To : All Media
Date : 11 April 2025
South Africa Announces Ms. Cynthia Lesufi as Candidate for Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union.
The Republic of South Africa has officially announced the candidacy of Ms. Cynthia Lesufi for the position of Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) for the term 2026–2030. The announcement was made on the evening of the 09th of April 2025 in Kenya, Nairobi by South Africa’s High Commissioner to Kenya, HE Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, at a high-level cocktail reception hosted by Telkom South Africa in partnership with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, on the margins of the ATU’s Preparatory Meeting for the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25).
The event was attended by the current Secretary General of the ATU, Mr. John Omo, the Director of the ITU Development Sector, Mr. Cosmas Zavazava, the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology of the Kingdom of Lesotho H.E Ms. Nthati Moorosi, and other senior dignitaries and representatives from ATU member states.
In his remarks, the High Commissioner expressed South Africa’s pride in presenting a candidate of exceptional calibre and experience. “Ms. Lesufi is not only a seasoned ICT policymaker and diplomat, but a respected voice in global digital governance. Her candidacy represents South Africa’s deep commitment to the values of the ATU and to Africa’s digital transformation,” he said.
Ms. Lesufi currently serves as South Africa’s Minister Counsellor to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva. With more than 20 years of leadership in ICT policy and regulation, she brings a wealth of expertise across national, regional, and global telecommunications governance structures.
Some of her strategic priorities are highlighted below:
• Accelerating universal connectivity through terrestrial, submarine, and satellite infrastructure.
• Advancing Africa’s digital economy in alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
• Supporting AI-readiness and innovation in line with the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy.
• Strengthening the institutional capacity of the ATU to better serve its member states.
• Promoting inclusive digital skills development, particularly for youth and women.
In closing, the High Commissioner called on ATU Member States to rally behind Ms. Lesufi’s vision of an ATU that is responsive, inclusive, and positioned to lead Africa’s digital future.
South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) will continue to engage member states and partners across the continent in the lead-up to the ATU elections scheduled for June 2026.
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
DCDT Media Officer : Ms Tlangelani Manganyi
Cell : 060 886 4670
Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
URL : www.dcdt.gov.za
Facebook : Department of Communications & Digital Technologies
X : @CommsZA
Issued by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies.
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