SA seeks re-election to ITU Council at global telecom conference 2026 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) is officially underway in Doha. Source: Department of Communications and Digital Technologies/Facebook State opposes Suliman Carrim’s bail over UAE residency and flight risk concerns Salga urges parties to prioritise stability in coalition negotiations Matlala claims he may have been drugged when implicating Sibiya in corruption Madlanga rules Matlala’s failed plea-deal statement can be heard by commission South Africa is seeking re-election to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council as it joins other member states at the organisation’s highest decision-making conference in Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 27 November. The South African delegation, led by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), is participating in the 2026 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26), where member states will determine the organisation’s strategic direction, policies and priorities for the next four years. The conference will also elect five ITU officials and members of the ITU Council, which serves as the organisation’s governing body between plenipotentiary conferences. ALSO READ: KZN parties gear up for coalition talks in 34 hung municipalities The DCDT said South Africa’s bid for re-election was aimed at ensuring that the needs of developing countries, particularly those in Africa, remain central to the global digital agenda. “Re-election would enable the country to build on this contribution and continue participating constructively in the Council’s strategic deliberations and decision-making on the development of the global ICT ecosystem,” the department said. South Africa’s engagement at the conference will focus on affordable access to digital technologies, digital government services, digital skills development, data and cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital inclusion. The department said the country would also advocate for equitable access to digital technologies and greater participation in the digital economy to address the digital divide. Its position is informed by national development priorities outlined in the National Development Plan 2030, the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, the Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of Government and the National Data and Cloud Policy. The department said South Africa’s priorities were also reinforced by its G20 Presidency and the work of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group, which advanced universal connectivity, digital public infrastructure, innovation and emerging technologies. As part of its bid for another term on the council, South Africa has outlined several priorities, including expanding broadband connectivity, improving access to radio-frequency spectrum and satellite-orbital resources, and promoting an accessible standardisation environment for developing countries. During the proposed 2027-2030 term, the country intends to support the implementation of the WSIS+20 outcomes and Sustainable Development Goals, strengthen submarine cable resilience and promote the safe and equitable use of artificial intelligence. It also plans to continue advocating for child online protection and early-warning systems. KZN parties gear up for coalition talks in 34 hung municipalities Buthelezi calls for skilled public service to drive Africa’s economic growth Kenyan cult leader sentenced to 200 years in prison for mass starvation murders of children Bellarmine Mugabe, four others remanded over assault during luxury car smuggling investigation South Africa’s local elections could continue the decline of the once-mighty ANC State opposes Suliman Carrim’s bail over UAE residency and flight risk concerns Salga urges parties to prioritise stability in coalition negotiations Matlala claims he may have been drugged when implicating Sibiya in corruption Madlanga rules Matlala’s failed plea-deal statement can be heard by commission Russia and Ukraine batter each other with long-range strikes a day before US-brokered talks Address: Inside Education, 16th Road Randjesfontein , Constantia Square Office Park, Midrand, Gauteng. ‎+27 11 312 2206 Mbalula calls ANC local election outcome ‘catastrophic’ as support crashes to record low Mapaila credits SACP’s grassroots mobilisation for election performance ActionSA: Moya for another five years, says Beaumont Salga urges parties to prioritise stability in coalition negotiations Matlala claims he may have been drugged when implicating Sibiya in corruption Madlanga rules Matlala’s failed plea-deal statement can be heard by commission Terms and Conditions·Refund and Cancellation Policy·Privacy Policy