The organisers of the inaugural South African AI Awards have confirmed Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi as keynote speaker, with Naspers CEO and Executive Director Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa joining as a special guest speaker.
The gala takes place on 13 November 2026 at The Galleria in Sandton, presented by NTT DATA as Exclusive Platinum Partner.
What the SA AI Awards are
The programme is the country’s first national AI recognition platform, built around the 2026 theme Inclusive Socio-Economic Prosperity. It is designed to identify and reward AI work that produces measurable outcomes, not just technical novelty.
The theme is specific on what counts: wider healthcare and education access, job creation, and improved public services. The goal is also to get more people excited about AI, and what it could mean for South Africa.
The categories
The awards cover 25 categories spanning work by large companies, start-ups, academia, the public sector, and community organisations.
Categories include:
- Township AI Innovator of the Year
- Best Use of AI in Youth Empowerment
- Best AI Solution for Social Good
- AI Startup of the Year
- Best AI Research and Innovation
- Best AI in Healthcare
- Best AI in Education
- Best AI in Finance and Banking
- Best AI-Enabled Business
- Best AI Ethics and Governance
- AI Talent of the Year (Individual Award)
- SME Enablement
- Best AI for Public Safety
- Best Enterprise AI Integration
- Best AI for Public Service
- Best AI-Powered Consumer Tech Brand
- Best AI Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality Award
- Best AI for Cybersecurity, Risk and Fraud Prevention
- Best AI for Inclusive Education and Accessibility
- Best AI Solution for Public Health Access
- AI in Creative and Entertainment Industries
- AI in Customer Experience and Personalisation
- AI for Workforce and HR Innovation
- AI for Multilingual and African Language Innovation
- Best AI Innovation in Telecoms
All entries are assessed against six weighted criteria: Innovation and Originality, Measurable Impact, Scalability, Inclusivity, Ethical Standards, and AI Quality. Finalists will be announced this month.
The speakers
Malatsi has served as Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies in the Government of National Unity since July 2024.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa became the first Black woman appointed CEO of Naspers South Africa when she took the role in July 2019. She joined the Naspers board as Executive Director in April 2025.
Who is involved
The South African AI Awards core team consists of a steering committee, led by Atenkosi Ngubevana as Chairperson and Kimberly Greyling as Secretariat.
Ngubevana has more than 17 years of experience in AI and intelligent automation across banking, mining, and telecommunications. Her work includes establishing a Centre of Excellence for Intelligent Automation that saved over a million man-hours annually.
Greyling is a Senior Associate at Odgers. Her expertise lies in aligning people strategy with business expansion and leadership development, and her work centres on building future-ready pipelines in tech environments.
The advisory council includes:
- Arthur Goldstuck, founder and CEO of World Wide Worx and author of 21 books including The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI: A Handbook for All;
- Dr Mark Nasila, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at First National Bank Risk, Professor of Practice in AI at the University of Johannesburg, and research fellow at Stellenbosch University; and
- Kathryn Malherbe, a qualified mammographer and radiographer and a lecturer at the University of Pretoria.
The diverse panel of judges includes:
- Vukosi Sambo, a global, multi-award-winning executive thought leader specialising in AI, data management, cybersecurity, and technology leadership.
- Xoliswa Mahlangu, a recognised leader in digital learning, educational technology, and applied AI, with a Master’s degree in Software Engineering.
- Kabelo Makwane, a seasoned business leader and South African Country Director at Google, a role he assumed in 2025.
- Dr Khensani Xivuri, who recently completed a ground-breaking PhD in Applied Data Science, where she made history as the first recipient of this degree at UJ.
- Mic Mann, the CEO of UBU, Co-CEO of Singularity South Africa, and Director of Mann Made.
- Vuyani Jarana, a seasoned business transformation leader with over 25 years of ICT experience, most of which he spent within the Vodacom Group.
- Anna Collard, the SVP of Content Strategy & CISO Advisor for KnowBe4 Africa where she drives security awareness across the African continent.
The awards received 100 nominations within three weeks of opening, and the black-tie gala dinner is expected to draw more than 500 guests from business, government, academia, and the tech sector.
Partners include NTT DATA, Huawei, YuLife, iStore, Mann Made, Medsol AI Solutions, and 22 on Sloane, while media partners include Mail & Guardian, SABC, Lifestyle & Tech, and AI Impact.
Partnership opportunities are available for brands and organisations looking to be part of South Africa’s technology and innovation conversation. Sponsors and collaborators will receive visibility through national media coverage and digital campaigns to connect their brands with the people shaping the future of technology.
