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South Africa is winning plaudits for embracing artificial intelligence (AI). A July study by a digital entertainment platform found that we are the most future-ready economy in Africa.
With more than three‑quarters of the population online, the country has the continent’s strongest startup ecosystem with a score of 5.16/10, far ahead of its peers.
We’re also said to be well-placed to adopt AI, keeping the business climate steady. And the economy benefits from a diverse mix of finance and industry that few other African nations can rival.
And yet that’s a far cry from the reality for millions of South Africans. While businesses race to adopt AI tools, most people don’t own a computer. And for many, the price of a laptop is more than a month’s salary.
South Africa’s AI success story has an asterisk
South Africa ranked 46th out of 147 economies in Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report for the first quarter of 2026, placing it ahead of every other African country included in the study. Generative AI usage has also climbed to 23.1% of our working-age population.
Those numbers paint a picture of a nation embracing technological change. That depends on who you ask. The latest available International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data shows that only 26% of households have a computer at home.
The overwhelming majority of people don’t have regular access to the device that’s become essential for education, employment and increasingly, AI.
When a computer costs more than your monthly salary
For many households, owning a computer isn’t a question of priorities but one of affordability.
According to the latest available Statistics South Africa earnings data, the country’s median monthly wage is R5,417. Meanwhile, an entry-level laptop typically costs upwards of R6,000.
About half of South African workers would need to spend more than an entire month’s income on purchasing a laptop before paying for rent, transport, food or electricity.
That financial reality creates a cycle that’s difficult to escape. Without a computer, it’s harder to build digital skills. Without digital skills, finding better-paying work becomes more difficult. And without higher earnings, buying a computer remains out of reach.
It’s a digital catch-22.
The digital divide starts in the classroom
The gap begins long before people enter the workforce.
According to the Department of Basic Education’s 2025 Education Facility Management System report, fewer than half of our public schools have a computer centre. More than 11 000 schools still lack one altogether.
Even more concerning, fewer than one in ten mathematics teachers have computers available in their classrooms. For learners, their first meaningful interaction with a computer only happens after they leave school.
“This means that thousands of learners arrive without the basic computer literacy skills needed for post-school study and the workplace,” explained Barbara Cawcutt, General Manager at International Certifications for Business (ICB).
“As they start on the back foot, tertiary institutions have a responsibility to step in to address this gap with foundational digital skills support, including basic proficiency on a laptop or desktop, to open the door for students to fully participate in education, work and the digital economy.”
Smartphones can only take you so far
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) 2026 State of the ICT Sector Report found that 82.1% of households have internet access from at least one location. Smartphones are driving most of that connectivity.
That’s encouraging news. But being online isn’t the same as being digitally empowered.
A smartphone is ideal for messaging friends, scrolling social media or watching short videos. Not so much for writing a professional CV, building a spreadsheet, or attending online lectures.
AI tools add more complexity, and those skills develop through regular computer use, not simply internet access.
Are we really AI-future ready?
As AI becomes woven into education, healthcare, business and public services, computer literacy is moving from a specialist to a basic life skill.
If we want our AI success story to include everyone, closing the digital gap must become as important as developing the next breakthrough technology.
Otherwise, we risk building an AI-powered future that millions of South Africans cannot access.
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