At an exclusive dialogue hosted by Google South Africa to mark Public Service and Women’s Month, Deputy Minister of Administration Pinky Kekana championed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping governance and tackling corruption.
Speaking at the event, Kekana outlined how AI could revolutionize public sector efficiency. She highlighted its ability to optimize hospital management, predict medicine demand, and significantly reduce clinic waiting times. Beyond healthcare, AI could streamline administrative processes like licensing and registration, replacing long queues with seamless digital solutions.
Kekana also underscored AI’s critical role in combating corruption, which she described as a major threat to effective governance. By detecting anomalies in procurement processes and flagging suspicious financial transactions, AI-driven systems could enhance transparency in public contracts. She pointed to ongoing pilot projects using data analytics, which have demonstrated the effectiveness of early warning systems in preventing financial leakage.
The dialogue, attended by public sector leaders and tech experts, emphasized the growing importance of AI in building a more efficient and accountable government, aligning with South Africa’s broader goals for public sector reform.
