10. I will end this break down with a call to action for us all to:

1. Either read or watch the 2025 SONA: stateofthenation.gov.za/speeches

2. See how the Budget Speech on 19 Feb will compare to the commitments mentioned in the 2025 SONA.

Have a lovely day 🫶🏿

9. Afew stumbles aside I do hope our diplomatic efforts in the DRC and Palestine lead to an end to horrific violence in both countries.

8. South Africa's taking up the role of Presidency for the G20 this year. Okay, girl, lets see how it goes🤭

7. FATF! FATF! FATF! FATF! FATF! PROSECUTIONS FOR CORRUPTION AND MONEY LAUNDERING! WE ARE BEGGING YOU!

6. Also SAPS is going to use surveillance technology!!!?? Where is this happening? And will it be largely poor black communities that will be affected? I don't know that was interesting...

5. Also like the SRD grant, the National Health Insurance (NHI) had no figures attached to it. NHI is going to be a very interesting space this here, curious to see how private medical schemers (sorry I meant - private medical aids companies) will react. Also a must watch!

4. We're also going to spend big bucks on Infrastructure. Unlike the SRD grant, figures and funds were actually mentioned. But again, National Treasury will provide us an actual sense of what's cooking on the 19 February. So please do watch the budget speech on that date!

3. The Electricity Regulation Amendment Act will bring in large amounts of private renewables to SA. The concern though is that "following the money" in our private renewable sector is really tricky and I am uncertain parliament has capacity to keep corruption there in check.

2. An Electronic Travel Authorisation system and entirely digital identity system will be launched using artificial intelligence (AI). But it was unclear if AI is already being used in the visa processes and if so how is that happening without an AI Regulation Act signed in Law?

What makes the #dataprotection landscape in South Africa so interesting right now is that so much is happening all at once. Regulating AI in SA is only in discussion phase: www.dcdt.gov.za/images/phoca...

But regulation around data - crucial to training AI systems - is in full swing!

The need to reconsider the amendments to the RICA Bill is because aspects of the bill are unconstitutional in how your data can be intercepted by various parties.

Read amaBhungane's landmark ruling that shows how the RICA can be unconstitutional: www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019...