Microsoft South Africa and SABC Plus have announced a strategic partnership to integrate artificial intelligence and digital skills training into the SABC Plus platform, expanding access to future-ready skills across the country. The collaboration builds on Microsoft’s commitment to train one million South Africans in AI and digital skills by 2026 and was unveiled at the Microsoft AI Tour in Johannesburg on 29 January 2026.
SABC Plus, launched in 2022, is a free, internet-based platform offering live television, radio, catch-up services and on-demand content with nationwide reach, including rural and underserved communities. Its wide accessibility makes it a powerful channel for scaling education and skills development, aligned with SABC’s public mandate to inform and empower citizens.
Through this partnership, Microsoft’s Elevate programmes will be delivered via SABC Plus, supporting a broad range of learners. These include digital skills training for TVET college students, initiatives focused on women’s participation in the digital economy, AI capacity-building for non-profit organisations, and certification pathways aimed at improving employability among young people.
The initiative responds to the rapid growth of AI adoption in South Africa, which reached over 21% in 2025, and to broader projections highlighting AI’s potential to significantly boost Africa’s economy by 2030. By embedding AI learning into everyday media platforms, the partnership aims to bridge the digital skills gap, expand economic opportunities and support inclusive growth in high-demand technology sectors across South Africa.
