site visits, artificial intelligence tools, and decentralised management will form the backbone of the municipality’s renewed push for service excellence.
The digital revolution is reshaping governance worldwide. From the electronic filing of taxes to digital visa applications, technology is making government services more accessible, efficient and transparent.
South Africa is making progress in its digital journey. In 2024 it climbed to 40th place out of 193 countries, from 65th place in 2022, in the United Nations e-Government Index. This improvement makes the country one of Africa’s digital leaders, surpassing Mauritius and Tunisia.
Read more: Digital government can benefit citizens: How SA can reduce the risks and get it right
Gauteng’s public transport landscape is undergoing significant changes in 2025, driven by ambitious infrastructure projects, fare adjustments, and strategic planning. This investigative overview examines the key developments shaping how millions of commuters travel across the province, focusing on expansions, challenges, and the future outlook. Gautrain Expansion: Ambitious Plans Amid Financial Concerns One of the most high-profile projects is the planned expansion of the Gautrain rapid rail network. The Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport confirmed new routes extending the system into Soweto and Cosmo City, with proposed links to Fourways, Sunninghill, Lanseria, and Smart City. This expansion aims to improve connectivity between Johannesburg, Pretoria, and emerging urban nodes, potentially boosting economic activity and property development near new stations.
Read more: ZA: Public Transport in Gauteng: What’s Changing in 2025?
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the new plan would streamline public service delivery, with a single digital platform for citizens to access government support.
The Presidency has launched a digital roadmap to modernise government services under the next phase of Operation Vulindlela.
On Monday, Minister Solly Malatsi is set to lead the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies delegation at the launch of the Roadmap on the Digital Transformation of the South African Government.
Read more: ZA: Presidency launches digital roadmap to modernise government services