South Africa’s Cynthia Lesufi nominated to lead continent’s top telecoms body
South Africa has officially submitted Lesufi’s name for secretary-general of the African Telecommunications Union for the 2027–2030 term.
The Republic of South Africa has formally nominated Cynthia Leungo Lesufi for the position of secretary-general of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU). This strategic nomination, announced in March 2026, positions a seasoned South African policymaker to lead the continent’s premier information and communication technology (ICT) body.
Lesufi, currently the Minister Counsellor at the South African Permanent Mission in Geneva, has already secured endorsement from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State.
Founded in 1977 as a specialised agency of the Organisation of African Unity, the ATU serves as a vital partnership between public and private stakeholders to harmonise ICT policies across its 48 Member States. The union is significant for representing African interests at global decision-making conferences and promoting initiatives to bridge the digital divide.
Cynthia Lesufi bio: A track record of digital transformation
Lesufi brings over 20 years of experience in ICT policymaking and digital transformation to her candidacy. She holds a law degree from North-West University and a Master of Arts in ICT Policy and Regulation from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Her career includes serving as the director of Telecommunications Policy for the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) between 2014 and 2021, where she led the development of the National Data and Cloud Policy.
Notably, Lesufi played a pivotal role at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 in securing the second digital dividend for Africa, a move critical for the rollout of mobile broadband.
Reflecting on her nomination in a statement on 11 March 2026, Lesufi expressed her commitment to the continent’s progress:
“Telecommunications and digital technologies are increasingly shaping how we grow our economies, connect our people, and create opportunities for innovation across the continent. I believe the ATU has an important role to play in strengthening cooperation among African countries.”
Driving the African digital economy
The ATU’s mission is to accelerate the development of telecommunications to achieve robust digital economies across Africa.
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) noted that Lesufi’s leadership would focus on expanding broadband access, strengthening digital infrastructure, and advancing digital skills.
“ICASA is proud to join South Africa in congratulating and supporting the nomination of Cynthia Leungo Lesufi for Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union,” the regulator posted on X (Twitter) on 13 March 2026.
South Africa’s Vukosi Marivate
Last month, another brilliant South African was recommended by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres to join the prestigious Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
South Africa congratulated Professor Vukosi Marivate, computer scientist born in Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, for being selected alongside 40 leading experts to assess the real-world impact of AI across global economies.