THE advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to spark a combination of concern and confidence, a juxtaposition that was eloquently conveyed at the 20th Annual ICT Summit 2025 in East London in late November. Moderating a panel discussion on Digital Storytelling and Inclusive Communication in the Age of AI Connectivity, Andile April, communication and stakeholder relations manager for the Coega Development Corporation, unpacked the complex digital transformation gripping government and traditional media.
Three communication heavyweights from government and the media industry drew attention to the major shift required to transition from traditional to new media platforms, underscoring the need for a unified approach to digital transformation in South Africa.
Opening remarks from Khuselwa Rantjie, the chief director of communications for the Eastern Cape Provincial Government (ECPG), Sandy McCowen, general manager of content for MpumaKapa TV (MPK), and Dr Lungile Binza, chief operations officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) made it clear: embracing AI is essential to remain relevant, but must be balanced with the need for universal access and inclusion.
Rantjie’s synopsis highlighted the dual communication challenge facing provincial government. While tasked with strategic coordination across all government entities, the advent of AI and fast information dissemination creates a challenging balance to strike. Rantjie shared that despite AI and the capacity to disseminate information instantly, in a province like the Eastern Cape that still has grassroots pockets, communicators must ensure that citizens who are still reliant on traditional media have access to the same selection of information.
This perspective drives the government’s decision to build in-house capacity and create its own digital platforms, shifting away from reliance on traditional media that may be selective about which stories to tell. Rantjie noted the immediate advantage of AI in speeding up the content creation process but acknowledged systemic issues like procurement that are likely to slow the pace of full-scale public sector AI adoption.
Media panellist, McCowen, provided insights into how broadcasters have pivoted themselves to meet evolving consumer habits. McCowen captured the consumer shift, noting that the cell phone has now become the television set. The role of the media has now expanded from overseeing content solely on television to managing content across all platforms, including digital and social media. This expansion is driven by the need to meet viewers where they consume content.
Dr Binza elaborated on the profound and immediate impact of technological change on the highly regulated broadcasting sector. The SABC’s public mandate dictates universal availability across all South African languages. He said the strategic answer to this is the SABC Plus platform, which is free and designed to bridge the digital divide.
Beyond current content, Binza cited the SABC’s archives as its most prized asset. He said this vast repository of content, encompassing all African languages, must be digitised, ensuring that important historical and cultural content is preserved and available on demand.
The discussion also delved into the vital role of community radio and media. Panellists stressed its importance in bridging the gap and empowering communities in the languages they understand. The SABC views these outlets as partners, noting their crucial role in enhancing the broadcast mandate. In terms of partnership, the SABC also shared that aggregating platforms such as MpumaKapa TV into the SABC Plus app is mutually beneficial.
The panel made it clear that communication in the age of AI is not just about adopting new technology; it is fundamentally about inclusion and access. For government, it means balancing high-speed digital engagement with traditional grassroots methods. For media, it means adapting to mobile consumption and using data to inform content, while never losing sight of the public mandate for multilingual and universal access.
The Coega Development Corporation concludes that the future of communication and digital storytelling relies on strategic partnerships and a continued commitment to ensuring no community is left behind in the rapid shift to digital platforms.
