At the recent Digital Public Service Awards, Edward Kieswetter, the commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), was honoured with the prestigious technology leader award. The event took place alongside the GovTech 2025 conference, organised by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), which celebrates innovation and digital progress in various sectors, including governance and community development.
This year’s awards received an impressive 150 nominations across eight categories, highlighting the remarkable achievements of government institutions and innovators. SITA aims to recognise those leveraging technology to enhance the lives of South Africans.
Recognising Excellence
Gopal Reddy, acting managing director of SITA, remarked on the challenge of selecting winners from such a talented pool, emphasising the awards’ role in showcasing technology’s transformative power in public services.
Kieswetter’s accolade reflects his commitment to enhancing SARS’s technological capabilities and harnessing data insights. Since his appointment in May 2019, he has openly addressed the service’s challenges, previously describing SARS as being “dumbed-down.” Under his leadership, the organisation has embraced a vision to evolve into a smart, modern revenue service, driven by data insights, artificial intelligence, and enhanced interconnectivity.
Additionally, SARS is focused on attracting skilled professionals in IT, data management, and legal services to support its objectives.
Other Notable Winners
The Information Regulator (InfoReg) was also recognised at the awards, securing two first runner-up positions. The first was for digital governance, highlighting their innovative e-services and myRegulator portals, which have modernised the regulator’s operations. The second award acknowledged their digital partnerships with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), enabling real-time verification of registered entities.
InfoReg’s Chief Information Officer, Tando Luyaba, expressed pride in achieving recognition for their progress, affirming the importance of their digital transformation journey.
Other winners included:
- Digital Woman Award: Tsholofelo Ramokoka
- Innovative Woman in Youth Award: Sibongile Mbodlela
- Digital Governance Award: South African Local Government Association
- Digital Education Award: Letlaka Mphuthi
- ICT Large Companies Award: Techsys Digital
- Digital Partnership Award: University of the Witwatersrand, TENET, and City of Johannesburg
- Community Builder Recognition Award: GoDigitalSA Foundation
These awards collectively highlight the vital role of technology and innovation in enhancing public services across South Africa.