Lesufi urges schools to embrace AI before South Africa falls further behind

As South Africa’s matric class of 2025 prepares to receive their results, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has delivered a clear message: the future of the country depends on how quickly schools adapt to artificial intelligence.

Speaking on Monday, 12 January, at the MTV Innovation Centre in Johannesburg, Lesufi called on government to actively empower both teachers and learners to use AI as a developmental tool, warning that South Africa is already lagging behind in adopting new technologies.

The comments were made ahead of the official release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, during a ministerial breakfast hosted for top achievers.

“Education comes first, always”

Lesufi joined Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube at the event, which honoured the country’s highest-performing matric learners. Addressing the room, he praised the class of 2025 for their discipline and potential.

“It’s always exciting to be in the company of young people who are so gifted,” he said, adding that their skills and talent are critical to South Africa’s future.

For Lesufi, education remains non-negotiable.

“If we can’t get education right, we’ll never get the country right. We’ll never get the economy right,” he said, stressing that innovation and skills development are the backbone of economic growth.

Why AI can’t wait

Drawing on history to make his point, Lesufi told learners that progress has never come from clinging to the past.

“The Stone Age didn’t end because people ran out of stones. It ended because new ideas developed,” he said, arguing that those ideas must now be planted in classrooms.

He warned against limiting AI to social media trends and shortcuts, saying it should instead be harnessed to improve learning outcomes and prepare learners for future careers.

“AI is here. It’s real. It’s surrounding us,” he said. “We can’t wait 17 years to introduce it into our classrooms.”

From policy talk to real classrooms

Lesufi also reflected on his move from Education MEC to Premier, revealing that education remains his top budget priority.

“When MECs present their budgets, I listen to education first,” he said. “Education gets what it needs, and the rest share what remains.”

He called for urgent upgrades to school infrastructure, including free Wi-Fi, smart devices, and digital learning tools, noting that without these basics, talk of AI remains theoretical.

Public reaction and a bigger conversation

On social media, Lesufi’s comments sparked debate, with many parents and teachers welcoming the push for technology, while others questioned whether schools are ready given ongoing infrastructure challenges.

Still, the message was clear: South Africa’s brightest young minds are ready and the system must catch up.

As matric results are announced and another generation steps into adulthood, Lesufi’s call raises a bigger question: will South Africa move fast enough to prepare its learners for a world shaped by artificial intelligence, or watch the future pass it by?

{Source: IOL}

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