An Inclusive Approach to Digital Transformation in South Africa

For Future-Ready Organisations

In South Africa's boardrooms, there's an unmistakable urgency around digital transformation. But behind the shiny talk of AI, automation, and fourth industrial revolutions, a quieter, more critical question persists: who gets left behind?

At 54TwentyFour, we work with organisations navigating not just technological shifts — but cultural ones. And the truth we keep encountering is this: if your digital transformation doesn't include everyone, it's exclusion in new code.

Let's be clear — the digital divide in South Africa isn't theoretical. According to Stats SA's latest General Household Survey, only 10.4% of rural households have internet access at home. Many townships face chronic infrastructure challenges, and older employees often report feeling excluded by the pace of new system rollouts.

Globally, the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023 echoes the same concern: those most likely to be left behind in digital transitions are women, older employees, people with disabilities, and low-income workers. If leaders aren't intentional, digital upgrades risk becoming digital gatekeeping.

That's where South Africa's legal framework comes in. Section 9 of the Constitution guarantees equality and protection from unfair discrimination. The Employment Equity Act reinforces the need to proactively develop all employees — not just the most tech-savvy or resourced.

And yet, the skills gap remains vast. The PwC Africa Business Agenda shows that 67% of African CEOs identify the lack of key skills — especially digital — as a major risk to growth. This gap isn't distributed equally. The OECD Skills Strategy for South Africa confirms that historically marginalised groups face the steepest challenges in becoming future-fit.

And the cost of digital exclusion is real. A Deloitte study found that organisations prioritising inclusive digital transformation are 2.6 times more likely to meet or exceed business objectives. Exclusion doesn't just affect morale — it impacts performance, innovation, and retention.

So, the question is no longer "Is digital transformation happening?" The real question is: For whom? Under what conditions? At what cost?

True digital inclusion means more than access. It requires thoughtful pathways that account for different starting points. It requires systems tested across diverse user experiences. It requires cultures that recognise digital anxiety without labelling it as resistance.

Digital inclusion is not "We gave everyone the same login." It's "We built systems knowing that sameness doesn't guarantee equity."

At 54TwentyFour, we believe that inclusive digital transformation begins with system-awareness. Leaders must ask: Who's included in the pilot project? Who's missing from the conversation? Are we assuming people will catch up, or are we equipping them to participate?

An inclusive digital culture is one where older staff aren't sidelined. It's a culture where interfaces are accessible from the start, and questions are welcomed — not penalised.

Because when people feel included in the future, they help build it.

We help organisations move from digital adoption to digital belonging. And we believe that the most successful transformations are those that bring everyone along.

Let's talk. 54TwentyFour is ready to support your inclusive digital journey — one decision, one person, and one system at a time.