The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, and the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mr Solly Malatsi, jointly handed over smart tablets to learners at Glenvista Primary School in Johannesburg on 31 July 2025. The donation was made possible through private sector partnerships, exemplifying the growing collaboration between Government and Industry to address the digital divide in South Africa’s education system.
Minister Gwarube expressed her appreciation to Primedia CEO, Mr Bongumusa Makhathini saying: “Thank you to Primedia Cares, who have donated these devices. Through strategic partnerships, we are unlocking the potential of every learner with tools that prepare them for coding, robotics and a changing economy, further ensuring that no child is left behind. The future of basic education lies in our ability to prepare children for a world that is changing at lightning speed. We need strong partners from across society, particularly the private sector, to help us bridge the resource gap and fast-track digital transformation in our schools. These smart tablets are more than just devices. They are tools of empowerment. They open a world of learning opportunities, from literacy and numeracy apps to coding platforms and digital libraries. We want our learners to be creators, problem-solvers, and innovators. This is the future we are building”.
The smart tablets form part of Government’s broader efforts to improve school connectivity, digital literacy and access to coding and robotics education in the Basic Education Sector. The partnership reflects a critical pillar of the 7th Administration’s approach of leveraging strategic collaboration with the private sector to bridge the digital divide, especially in the context of constrained government finances.
The handover is a practical step toward equipping learners with 21st Century skills, fostering early exposure to technology, and preparing them to thrive in a fast-changing economy. The handover event included a demonstration of the tablets by learners, who showcased their ability to navigate educational apps and use the devices to reinforce their learning. Learners also engaged the Ministers in a short Q&A session on responsible digital citizenship and the safe use of technology. Both Ministers reiterated that this is just the beginning of a multi-stakeholder effort to ensure that digital education becomes the norm, not the exception, in South Africa — even in contexts where financial constraints are significant.
“The Government of National Unity is united in purpose when it comes to investing in the future of our learners. With constrained public finances, partnerships like these are not just helpful, they are essential. We call on more businesses to join us in creating a truly connected and digitally empowered education system,” added Minister Gwarube.
“We have the tools. We have the talent. What we need now is alignment and scale — and that’s what this partnership shows we can achieve,” added Minister Malatsi.
The Departments of Basic Education and Communications and Digital Technologies will jointly handover tablets in the Free State, Western Cape and Eastern Cape Province to scale up school connectivity and build the digital foundations needed to ensure every child in South Africa can thrive in the digital economy.