South Africa is at a pivotal point in its digital transformation journey. With internet penetration now above 79%, the country has made significant strides in connectivity.
By Chandra Mohan Malladi, global head,: digital public infrastructure (DPI) and financial inclusion at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
However, the digital divide remains stark, particularly in rural and underserved areas, where access to essential public services is still a challenge.
As government accelerates digital access through the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) stands out as a critical enabler of inclusive, efficient, and transparent service delivery.
From Identity to Access: How DPI Enables Public Services
DPI is the foundation that makes modern public services work better. In any country, it brings together core digital systems like digital IDs, secure online interoperable payments, and shared technology platforms that allow different services to connect and function smoothly. In practice, this means people can access healthcare, education, and social support more easily, without the delays of paperwork or distance.
South Africa’s diverse population and vast geography mean that modernising public services at scale, while ensuring inclusivity, is both a national imperative and a complex challenge. DPI offers a pragmatic path forward by placing digital identity systems, seamless online payments, and interoperable platforms at the heart of service delivery.
At Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), we believe DPI is essential to building inclusive and efficient public services. South Africa’s advances in connectivity are impressive, but ensuring equitable access for all remains a shared responsibility. By supporting secure digital identity, open interoperable payment systems, consent-based data exchange with privacy built in and interoperable systems including sectoral DPIs (Agriculture, Health Care, Finance & Economy, Education, Public Infrastructure, Sustainability, among others) built on open standards, we are committed to helping every South African access public service with confidence and ease.
With the adoption of DPI, government programs can reach people faster; whether it’s booking a clinic appointment, accessing educational materials, or receiving social support. The days of endless paperwork and long queues should be numbered. DPI services will take care of the hassle, ensuring that even those in remote villages are not left behind. In essence, DPI enables public services to evolve alongside South Africans’ needs—designed to serve everyone, no matter where they live.
Kenya is leading the way
In Kenya, TCS’ iTAX system has simplified revenue collection for individuals and businesses, marking a long-standing partnership with the Kenyan Revenue Authority.
TCS recently organised a workshop with more than 34 senior officials of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE) in Nairobi focused on how scalable, secure, and citizen-first platforms can transform public services and create a model for the rest of Africa.
This was immediately followed up with TCS, Sybyl, and IXAfrica Data Centre Limited (iXAfrica) forging a strategic partnership to establish and scale sovereign cloud infrastructure in Kenya and other East African countries. This partnership will combine their strengths to build a robust foundation for digital transformation across the region.
TCS has also partnered with governments in Uganda, Zambia, and Rwanda to build tax administration systems, and with the East African Community to develop a Customs Information System. Clearly it is time for South Africa to start investing in their digital transformation journey with TCS as its trusted partner.
Transforming South African Public Services with TCS’ DPI
TCS’ DPI is designed to unlock new possibilities for public service delivery, especially in rural and underserved regions. By building flexible, easy-to-integrate digital platforms, TCS enables services like healthcare, education, and welfare to reach people wherever they are. TCS’ approach is rooted in creating accessible interfaces and ensuring technology works on the ground.
It is secure, scalable, and affordable to create large impact at population scale. TCS has demonstratable experience and partner ecosystem to drive end to end benefit realization for all the stakeholders in South Africa.
TCS’ experience in similar markets is well documented. In India, being the largest IT service provider, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) played a pivotal role in the adoption of Aadhaar biometric identity platform, which in turn has enabled over 1,3-billion people to access government services and subsidies, reducing leakages and improving efficiency.
Supporting South Africa’s national digital strategy
While the South Africa government is pushing to provide citizens with modern, seamless digital services, there are still barriers for a complete transformation. These include digital literacy gaps, ageism and the urban-rural divide, which risk exacerbating existing inequalities, rather than alleviating them.
DPI makes it easier for South Africans to access key services like healthcare, direct benefit transfers, and payments. With secure digital IDs and mobile solutions, even those in remote areas can benefit. This shift addresses frustration with old systems and helps build a more efficient, inclusive public service.
What makes TCS’ DPI system uniquely suited to South Africa’s digital strategy is its modular, adaptable design, grounded in global experience and local insight. Security and privacy are built into the architecture, ensuring public trust is never compromised. Interfaces are user-friendly, workflows are inclusive, and the system is sensitive to social and economic diversity.
Digital connectivity is set to form the backbone of service modernisation in South Africa’s public sector.
With DPI, government can deliver services that are faster, fairer, and more inclusive; empowering every citizen, regardless of where they live.
Through shared commitment, digital public infrastructure can drive meaningful progress for the entire nation.