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Director-General of the National Treasury, Dr Duncan Pieterse, officially launched the MzansiXchange Pilot on Thursday, 9 October 2025. The event, attended by key government partners and digital transformation stakeholders, representing a major milestone in South Africa’s move toward integrated, data-driven governance.
What Happened
The MzansiXchange Pilot was launched as part of South Africa’s Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of Government, under Operation Vulindlela Phase II. The platform aims to bridge fragmented government data systems and promote secure, seamless information exchange across departments.
Dr Pieterse described data as the “backbone of digital transformation,” emphasising that the platform will help eliminate duplication, improve service delivery, and boost efficiency in decision-making.
Unlike traditional databases, MzansiXchange will not store data. Instead, it acts as a secure digital bridge that enables departments to share verified data responsibly while maintaining ownership.
“This pilot represents the future of how government collaborates through trusted, structured, and secure data sharing,” said Pieterse.
The platform supports four key data-sharing functions:
- Regulation and compliance verification
- Policy and research-driven data access
- Operational analytics for service delivery
- Open access to aggregated data and dashboards
MzansiXchange forms part of the broader MyMzansi initiative, which will create a single digital entry point for citizens to access public services, connecting digital identity, payments, and other service systems.
Official Response
Dr Pieterse reaffirmed the National Treasury’s long-standing role in using data for research and policymaking. He said the project builds on existing platforms such as the National Treasury Secure Data Facility (NT-SDF) and Spatial Economic Activity Data South Africa (SEAD-SA).
“The success of MzansiXchange depends on how each department commits to integrating and using it. This is a whole-of-government effort to build trust and transparency,” Pieterse stated.
The pilot will run for a year, with support from several departments including:
- The Presidency
- Department of Communications and Digital Technologies
- Department of Home Affairs
- Department of Basic Education
- Department of Higher Education and Training
- South African Social Security Agancy (SASSA)
- National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
- South African Revenue Service (SARS)
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- South African Reserve Bank
The project’s technical work is led by Open Cities Lab, with funding from SECO, the UK FCDO, and the Gates Foundation.
Community Impact
MzansiXchange is expected to improve the delivery of essential public services by reducing administrative delays and enabling real-time data verification. Municipalities and provinces will gain access to detailed economic insights for local planning and budgeting.
Internationally, the model takes inspiration from countries such as Estonia, Brazil, and India where similar systems have saved governments billions and boosted efficiency.
“This is about empowering policymakers and restoring public confidence in government systems,” Pieterse added. “We are building a data-smart South Africa that serves everyone better.”
