Recognising the people, institutions and enterprises building South Africa’s own digital capability.
Presented at GovTech 2026, at the Durban International Convention Centre,
from 21 to 23 September 2026.
Entries close at 17:00 on Friday, 28 August 2026. There is no fee to enter.
Twenty years of GovTech, and a different question
For most of the past twenty years the question was whether South Africa could digitise government. GovTech 2026 asks a harder one. Can the country own, secure and sustain what it has built?
The Digital Sovereignty Public Awards recognise the work that answers it. Ten awards are presented in 2026, open to national and provincial departments, municipalities, state-owned companies, public entities, the ICT industry, small enterprises, educational institutions and members of the public.
WHAT THE AWARDS LOOK FOR
Three questions
Every entry is judged on the same three questions.
01
What was done.
02
What changed as a result.
03
And a third question set by the category. In most categories it asks how the work builds South African digital capability that the country owns and can keep.
Entries are assessed by an independent panel appointed by SITA. Every score is captured, reconciled
and audited by an external accredited auditing firm.
How to enter, Three Steps
Entering takes about twenty minutes
Step 1
Choose your category.
Ten awards. Each page sets out who may enter and what that award looks for.
Step 2
Answer three questions.
Roughly 250 words each. Plain language. You do not need technical detail.
Step 3
Submit before 17:00 on 28 August 2026.
We will confirm by email and tell you what to send us next. One thing is required: something showing the work is real. A photograph, a link or a document, emailed to nominations@cut2black.co.za. Anything further is welcome but not required.
Entries are assessed by an independent panel appointed by SITA. Every score is captured, reconciled and audited by an external accredited auditing firm.
The ten awards
Ten categories, one set of questions
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
SITA GOVTECH PRIZES
Prizes
When winners are paid
Prize money is paid by SITA directly to the winner within 90 days of the announcement at GovTech 2026.
Winners are asked to provide banking details and a valid SARS tax compliance status pin so that payment can be processed. Where the documentation supporting a winning entry does not pass validation, SITA may hold payment until it does.
Prizes are awarded in each of the ten categories. Winners are announced at the Awards gala at GovTech 2026.
There is no fee to enter and no cost to an entrant at any stage.
Cut to Black Media does not hold or pay prize money at any point.
Nominations closing date: 28 August 2026