The National Digital and Future Skills Strategy of South Africa (2021-2025)

The National Digital and Future Skills Strategy of South Africa (2021-2025) is a comprehensive initiative aimed at fostering digital skills development across the country. This strategy, adopted by the Cabinet of the Republic of South Africa in August 2020, focuses on building a digitally skilled society to participate in the evolving digital economy. It emphasises the importance of digital skills for individuals, organisations, and countries to benefit from the technological advancements shaping the global landscape. The strategy encompasses various elements such as basic and intermediate digital skills, building advanced digital skills, industry 4.0, and addressing the digital skills divide. It also highlights the need for continuous collaboration among stakeholders, including government, private sector, and educational institutions, to achieve the vision of a digitally skilled South Africa. The strategy aims to enhance the quality of life, education, and economic growth by equipping individuals with essential 21st-century skills intertwined with digital competencies

The key objectives of the strategy include:

1. Fostering Digital Skills Development: The strategy aims to address the need for mechanisms to foster digital skills development across South Africa, emphasising the importance of acquiring and deploying digital skills in the evolving digital economy.
2. Building Advanced Digital Skills: The strategy focuses on advancing digital skills beyond basic and intermediate levels, strengthening research and innovation capacities in higher learning institutions, digital incubators, research entities, and various sectors.
3. Addressing the Digital Skills Divide: It seeks to bridge the digital skills gap by ensuring that all South Africans benefit from enhanced digital skills, contributing to an improved quality of life, education, and economic growth. The strategy emphasises the importance of digital skills for creating new 21st-century jobs and intertwining digital competencies with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
4. Collaboration Among Stakeholders: The strategy highlights the necessity of continuous collaboration among government, private sector, and educational institutions to achieve the vision of a digitally skilled South Africa. It stresses the importance of structured consultation, collaboration, and coordination involving all stakeholders to realise the digital skills vision.