2023 Digital Innovation and IT Project of the Year award recipient Josh Souchon explains that at Sasfin, AI is being used in different ways and at different levels of maturity, though all are focused on assisting employees in their roles, from credit decisioning (Scorecard) to producing minutes of meetings with actions, owners and due dates (Copilot). However, according to Josh, the regulatory environment is very strict in how and where client and transactional data, the ‘crown jewels’, as he puts it, is used. “This creates a challenge when using generative AI and therefore, following first pr ..read more

Mathabo Nakene-Mginqi, currently Unisa’s vice-principal: ICT-CIO, has worked in sectors spanning aviation and public service – and says each stint came with its own lessons and added to her skill set. “I enjoyed my time at the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA),” she says. “I was there for six years. Before joining the company I really didn’t have a full appreciation of how intense an airport business is: I was part of something bigger than myself, a business that connects people with their families and ambitions – it’s a transport business, but really at the heart of it, an infrastructur ..read more

As CTO, Nkululeko is responsible for the IT processes and systems for five brands housed within the Infinity Brands stable. He says some brands have a national footprint, so the IT requirements can be complex. In an exclusive interview with CIO South Africa, Nkululeko explained that one key differentiator for businesses that are part of Infinity Brands is the franchise management agency’s data-driven approach. For example, when a brand comes on board, Nkululeko receives a brief from the brand’s GM, and he develops an IT ‘skeleton’ for that business. He then leads the development of a tailored ..read more

Dr Sylvia Sathekge, CIO at SNG Grant Thornton, has been nominated for the 2024 CIO Awards. Since assuming the role of CIO at SNG Grant Thornton in November 2022,  she has leveraged her extensive experience to spearhead the firm’s digital transformation journey. Her impressive background includes prior CIO roles at Babcock International Group (Africa) and Omnia Holdings. Beyond her executive duties, Dr Sathekge is a passionate advocate for robust digital transformation and cybersecurity practices. She recently concluded a doctorate degree in digital transformation with a focus on cybe ..read more

Gona Rajoo oversees major IT builds and operations in the hospitality industry for Peermont Global, a leading casino and hotel group. As CIO and Group IT executive, he believes in leading by example and that customer experience is key, no matter the end user. Gona, who hails from the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, originally started his work life in the nineties as a maths and science high school teacher. It made sense coming from a family of educators, even though he’d always had a passion for IT. Unfortunately, his 1980s segregated high school education did not afford him opportunities to explor ..read more

Generative AI (GenAI) has revolutionised industries and transformed lives with its unparalleled ability to generate, create, and innovate. However, this rapid adoption has also introduced a plethora of vulnerabilities and attack surfaces, making it a tantalising target for cybercriminals.  As AI systems become increasingly sophisticated, so too do the threats they face, compromising sensitive data and eroding trust in these systems. A robust cybersecurity framework for GenAI must be built on the following unshakeable pillars: Data security: the Fort Knox of GenAI Protecting the integrit ..read more

At a CIO Dinner on 25 April at Aurum Restaurant at The Leonardo in Sandton, top CIOs gathered to discuss ways for IT teams to continue supporting remote work, while transitioning back to office environments. Dinner guests shared some of the challenges IT teams face in implementing back-to-office mandates, including ensuring network security, managing device connectivity and addressing infrastructure needs to support hybrid work models, but most importantly, accommodating the hybrid style of working that high performers have become accustomed to during the pandemic. The dinner was hosted by CIO ..read more

CIO South Africa caught up with Dolf Smook, head of technology solutions at Empact Group, Sne Dlamini, CIO at Discovery Insure, Hilton Martin, chief of ICT at Ster-Kinekor, and Gona Rajoo, CIO at Peermont Global, to learn what literature keeps them motivated and inspired. Dolf is currently reading Good to Great, by Jim Collins, and Persuasion Games, by Gilan Gork. Good to Great hits the mark for his realm of work: “It has a section on technology, explaining that ‘great’ companies use technology as an accelerator of momentum, not a creator of it,” he says. “They adopt technology strategically t ..read more

Cell C has appointed Bryan O’Donovan as its new chief data and analytics officer (CDAO), effective May 2024. He will spearhead the management of the organisation’s data and analytics assets, championing data-driven decision-making processes, and leveraging data assets to propel growth and optimisation initiatives. “I look forward to collaborating with the teams at Cell C to harness the power of data and analytics in driving strategic decision-making and delivering value to our customers,” says Bryan. With nearly two decades of experience spanning actuarial science, financial services and telec ..read more

Director of ICT services at the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Thando Mubva’s true passion lies in mentorship and nurturing talent. She actively engages in guiding and empowering individuals, particularly in the field of IT, fostering their growth and development as future leaders in the industry. “The most memorable and proudest moment I’ve experienced through mentorship was seeing mentees getting permanent jobs right before the end of our mentorship programmes,” she notes. “This leads to an increase in self-esteem and confid ..read more