Tech guru Melvyn Lubega appointed to lead South Africa's new Digital Service Unit

The Presidency has appointed South African tech entrepreneur, Melvyn Lubega, to lead the newly-established Digital Service Unit (DSU), which will drive the implementation of the Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of Government.

The Roadmap, which is  a key pillar of Operation Vulindlela, sets out a focused plan to modernise delivery of Government services through investment in digital public infrastructure. 

The Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of Government was officially launched by The Presidency, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), and National Treasury on Monday following the launch of Operation Vulindlela Phase ll last week. 

Lubega is a globally recognised technology pioneer, who co-founded Go1 - a platform used by businesses, non-profit organisations, and governments in more than 60 countries. He has advised governments in Africa, Asia and Europe on digital transformation programmes. 

Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for The Presidency, said the establishment of the DSU in The Presidency, and the appointment of Lubega, demonstrated the commitment of the 7th Administration to improving service delivery and driving economic growth through investments in digital innovations. 

“To operationalise this new reform area, Cabinet has approved the Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of Government as a key pillar of Operation Vulindlela. The Roadmap sets out a focused plan to modernise delivery of Government services through investment in digital public infrastructure,” Magwenya said.

“These crucial digital reforms will enable all citizens to access seamless Government services through a single trusted platform. This will be driven through improvements in identity verification, real-time payments, and data exchange.”

Prior to Go1, Lubega built, exited and invested in leading fintech companies across Africa. He is a Partner at Breega, one of the fastest-growing early stage venture capital investors in EMEA, with over $600 million in assets under management, investing in disruptive technologies that solve significant economic and social challenges.

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