Publication: IOL
Author: Mpho Matlhabegoane
Photography: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto
In a world where automation and artificial intelligence are shaking up industries, the question on many South Africans' minds is: Are we heading toward mass unemployment or a new way of working?
The answer, like many things in Mzansi, is layered. Jobs are not dying — they're transforming. And how we respond to that shift will define the future of work for generations.
South Africa finds itself in a critical moment. With an unemployment rate lingering above 32% and youth unemployment soaring over 45% (Stats SA, 2025), the anxiety is real and justified. From cashiers in Diepsloot to call centre agents in Durban, many fear being replaced by bots, algorithms, and machines. The emergence of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, robotics in warehouses, and digital financial services has started to reshape job descriptions overnight.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Reflecting on this shift, Bongumusa Walter Ngema, a 2022 Activator and Family Law Assistant based in Cape Town, offers a grounded perspective. Though not in tech per se, his work in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development places him in the heart of digital transition within the public service. “We’ve moved from paper-heavy processes to relying on digital case tracking systems,” he says. “Staff today need more than legal knowledge — they need to be digitally literate and adaptable.”
Ngema represents a growing group of professionals recognising that digital skills are no longer a luxury — they're a necessity. “Even interns struggle with basic computer tasks,” he adds. “We need stronger partnerships between government and civil society to deliver digital literacy, especially in rural and township communities.”
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has echoed this call, outlining a national plan to train over one million young South Africans in digital skills by 2030, including coding, cloud computing, and AI, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies reported in 2023. The 4IR isn’t just about machines — it’s about preparing humans to work alongside them.
In fact, rather than eliminating jobs, AI is opening up new career paths. Roles like data labellers, cybersecurity analysts, AI ethics consultants, and drone technicians are on the rise. These are jobs that didn’t exist a decade ago, but they now form part of a rapidly evolving employment landscape. Even in traditional sectors like agriculture and mining, tech is reshaping how things are done. But — crucially — humans still need to guide, manage, and make sense of the tech.
Ngema believes that human qualities like empathy, judgment, and context will remain irreplaceable. “AI can assist, but it can’t navigate the complexities of child custody or domestic abuse cases,” he says. “That’s where human reasoning still leads.” His insight touches on something often overlooked in the AI debate: the importance of jobs that require heart, not just head.
To navigate the shift, education is key. But South Africa’s education system has long been under pressure. The World Bank recently reported that 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning in any language, according to the Department of Basic Education, in 2024. How do we talk about coding when literacy itself is still a barrier?
That’s why initiatives like YES and the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy are critical. They’re working to bridge the gap by introducing young people to digital tools early on — whether through online bootcamps, mobile labs, or community-based training centres, according to Youth Employment Service. But the reach remains uneven, especially outside of metro areas.
To ensure tech doesn’t just benefit the elite, South Africa must double down on inclusive policy-making. Universal broadband, accessible tech policies in all 11 languages, and public AI literacy campaigns are no longer optional — they’re urgent. Without them, the digital divide could become the new apartheid.
Still, the future is not without hope. Ngema imagines a tomorrow where AI and humans collaborate — not compete. “Imagine a paralegal in Khayelitsha using AI to draft court documents more efficiently,” he says, “or a rural teacher using smart tools to personalise learning for kids with different needs.” These are not far-fetched dreams. They are real possibilities — if the right investments are made.
So no, jobs are not dying. They’re evolving. And while change is uncomfortable, it also brings opportunity. The real work lies in making sure all South Africans — urban and rural, youth and elder — are part of that evolution. If we embrace this moment with vision and collective effort, we can build a future of work that is not only digital but also deeply human and proudly South African.
Mpho Matlhabegoane is an Activate Change driver, Writers Hub.
Amendment to the Gazette