Ravi Naidoo | CEO | Youth Employment Service (YES) | mail me |
Digital transformation in local government can dramatically improve service delivery, transparency and citizen engagement. This finding comes from research published earlier this year by Nelson Mandela University.
The study, “Assessing the impact of digital technologies on service delivery in local government”, published in March 2025, concluded that digital initiatives enhance efficiency, improve citizen participation and increase transparency.
For example, the City of Johannesburg’s ‘Joburg Connect’ e-services portal and Cape Town’s ‘Smart Cape’ project demonstrate the transformative potential of digital technology in the public sector.
Barriers to adoption
The research also identified significant barriers preventing widespread adoption across South Africa’s municipalities. These include the digital divide affecting underserved communities, cultural resistance to technological change, limited government funding and inadequate regulatory frameworks.
Importantly, local governments need digitally skilled personnel. Digital skills are essential for translating technology into tangible service improvements.
Youth employment and digital capabilities
We serve as a pipeline for talented youth. It helps them gain quality work experience and access to digital skills.
There is an increasing global divide between nations that create and control advanced technology, and those that simply consume it. Public sector transformation depends on having a workforce equipped with modern digital capabilities. Digital skills are essential for driving innovation and efficiency.
Through programmes like the Microsoft partnership, we lead the AI-skills Hub for Africa. These initiatives prepare youth for the future of work. Globally recognised digital certifications give talented youth from all backgrounds the confidence to drive government efficiency and service delivery in technology-powered industries.
Municipal results and challenges
Municipalities that have invested in digital skills development have seen tangible results. Polokwane Local Municipality’s e-service portal enables residents to access water and electricity payments, rates queries and meter readings online. This improves efficiency while reducing administrative burdens.
Yet many municipalities continue to struggle with outdated IT systems and skills gaps. Our problem is that while youth may be intrinsically tech-savvy, they lack work experience to demonstrate their employability to potential employers, including the government.
Traditional approaches to skills development are too slow and expensive. We need quick-to-market, non-accredited training programmes combined with practical work experience.
Internships and impact
We are a public-private partnership that has already placed over 196,000 youth in 12-month work experiences with over 1,880 corporations. The internships are entirely funded by employers, with no taxpayer contribution.
Every intern receives zero-rated access to foundational AI courses and career-readiness modules on our One app. Notably, 17% of our youth alumni start their own businesses.
Digital transformation in government isn’t just about infrastructure – it’s about having people with the right skills to implement, maintain, and continuously improve these systems. By ensuring young people get practical experience alongside digital training, we’re creating a pipeline of talent that can accelerate public sector modernisation. Digital skills are essential in every step of this process.
The quality work experience and digital skills that youth acquire create the foundation for longer-term economic growth in South Africa. Equipping young South Africans with AI and digital skills will not only close unemployment gaps. It will also strengthen the foundations of public service delivery.
