Eswatini's Minister of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Savannah Maziya, has emphasized the need for stronger cybersecurity cooperation among African countries. Speaking at the Africa Cybersecurity Indaba 2026 in Sandton, South Africa, Maziya highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation to protect digital systems and infrastructure from growing online threats. The conference brought together government leaders, cybersecurity experts, businesses, researchers, and policymakers to discuss ways to make Africa's digital economy safer.
The Africa Cybersecurity Indaba 2026, which took place at The Galleria Conference and Exhibition Centre, focused on building trusted and secure digital nations across the continent. Maziya's address stressed the need for countries to work together to strengthen cybersecurity beyond their national borders. With African countries increasingly relying on technology to deliver public services, process payments, and run businesses, cyber threats have become a growing concern. A security problem affecting one service provider can disrupt other businesses and institutions that depend on it.
Cybersecurity expert Thabang Phala, Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of CyberM8 Initiative NPC, noted that businesses can face risks even when they have invested in protecting their own systems. Phala emphasized that organisations must understand their dependencies, establish clear responsibilities, and know how to respond when something goes wrong. He highlighted the importance of being prepared to recover from disruptions and ensuring that customers can continue to be served.
The conference explored ways to improve information sharing, strengthen digital infrastructure, and prepare for cyber incidents. Cybersecurity is a concern for businesses, which may depend on telecommunications networks, online payment systems, cloud services, and external suppliers to operate. A disruption to any of these services can affect daily operations and customer confidence. According to the conference organisers, businesses need to understand the risks linked to services they depend on and establish clear responsibilities.
The financial cost of cybercrime has highlighted the need for stronger protection. In South Africa, digital banking losses increased from approximately E1.9 billion in 2024 to E2.4 billion in 2025. Banking application-related crime accounted for more than 70% of reported digital banking losses. These figures demonstrate the risks facing financial services as more people use digital platforms.
The Africa Cybersecurity Indaba 2026 was attended by representatives from several countries, including Eswatini, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. The gathering aimed to strengthen cooperation between governments, businesses, and research institutions in addressing cybersecurity challenges. By working together, countries can better protect their digital systems and infrastructure from cyber threats.
Minister Maziya's participation in the conference underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing cybersecurity concerns. As cybercrime can cross borders and affect several economies at once, it is essential for countries to collaborate and share best practices. By doing so, African countries can build a safer and more secure digital economy.
Key points
- Eswatini's ICT Minister Savannah Maziya calls for stronger cybersecurity cooperation among African countries.
- The Africa Cybersecurity Indaba 2026 highlights the need for cross-border cooperation to protect digital systems and infrastructure.
- Cybersecurity expert Thabang Phala emphasizes the importance of understanding dependencies and establishing clear responsibilities to mitigate cyber risks.
