​Bukuta Nkuna
Gauteng is at the cutting edge of South Africa's efforts to be the continent's hub of innovation, digital transformation and 4 Industrial Revolution, says Gauteng Premier, David Makhura.  
Addressing the inaugural 4 Industrial Revolution South Africa Digital Economy Summit at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Friday, Makhura said Gauteng continued to lead the pack in the embrace of the fourth industrial revolution. 
The summit hosted by an alliance from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society seeks to develop an inclusive, coherent, national response to the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa. 
Premier Makhura said the provincial government was committed to play its part in embracing the digital innovation. 
"Gauteng province is determined to be play its part as the economic engine of South Africa and industrial, technological and financial hub of Sub-Saharan. We are the first provincial government to set up a Department of e-Government in our country as part of our drive to be a smart, innovation-driven, knowledge-based and digital economy," Premier Makhura said.
He said that the move was prompted by the need for digital exposure in poor communities across Gauteng. 
"We have invested significant resources in the rollout of broadband to peripheral and deprived communities in Gauteng as part of the modernisation of our economy to address the danger of digital exclusion, digital poverty and digital inequality," Makhura said. 
The Premier noted the country is moving towards a future in which 41% of current jobs in the economy will be rendered obsolete by automation, while 35% of the skills considered important by today's work force will have changed beyond recognition and others will have disappeared.
"Our country must take a lead in ensuring we collectively harness the opportunities and navigate the challenges brought about by the advent of the fourth industrial revolution.
"This summit takes place at the right time because there is already evidence that many sectors of SA's economy are undergoing digital transition, although not at a fast-enough pace.
"For instance, the average ICT intensity of jobs in SA has increased by 20% over the last decade. Gauteng province is determined to play an important role as an economic engine of our country and industrial, technological and financial hub of Sub-Saharan Africa," he said. 
Picture courtesy of 1 Medium​