IN CONVERSATION WITH ANDREW BOURNE, Country Head of Zoho South Africa.

For the recent article from Engineering News on how AI is driving changes in
South Africa’s IT skills needs, which raises important questions about how
organisations are adapting to the AI era. We’d like to offer Andrew Bourne,
Country Head of Zoho South Africa, as a commentator to add perspective on
how AI adoption is reshaping not only technical skills, but also governance,
ethics, and privacy capabilities within South African organisations.
Drawing from Zoho’s latest research, “The AI Privacy Equation: Cautious
Innovation in South Africa,” Andrew can share insights on:
 How AI adoption is already widespread in South Africa, with over 90% of
businesses having started their AI journey, yet skills demand is shifting

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toward responsible implementation, governance, and oversight, not just
technical deployment.
 Why South African organisations are placing greater emphasis on AI
ethics and privacy than many global peers, and how this is influencing
the types of skills businesses now need — from AI risk assessment and
privacy-by-design to compliance and policy development.
 The role of regulation, particularly POPIA, in shaping a more mature AI
skills environment, where privacy awareness, internal training, and
accountability are becoming core competencies.
 How businesses can balance the need for advanced AI capabilities
with trust, transparency, and human judgment, ensuring AI augments
rather than replaces critical roles.