The acceleration of information and communication technology (ICT) has blurred the line between virtual reality and the real world. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is about networking the Internet of Things (IoT), where machines communicate with each other, and the Internet of People (IoP), where machines communicate with people.

The result: industries integrate the real and virtual worlds. Machines collect and analyse data for faster, better decision-making. Robots take over production lines. Refrigerators become hackable. Self-driving vehicles venture on the roads.

At this year’s Sustainability Week conference, experts in technology and innovation discussed the ability of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to transform our economy and society. In a local government context Musa Khumalo, Group Head of Shared Services for the City of Tshwane, advocated for the many benefits that the smart city initiatives currently underway holds for our economy and society at large.

These include a better and safer life for citizens, improving capability and performance while reducing operational costs, and providing the right information at the right time for all stakeholders. Khumalo also highlighted the key factors to successfully navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution: leadership, technology infrastructure, skills and ability, governance, and a willingness to embrace change.

Project, Isizwe, the South African non-profit organisation that advocates for free internet access within walking distance of every citizen in low income communities, has facilitated the deployment of the largest free public Wi-Fi network in Africa, in the Tshwane Municipality.

Dudu Mkhwanazi, CEO of Project Isizwe, shared her experience of how the organisation has championed the connectivity of 4,3 million people in South Africa. “Advocating for connectivity for all is everyone’s responsibility. We also need to see an inclusive and accessible approach to the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Mkwhanazi. “We need to realise that as we grow connectivity there is a growing need to educate communities about the regulations that apply to these conditions,” Mkwhanazi concluded.

Today is the final day of Sustainability Week 2019 at the CSIR International Conference Centre in the host city of Tshwane, South Africa’s leading green building metro.

Delegates can look forward to seminars that will focus on Vision Zero Waste, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, and Sustainable Energy hosted by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).