By Thapelo Molefe
South Africa is seeking re-election to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council as it joins other member states at the organisation’s highest decision-making conference in Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 27 November.
The South African delegation, led by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), is participating in the 2026 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26), where member states will determine the organisation’s strategic direction, policies and priorities for the next four years.
The conference will also elect five ITU officials and members of the ITU Council, which serves as the organisation’s governing body between plenipotentiary conferences.
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The DCDT said South Africa’s bid for re-election was aimed at ensuring that the needs of developing countries, particularly those in Africa, remain central to the global digital agenda.
“Re-election would enable the country to build on this contribution and continue participating constructively in the Council’s strategic deliberations and decision-making on the development of the global ICT ecosystem,” the department said.
South Africa’s engagement at the conference will focus on affordable access to digital technologies, digital government services, digital skills development, data and cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital inclusion.
The department said the country would also advocate for equitable access to digital technologies and greater participation in the digital economy to address the digital divide.
Its position is informed by national development priorities outlined in the National Development Plan 2030, the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, the Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of Government and the National Data and Cloud Policy.
The department said South Africa’s priorities were also reinforced by its G20 Presidency and the work of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group, which advanced universal connectivity, digital public infrastructure, innovation and emerging technologies.
As part of its bid for another term on the council, South Africa has outlined several priorities, including expanding broadband connectivity, improving access to radio-frequency spectrum and satellite-orbital resources, and promoting an accessible standardisation environment for developing countries.
During the proposed 2027-2030 term, the country intends to support the implementation of the WSIS+20 outcomes and Sustainable Development Goals, strengthen submarine cable resilience and promote the safe and equitable use of artificial intelligence.
It also plans to continue advocating for child online protection and early-warning systems.
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