Topic: Digital Transformation: The Socio-Economic Benefits and Unintended Negative Consequences
Panellists:
Prof Tshilidzi Marwala Vice-Chancellor, University of Johannesburg
Ms Charmaine Houvet Senior Public Policy Director and Growth for Africa, Cisco
Ms Lwazi Wali Head of Venture, Founders Factory
Facilitated by Ms Refilwe Moloto Strategic and economic advisor and Host of CapeTalk’s Breakfast Show
Whether it’s going from analogue to digital, or using digital technologies to change business models, the fact of the matter is that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is here and Africa needs to utilise it to provide new revenue and value-producing, inclusive opportunities. Digitisation and digitalisation have been and can be used to transform existing industries as well as create new ones that include more of the continent’s population, thus boosting growth. Over and above the economic benefits of digitisation, there are a slew of positive social benefits, many of which are coming into sharp focus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this webinar, we explored both the positive and negative unintended consequences of the advent of the digital age. How do we mitigate against the negative consequences? It has also been said that women will bear the brunt of digitisation, followed by the youth. How then do we use technology and digitalisation to improve the quality of lives of both women and young people to ensure their inclusion in the growth of the continent’s economy?