Digital Summit 2026 explores future of secure, resident-centred digital services
11 June 2026
The City of Cape Town hosted this year’s Digital Summit on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, under the theme "Shaping the Future of Digital Identity: Data, Security and Governance", bringing together government, private sector, academia and technology leaders to explore how digital identities can transform public services. The summit was opened by the Corporate Services Directorate Executive Director, Ernest Sass, who spoke on the City's digital transformation agenda and how a secure, single digital identity for each resident could make it easier for residents to access City services, reduce administrative barriers and improve service delivery.
‘We were honoured to host this year’s Digital Identity Summit. This summit served as a platform to discuss the City’s needs in building its single digital identity programmes. A single digital identity can allow residents to access multiple services through one secure account, reducing the need for multiple logins, repetitive paperwork and unnecessary visits to service centres. This would improve the City’s services to local residents and make access easier and more reliable,’ said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.
Barry Hore, representing the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), highlighted South Africa's ongoing transition from green identity books to Smart IDs. The presentation highlighted the importance of accelerating digital identity adoption to improve access, reduce administrative inefficiencies and modernise service delivery.
Rahul Rishi, an EY Partner based in Dubai, shared insights from India's digital identity journey, outlining how digital identity initiatives have supported a population of more than 1,2 billion citizens while highlighting the critical role that mobile technology plays in expanding access to services.
Azhar Said, Capitec’s Chief Data Officer, underscored the role of digital identity as an enabler of economic participation and inclusion. A live DHA and Capitec digital kiosk was also on standby and delegates, the majority of whom still had green ID books, were encouraged to register for the Smart IDs on the kiosk which will also be expanding up to 400 Capitec branches by year end.
Arthur Mickoleit from Gartner noted that many governments already possess the foundational elements required for digital identity transformation. Examples from Denmark, Brazil and France demonstrated how governments are increasingly partnering with commercial sectors to accelerate digital identity adoption and create seamless user experiences for citizens.
Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy at KnowBe4 Africa, highlighted the importance of cybersecurity awareness and called for greater collaboration in strengthening cyber resilience, including the potential development of a South African cyber helpline.
Panel discussions that featured the City’s Chief Data Officer, Huge Cole, and Chief Digital Officer, Andre Stelzner, focused on the South African context, unpacking the opportunities and challenges associated with digital transformation.
On the day, the Corporate Services Directorate also hosted a Digital Expo on Concourse Level 2 of the Civic Centre. The expo featured 16 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in digital identity, resident-centred service delivery and digital transformation. Residents and delegates engaged with technologies and solutions from government departments, academia, telecommunications providers, financial institutions and private-sector technology partners.
The summit concluded with a forward-looking discussion on long-term planning towards 2050, examining how governments and institutions can prepare for future changes in technology, governance, the world of work and digital society.
Caption 1: Alderman Theresa Uys engages with CPUT exhibitors at the Digital Expo on the Civic Centre’s Concourse Level 2
Caption 2: Group photo of organisers and presenters. From left to right: Hugh Cole, Prof. Edgar Pieterse, ED Ernest Sass, Kelly Searle Smith, Ald Theresa Uys, Candice Wilson, Rahul Rishi, Barry Hore, Andre Stelzner and Pearl Nongqongqo
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
