As the age of agentic AI dawns, with autonomous systems set to reshape industries from mobile apps to intelligent vehicles, Huawei is set to host its premier annual event, Huawei South Africa Connect 2026. The conference takes place on 23 July at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, bringing together industry leaders, government officials and technology experts to discuss the technologies shaping South Africa’s digital future.
South Africa is already beginning to feel that shift. Unlike traditional AI, agentic systems can act independently, interact with other systems and make decisions with limited human intervention. Supporting those systems requires more than faster internet connections. It depends on resilient networks, cloud platforms, data centres and the computing power needed to run autonomous systems at scale. For a country still closing a well-documented infrastructure gap, that presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
“South Africa’s journey into the AI era requires more than technology. It demands collaboration between government, industry, and innovators,” says Will Meng, CEO of Huawei South Africa. “At HUAWEI SOUTH AFRICA CONNECT 2026, we’re creating a platform to turn the infrastructure challenges of Agentic AI into opportunities for economic growth and modernisation. The future won’t wait, and neither can we.”
A single theme runs through the programme: connectivity and AI now sit at the heart of economic modernisation. As more services adopt AI, demand for network capacity and computing power grows. Huawei South Africa Connect 2026 is intended as a working forum for the people who plan and fund that capacity, rather than simply another technology conference.
That collaboration is reflected in the keynote programme. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, is expected to deliver the keynote alongside Huawei South Africa CEO Will Meng and other industry leaders. Discussions are expected to focus on what agentic AI asks of the country, and what it takes to be ready.
From there, the programme features dedicated industry tracks. A government forum, “Accelerating Public Sector Transformation through Trusted AI,” examines how AI can improve the quality of everyday services. It brings decision-makers and technology partners together around government services, public safety, healthcare and education, with an emphasis on doing so safely and inclusively.
The Intelligent Power Summit, “AI Accelerating Power Digitalisation,” looks at how AI and ICT will modernise South Africa’s power infrastructure. Sessions examine digital technologies across the electricity value chain, from generation and transmission to distribution, operations and grid management, with a focus on supporting a more resilient energy system.
A mining roundtable, “From Connected Mines to Intelligent Mines,” centres on the industry’s shift towards AI-enabled operations. Topics include AI, digital twins, advanced connectivity and data-driven decision-making as tools for building safer, more productive and more sustainable mines.
A financial services summit and additional roundtables across ISP, transportation, and enterprise networking complete an agenda of more than 9 breakout sessions and roundtables.
Each session tackles a different industry, but the underlying question remains the same: how can South Africa build the infrastructure needed for an AI-powered economy?
Beyond the talks, a 2,500-square-metre exhibition will give delegates a hands-on look at Huawei’s latest products, AI-driven solutions, and live demonstrations.
“Our role is to be a reliable partner that helps build lasting local capability,” Meng adds. “When the right infrastructure is in place, South Africa can turn digital ambition into long-term economic growth.”
