Unlocking data sovereignty: Minister Malatsi's vision for South Africa at Africa Tech Week 2025
At Africa Tech Week 2025 Minister Malatsi unveils South Africa's ambitious strategy for data sovereignty, amidst a surge of investment from global tech giants.
As South Africa cements its position as a leading hub for data centres and cloud computing in Africa, the government is taking decisive steps to ensure the country remains both competitive and secure in an increasingly digital world.
At Sentech Africa Tech Week 2025, set to take place from 3–4 June 2025 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, Hon. Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, will deliver a landmark address on South Africa's Strategic Approach to Data Sovereignty .
This keynote comes at a pivotal time, as global tech giants such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft continue to invest heavily in African infrastructure.
The Minister will outline how South Africa is aligning regulatory frameworks with international best practices to attract investment while safeguarding national interests.
Key highlights of the address will include:
Regulatory reforms aimed at balancing innovation with cybersecurity compliance ● Promotion of renewable energy for data facilities to support sustainable growth ● Building a secure digital ecosystem that supports global cloud leaders and local innovators alike
Policy initiatives to ensure data sovereignty and protect citizen information.
The session promises to be a defining moment for policymakers, enterprise leaders, and technology stakeholders seeking clarity on how Africa's most advanced digital economy is navigating the complex intersection of regulation, security, and growth.
Streaming the Future: Sentech hosts panel on unlocking growth in media & OTT Services
Also featured prominently on Day 1 of the conference is a high-level panel discussion hosted by Sentech, titled: 'Streaming the Future: Unlocking Growth in Media and OTT Services'.
As traditional broadcasting continues to evolve into digital-first platforms, the rise of Over-The-Top (OTT) services represents both a challenge and a massive opportunity for Africa's media industry.
This panel will bring together top executives to explore how infrastructure providers and tech innovators can collaborate to expand access, enhance content delivery, and monetise new digital audiences across the continent.
Panellists Include:
Kopano Thage, Chief Commercial Officer – Media Business, Sentech Shoeshoe Qhu, CEO, Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)
Yokow Quansah , Managing Director, Broadsmart
The conversation will cover:
Data-driven viewer insights to improve engagement and retention
Local content strategies that resonate with African audiences
Next-generation streaming technologies that overcome bandwidth limitations Partnership models between broadcasters, tech firms, and regulators to enable scalable growth
With Africa's digital audience growing rapidly, this session will provide actionable insights into how the continent can harness its creative potential while building a robust, future-ready media ecosystem.
Sponsors
Sentech Africa Tech Week 2025 would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, whose commitment to innovation and progress is helping drive Africa forward. A special thank you to:
Platinum and Naming Rights Partner: Sentech SOC
Gold Sponsor & Premium Digital Partner: i-me.tech / InterviewMe Ltd ● Host City Partner : The City of Cape Town
Crypto Coffee Counter Sponsor: Binance
Silver Sponsors: Softswiss , Absa
Bronze Sponsors: XLink , The AdHive Group , Africa Data Centres , and InDrive ● Premium Showcase Sponsors : LexisNexis South Africa, GoSolr (Pty) Ltd, Pula Management, Nutanix and Dell Technologies
Showcase Counter Sponsors: Zoho , OneX , Accso South Africa , 4IRI , Geeks4Learning / Reverside , Etapath , Astraia Technology , SETSIBI IT Support Services , ITTHYNK
AI Photobooth Sponsor: Gold Otter Media
Lifestyle Partner: Isanti Glass
Strategic Partners : UVU Africa , BPESA , Good Governance Africa , Promedia Out of Home , StartupGrind Cape Town , Tractor Outdoor , Financial IT , Cape Times , and IOL
Join the movement
Media representatives are invited to attend and report on the event. For press accreditation or interviews with speakers and organisers, please contact:
Thabiso Mohlabeng – thabiso.mohlabeng@africatechweek.co.za For general event inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or speaker details: marketing@africatechweek.co.za
Visit www.africatechweek.co.za for full agenda, registration,and updates. Get Tickets:https://qkt.io/AfricaTechweekConference2025
About Sentech Africa Tech Week
Africa Tech Week is a flagship event focused on unlocking digital transformation across the continent.
Hosted by Topco Media in partnership with Sentech, the conference brings together visionaries and innovators to explore how technology can accelerate inclusive economic growth and development in Africa.
Let's build Africa's digital future—together.
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