SABC Plus and Microsoft team up to bring free AI skills to South Africans

South Africans who have been eyeing careers in tech just got a major boost. Microsoft South Africa has teamed up with the SABC to put AI training videos directly onto the SABC Plus platform, opening the door for millions of people to learn digital skills at no cost.

The partnership was unveiled during the Johannesburg leg of the Microsoft AI Tour 2026, where the energy in the room reflected the growing urgency around tech readiness in the country.

Why AI training matters right now

Speaking at the event, Microsoft South Africa CEO Vukani Mngxati was clear about the stakes. He said every corporate has a responsibility to help build the country’s skills base, especially as artificial intelligence becomes central to how people work and learn.

Microsoft originally set out to train one million people in AI skills. They have already surpassed that target, reaching 1.4 million learners. Now, thanks to the SABC partnership, the company plans to use the scale of SABC Plus to reach even more South Africans, particularly those who might not have access to traditional training pathways.

What South Africans will get from the platform

AI fluency, as explained by Mngxati, is the foundation of all AI work. It includes knowing how to give instructions to AI tools, how to evaluate responses and how to choose the right model or feature for the task at hand. These are fast becoming essential skills in the modern job market, from admin and creative work to engineering and data analysis.

Through SABC Plus, learners will be able to:

• Watch AI training videos on demand
• Complete practical assignments
• Earn recognised credentials
• Use these credentials to boost employment opportunities

With 1.9 million registered SABC Plus users, Microsoft believes the platform has the reach needed to democratise AI education across the country. About a quarter of these users are active, which is still a sizeable audience ready to tap into new learning material.

A digital push with big economic implications

The initiative forms part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to build a strong pool of cloud- and AI-skilled professionals in South Africa. While AI fluency training is the starting point, Mngxati hinted at the bigger picture. Deeper technical skills, particularly in cloud infrastructure, not only benefit local companies but could also position South Africans to export their expertise globally.

This is especially meaningful in a country where youth unemployment remains high and digital transformation is moving faster than most industries can keep up.

What this could mean for the future

South Africa has spent years trying to solve the digital skills shortage, and partnerships like this one signal a shift toward more accessible, locally relevant solutions. For many people, SABC Plus is a platform they already use for entertainment and news. Turning it into a learning tool is not only practical but a clever use of an existing national resource.

If the partnership succeeds, it could set a precedent for how public platforms collaborate with global tech companies to upskill citizens at scale.

At a time when AI is reshaping industries across the world, the message from Johannesburg is clear: South Africans should not be left behind.

{Source:Tech Central}

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