The Parliamentary Research Unit (PRU), supported by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – an entity of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, will be hosting a webinar planned as follows:
Topic: The impact of 4IR Technologies – An Overview
Keynote Address: Hon Dr A Lotriet, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
Speakers: CSIR
Date: 17 February 2025
Time: 10:00-12:00 (Harare, Pretoria)
This initial webinar is a launch of a series of webinars and roundtable discussions focused on understanding the impact of 4IR technologies and their transformative potential across society. There is a need for an ongoing conversation/debate, a platform where key players and partners can collaborate with lawmakers to chart a course for responsible innovation. By engaging proactively, we can empower lawmakers to shape the right policies and regulations to harness the power of 4IR and build a better world for all.
4IR is upon South Africa and Africa as a continent and young people have a huge role to play in Africa's development during the new digital era. With such a high population of young minds, the question should not be about South Africa's readiness for the 4IR, but rather the role young people will play in promoting it. The 4IR could be described as the advent of “cyber-physical systems” involving entirely new capabilities for people and machines. It represents entirely new ways in which technology becomes embedded within societies and even our human bodies.
Given that we cannot accurately predict the impact of the 4IR, we should take the opportunity of a transforming economy to redesign labour policies and business practices to ensure that job seekers are empowered.