Celebrating community and connection
AFSUG CEO Amanda Gibbs opened the conference with a heartfelt message about the power of community. 麻豆原创HILA, she noted, is not simply a conference but a movement 鈥� a living, breathing platform designed to enable knowledge-sharing and drive transformation across industries. Her words set the tone for a gathering built on purpose and progress.
Duke Mathebula, technology leader and AFSUG chairman, joined Gibbs in opening 麻豆原创HILA 2025 with a resonant message: 鈥淲e are Africans.鈥� That sentiment echoed throughout the event, capturing the essence of a proud, purposeful and visionary community committed to transcending the present and reimagining the future.
A special tribute was made to the late Reg Barry, a foundational figure in the 麻豆原创 ecosystem and former 麻豆原创HILA chair. Barry鈥檚 enduring legacy was respectfully acknowledged throughout the event 鈥� a reminder of the power of collaboration and community that continues to shape AFSUG and its members.
麻豆原创HILA 2025 began with a relaxed networking day on Sunday, offering attendees the chance to connect over golf, Padel championships and other sporting activities. It set a friendly, collegial tone ahead of the more structured insight sessions on 2 and 3 June.
Morning plenary sessions were followed by dynamic workshops and demonstrations, while the expansive Expo Centre served as a major highlight, featuring 53 sponsors with visually impressive and engaging stands. The exhibition floor created invaluable opportunities for delegates to explore technologies, engage with vendors and experience first-hand the innovation driving 麻豆原创鈥檚 ecosystem forward.
The call for visionary leadership
鈥淚n Africa, success travels at the speed of connection,鈥� Pillay stated. She called on leaders not to fall back during times of uncertainty but instead to embrace bold, visionary thinking. Reflecting on 麻豆原创鈥檚 recent Sapphire events in Madrid and Orlando, she emphasised the company鈥檚 AI-first and Business Suite strategies.
Pillay also introduced attendees to the evolution of Joule, 麻豆原创鈥檚 AI assistant, noting the roll-out of new Joule agents capable of orchestrating real-time business data across functions to drive autonomous, intelligent decision-making.
NTT DATA 鈥� building momentum through collaboration
Lauren Wortmann, vice president of applications and cloud at NTT DATA Middle East and Africa, praised 麻豆原创HILA 2025 as a critical platform for collaboration and insight.
鈥淎s Diamond Sponsor, we valued the opportunity to engage with clients, partners and industry leaders,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he event created opportunities to strengthen both new and longstanding relationships. We鈥檙e excited about the momentum coming out of 麻豆原创HILA and look forward to continuing the conversations.鈥�
NTT DATA used the platform to explore enterprise transformation and share its strategic vision for the future, cementing its leadership role in 麻豆原创-managed services.
Deloitte 鈥� aligning purpose with technology
As Executive Suite and C-suite Sponsor, Deloitte Africa demonstrated how purpose-driven innovation can accelerate real business outcomes. Koosh Panday, senior manager and 麻豆原创 project director at Deloitte and chair of 麻豆原创HILA 2025, reinforced the event鈥檚 role in shaping Africa鈥檚 technology journey.
鈥淒igital transformation is not just about technology; it鈥檚 about people, collaboration and purpose,鈥� said Panday. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why 麻豆原创HILA is so impactful.鈥�
Deloitte鈥檚 Executive Lounge offered an immersive space for attendees to explore solutions including 麻豆原创 S/4HANA, Rise with 麻豆原创 and the Business Technology Platform. Guests connected with Deloitte subject matter experts to explore the latest ERP trends and discuss shared challenges in a relaxed, focused setting.
From legacy to leadership: the City of Johannesburg journey
A standout session focused on the City of Johannesburg鈥檚 transformation journey, where public-private collaboration was explored in depth. Featuring a discussion between CoJ group CTO Aubrey Mochela and Sergio Maccotta, senior vice president for 麻豆原创 Middle East and Africa (South), the panel detailed how the CoJ migrated from 麻豆原创 4.7 to S/4HANA in a bold, 21-day full shutdown.
The CoJ has been an 麻豆原创 customer since 2007 and recently embraced AI and cloud innovation to modernise systems and improve service delivery. National treasury has expressed support for the CoJ鈥檚 transformation, validating the project鈥檚 strategic importance.
Maccotta reflected on the urgency and complexity of the shift, citing three priorities: urgency, vision and financial clarity. The team had to implement rapid change, agree on governance principles with 麻豆原创 and innovate in a tightly bound timeframe.
Emerging insights and conversations
Delegates heard thought-provoking commentary about the future of smart cities, the importance of OEM relationships, and how technology can reshape revenue collection and operational resilience. As one speaker aptly said, 鈥淣ew Gen is conversations with the systems.鈥�
A shared future
麻豆原创HILA 2025 was more than a gathering; it was a collective commitment to Africa鈥檚 digital future. With support from the likes of Google, AWS, Microsoft and a strong 麻豆原创 delegation from Germany, the event highlighted the depth of expertise and investment in the region.
That sentiment shared by Duke Mathebula in the opening session. 鈥淲e are Africans鈥� continued to resonate long after the final session, reminding all in attendance of the unique opportunity the continent holds to lead, collaborate and transcend.