President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in California in the United States for a high-level working visit to Silicon Valley, where he will lead a multi-stakeholder South African delegation in engagements aimed at strengthening the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and attracting investment.
The President arrived on Saturday, 14 November 2026, accompanied by a delegation comprising representatives from government, academia, business, research institutions, technical experts and university students.
The visit seeks to provide South Africa with insights into the global AI ecosystem and inform the country’s approach to the development, adoption and application of the technology.
The programme includes engagements with leading technology companies, investors, researchers, academics and AI experts, alongside technology demonstrations and knowledge exchanges covering frontier AI, robotics, data infrastructure, cloud computing and digital innovation.
READ | President to lead delegation to Silicon Valley
A key feature of the visit will be the South Africa AI Opportunity gathering, under the theme: “Building the African AI Economy: Infrastructure, Investment and Innovation”.
The gathering will bring together South African and international stakeholders to explore opportunities to position South Africa as a competitive AI hub on the African continent.
Discussions will focus on the infrastructure required to support AI development, including data centres, computing capacity and energy requirements, as well as investment opportunities and the growth of a competitive start-up ecosystem.
The delegation will also engage with leading academic institutions to explore the implications of AI for technology, security, the economy, business and the labour market, as well as developments in robotics and technological research.
Other areas of focus include the application of AI in government and industry, law enforcement and public safety, AI safety and security, governance, skills development and the future of work.
The engagements are expected to identify opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange and skills development, while strengthening South Africa’s technological capabilities.
AI presents opportunities to improve productivity, strengthen public service delivery, stimulate economic growth and support the development of new industries and employment opportunities.
In South Africa, potential applications include health, education, criminal justice, public administration and public procurement.
“The visit provides an opportunity to learn from countries and institutions at the forefront of AI development, understand the associated risks and challenges, and consider how South Africa can develop an enabling policy, regulatory and skills environment to support responsible AI adoption,” the Presidency said.
Investment destination
South Africa will further use the visit to promote itself as an investment destination, showcase progress in economic reforms, including through Operation Vulindlela, and highlight opportunities in its digital economy, research capacity and innovation ecosystem.
As the country explores the opportunities presented by AI, it will also seek to safeguard its digital sovereignty, policy autonomy, data protection and responsible AI governance, ensuring that technological advancement contributes to inclusive economic growth and development.
The President is accompanied by the Ministers of Finance; International Relations and Cooperation; Science, Technology and Innovation; Trade, Industry and Competition; Communications and Digital Technologies; Electricity and Energy; Small Business Development; and the Presidency, as well as South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States.
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–SAnews.gov.za
Source: www.sanews.gov.za
