Editor’s note: South Africa’s digital future is accelerating, and the 45th Digital Transformation Summit in 2026 offers a window into how government and business leaders plan to harness cloud, AI, data analytics and responsible innovation. This editorial previews the event’s priorities—cybersecurity, digital skills development and regulatory readiness—and sets the stage for the insights and practical case studies that will be shared by industry leaders. The piece provides context for the press release that follows, highlighting how leadership, technology and collaboration can drive inclusive growth across sectors.
Key points
- The 45th Edition of the Digital Transformation Summit – South Africa 2026 takes place on 11 March 2026 at Indaba Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre, South Africa.
- 200+ C-level executives, technology leaders and decision-makers will attend to explore digital strategy and AI-enabled transformation.
- Topics include AI, Web 3.0, IoT, Quantum Computing, Cybersecurity, 4IR technologies, and digital leadership frameworks.
- ISC2 Gauteng Chapter is a supporting partner, reinforcing cybersecurity awareness and skill development.
- Speakers include Dhesen Ramsamy, Ridwaan Rasool, Phila Ndarana, and Marcus Portmann, among others.
Why this matters
South Africa’s push to modernize public and private sector services depends on secure, scalable digital infrastructure and a capable workforce. The summit’s discussions on AI, cybersecurity, data governance and 4IR skills aim to accelerate practical deployments, drive transformation outcomes, and strengthen the country’s position as a regional digital hub.
What to watch next
- Date/time/venue details: 11 March 2026, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, Indaba Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre.
- Updates on the speaker lineup and agenda as they are announced.
- New partners or sponsors and additional program sessions.
- Any live coverage or post-event resources released by Exito.
Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.
Exito Media Concepts Announces the 45th Edition of the Digital Transformation Summit – South Africa 2026
South Africa is entering a pivotal phase in its digital transformation journey, driven by accelerating adoption of cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making, and nationwide digital inclusion initiatives. Curated by Exito Media Concepts, a global leader in B2B technology platforms, the Digital Transformation Summit draws on deep industry insight and international best practices to enable forward-looking conversations that accelerate enterprise and government-led digital progress. As both public and private sector organizations invest in modernizing legacy systems and expanding digital services, the country is laying the foundation for more agile, resilient, and innovation-led growth.
These efforts reflect South Africa’s broader ambition to strengthen economic competitiveness, improve service delivery, and position itself as a digital hub for the African continent.
Simultaneously, this rapid digital evolution underscores critical priorities such as strengthening cybersecurity resilience, advancing data protection and regulatory compliance, upgrading digital infrastructure, and developing future-ready digital skills. Addressing these focus areas will be essential to ensure sustainable transformation, inclusive growth, and long-term technological leadership across industries.
Case Study: A Bank’s Digital Transformation in South Africa
One of South Africa’s most significant digital transformation journeys has been led by a fully digital bank launched to redefine retail banking through technology-driven services and data intelligence. Built without physical branches, the organization adopted cloud-enabled, API-driven platforms and advanced analytics from inception to support rapid scalability and highly personalized customer experiences, combining seamless digital channels with trusted human support.
Through a strategic partnership with a leading data and AI platform provider, machine learning and generative AI were embedded into core processes, enabling hyper-personal customer insights, improved risk management, advanced fraud prevention, and real-time behavioral analytics, increasing the effectiveness of customer initiatives by over 80 percent and delivering measurable business value across actuarial and service functions. A centralized data platform empowered leadership teams to convert customer behavior and feedback into actionable strategy, accelerating product innovation, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening customer engagement, reflected in record sentiment scores and industry-recognised customer experience achievements.
These outcomes translated into rapid customer adoption, strong market confidence, and sustained growth in a highly competitive sector, demonstrating how digital-first design, data intelligence, and AI can drive meaningful transformation—closely aligning with the themes and real-world outcomes explored at the
45th Edition of the Digital Transformation Summit – South Africa 2026
Event Overview
The 45th Edition of the Digital Transformation Summit – South Africa 2026 forms part of a global summit series hosted across more than 10 cities worldwide. As digital transformation continues to redefine how organizations operate and deliver value, the summit will convene 200+ C-level executives, technology leaders, and decision-makers to explore South Africa’s evolving digital landscape.
Through focused discussions on AI, Web 3.0, IoT, Quantum Computing, Cybersecurity, and other Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, the summit will showcase practical insights, strategic frameworks, and real-world use cases designed to drive operational efficiency, informed decision-making, and a strong digital-first culture.
Date: 11th March 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue: Indaba Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre, South Africa
Supporting Partner
The Digital Transformation Summit – South Africa 2026 is supported by ISC2 Gauteng Chapter, reinforcing the event’s commitment to strengthening cybersecurity awareness, digital skills development, and collaboration within South Africa’s growing digital ecosystem.
Meet the Visionaries:
The 45th Edition of the Digital Transformation Summit – South Africa 2026 will feature some of the country’s most influential technology and business leaders, sharing insights on digital innovation, data-driven transformation, cybersecurity, and the future of enterprise technology. Below are a few of the distinguished speakers joining DTS South Africa 2026, alongside many more industry experts and thought leaders:
Dhesen Ramsamy
Group Chief Technology and Data Officer
Old Mutual Limited
Ridwaan Rasool
Chief Information Officer
Investec
Phila Ndarana
Chief Technology Officer
Auditor General of South Africa
Marcus Portmann
Chief Information Officer
Discovery Limited
… and more
Key Topics to Be Covered:
Attendees will explore South Africa’s most pressing digital transformation priorities through focused discussions, including:
AI & Digital Leadership: Aligning strategy, culture, and leadership to drive sustainable digital growth.
C-Suite ROI Frameworks: Converting digital and AI investments into measurable business outcomes.
Legacy Modernisation: Overcoming system constraints to enable scalable, agile transformation.
Cybersecurity & Digital Trust: Zero Trust adoption, AI-driven security, and evolving threat landscapes.
Future-Ready Workforce: Aligning talent strategies with digital goals, reskilling for the 4IR, and managing change.
Smart Talent Acquisition: Leveraging technology to attract, retain, and develop digital talent.
Digital Sustainability: Using AI, IoT, and cloud technologies to optimize energy use, reduce carbon impact, and automate ESG reporting.
Inclusive Digital Growth: Expanding digital access through skills development, public-private partnerships, and low-bandwidth innovation to bridge the digital divide.
About Exito
Exito stands for “success” — a principle reflected in every experience we design. With over 15 years of experience, Exito is a globally recognized B2B events and media organization, delivering 240+ conferences annually across technology, digital transformation, cybersecurity, healthcare, and emerging enterprise sectors. Through carefully curated agendas, global speaker communities, and market-driven insights, Exito creates platforms that foster strategic collaboration, accelerate innovation adoption, and drive measurable business outcomes worldwide.
For more details on the Digital Transformation Summit – South Africa 2026, visit:
https://digitransformationsummit.com/south-africa/
For Media Enquiries, please contact:
Prakruthi Nayaka
Media and PR Executive, Exito Media Concepts
Email: prakruthi.nayaka@exito-e.com