South Africa will become an irrelevant trading partner if the country does not keep up with the pace of global technological development says Communications and Digital Technology Minister Mondli Gungubele.

"Digital transformation is moving fast globally. It is not informed by our spirit, it is informed by the speed of the world," he said in Durban on Tuesday.

"The world is not waiting for us ladies and gentlemen, from both connectivity and broadband, and real connectivity."

Gungubele said digital intervention was a tool to reduce unemployment in South Africa, adding that more investment in technology was required.

The R3-billion that was allocated to South Africa Connect over the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years was not enough, the minister said.

SA Connect is the country’s broadband policy and strategy that aims to create a "universally accessible" communication system.

"I have said to my team, R3-billion for these years is not enough if we take into account that it required pace of connectivity and scale and the global challenges."

Gungubele was giving the opening address at the 15th annual State Information Technology Agency (SITA) GovTech event at the Durban International Convention Centre (DICC) this week from 12 to 14 September.

The theme of this year's event is "Platform economy for digital transformation and inclusive growth".

Gungubele called for practical resolutions, as many of the issues discussed at the previous 14 editions of the conference still remained.

"Since we have been meeting for 14 years, what has happened to these issues?" he asked.

He was reading his speech from a tablet on the DICC stage to a crowd including technology leaders from both the private and public sectors. News24 had a look around the room during the speech and saw many audience members on their phones.

Amongst the activities of those sitting near News24 in the front row were email responses and Facebook scrolling.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said a plan was required to implement digital technologies in South Africa.

"Our people would be better if the digital world made access to services easier and better even for the most rural of rural," she said.

"Without a proper plan, digital transformation will remain a pipedream."

Gungubele said the future of South Africa’s digital economy remained open, and that critical questions remained unanswered.