The City of Cape Town continues to cement its position as one of Africa’s leading digital pioneers. Recently, Alderman Theresa Uys, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, represented Cape Town at the prestigious invitation-only Tallinn Digital Summit, hosted by the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kristen Michal.
The 2025 summit, themed “Collectively at the Crossroads: Towards Secure and Resilient AI Futures,” brought together global leaders from political, business, innovation, financial, and defence sectors to explore the future of digital governance, artificial intelligence, and data-driven transformation.
For Alderman Uys, Cape Town’s participation was more than symbolic — it was a recognition of the city’s growing reputation as a data-driven blueprint for a high-growth African economy. “Our invitation to the Tallinn Digital Summit is a testament to the digital progress Cape Town has achieved,” said Uys. “In 2024, we became the first African city to launch a comprehensive public data strategy. As we embrace the exciting world of AI, we know that AI models are only as strong as the data that trains them. Data is more than information — it’s the foundation for accountability, innovation, and citizen empowerment.”
During the summit, Alderman Uys joined a panel alongside representatives from Tallinn — celebrated for its frictionless digital society — and Coimbra, recognised for cultivating a deep-tech ecosystem. Together, they explored how cities can leverage data and technology to attract high-impact public-private investment and redefine urban governance for the digital age.
The two-day gathering showcased how governments worldwide are harnessing technology to drive efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and invest in future-ready societies. Alongside insightful panel discussions and keynote addresses, the summit also featured an innovation and business expo, highlighting Estonia’s digital capabilities and fostering cross-sector partnerships between state, business, and innovation leaders from around the globe.
For Cape Town, this international recognition reinforces the City’s ambition to lead Africa’s digital transformation journey — not just through technology, but through a commitment to using data for social impact, transparency, and inclusive growth.
