The STRATCOM Roundtable and STRATCOM Public Forum, organised in cooperation between our Directorate and the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Pretoria, brought together representatives from public institutions, international organisations, technology companies, think tanks and academia in Johannesburg.
Within the scope of the programme, digital sovereignty, artificial intelligence governance, information integrity, countering disinformation, crisis communication, and areas of potential cooperation between Türkiye and South Africa were discussed.
The multidimensional nature of digital sovereignty
At the STRATCOM Roundtable, organised under the theme ''Building the Future Together: Türkiye–South Africa Strategic Communication and Cooperation'', it was emphasised that digital sovereignty is not limited to technological infrastructure capacity alone and that it is important to develop data, human resources, energy, information infrastructure, local content and regulatory capacity in an integrated manner.
It was emphasised that it is significant to be among the actors in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem who not only use technology but also contribute to the development of standards and governance models.
In this regard, data governance, digital infrastructure, human resources, research and local artificial intelligence ecosystems were identified as areas in which joint work could be carried out between Türkiye and South Africa. At the meeting, it was stated that the insufficient representation of local languages, publications and academic and cultural content from South Africa and the African continent in the digital environment is a significant problem.
Information integrity and countering disinformation
At the meeting, which assessed the effects of AI-enabled disinformation and manipulation on public trust, the importance of coordination among public institutions, universities, the media, the private sector and civil society in addressing new threats was highlighted.
Media and AI literacy, verification mechanisms, and access to reliable information during times of crisis were discussed, while the need to strengthen, particularly among young people, their ability to question and verify AI-generated content was emphasised.
The accountability of platforms and the need for stronger dialogue with public authorities were also raised in the context of the impact of algorithms used on social media and technology platforms on the information environment.
Sustainable cooperation mechanisms discussed
At the Roundtable, the importance of taking Türkiye–South Africa dialogue beyond periodic events was emphasised.
Joint training and capacity-building programmes, the sharing of experience in combating disinformation and promoting information integrity, media and AI literacy initiatives for young people, joint research projects, and cooperation in the field of digital infrastructure were among the concrete areas of work identified.
It was stated that extending these efforts to the G20, Türkiye-Africa partnership mechanisms and other multilateral platforms could strengthen the contribution of the Global South to discussions on digital governance.
AI, crisis communication and countering disinformation discussed at Public Forum
As part of the programme, STRATCOM Public Forum featured a panel titled "Türkiye–South Africa Strategic Communication Partnership: Artificial Intelligence, Crisis Communication and Capacity Building to Combat Disinformation".
Moderated by Tunç Demirtaş, a foreign policy researcher at the SETA Foundation, the panel featured Abdurrahman Babacan, AK Party MP for Malatya; Carina Marais, G20 Legacy Institutional Partnerships Officer at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation; Dr Linford Molaodi, Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg; Dr Liaqat Azam, CEO of the Mandela AI Hub; and Mahomed Irfan Bux, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at B&B Media, as speakers.
The Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, addressed the participants of the panel via video message.
The panel began with opening remarks from Kezban Nilvana Darama Yıldırımgeç, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Pretoria, and Kasım İleri, Head of the Department of Strategic Communication and Crisis Management at the Directorate of Communications.
Ambassador Yıldırımgeç stated that Türkiye and South Africa have similar approaches to creating a more balanced, inclusive, and effective international order.
She stated that, while AI offers significant opportunities in communication processes, synthetic media and AI-generated content introduce new risks, making it more difficult to distinguish reliable information.
Yıldırımgeç pointed out that these risks intensify, especially in times of crisis, highlighting the significance of bolstering inter-institutional coordination, verification procedures, and preparedness capacity.
Kasım İleri, Head of the Department of Strategic Communication and Crisis Management, stated that the STRATCOM Public Forum South Africa helped assess the importance of strategic communication in the changing international system and develop contacts between the two countries.
İleri said that it is crucial for the South African perspective to be more prominent in STRATCOM, pointing out that the organisation has developed over time into an international forum that brings together policymakers, public administrators, academics, media professionals, technology experts, and representatives from civil society.
İleri highlighted the rapid spread of AI-generated disinformation, deepfake technologies, and synthetic media during crisis situations, emphasising the importance of developing early detection, real-time verification, AI-assisted analysis, and social media monitoring capabilities.
Carina Marais, G20 Legacy Institutional Partnerships Officer at South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, stated that information management is critical, especially for Africa and the Global South, in a VUCA environment, which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.
Referring to the experience gained during South Africa’s G20 Presidency, Marais emphasised the importance of effectively transferring and applying the knowledge and experience gained on international platforms at the national level.
AK Party Malatya MP Abdurrahman Babacan stated that disinformation should be regarded not merely as a technical or technological problem but also as an issue with national security and governance dimensions. Babacan stated that effective crisis communication should be based on the rapid generation, verification and dissemination of accurate information to the public and on maintaining trust.
University of Johannesburg Lecturer Dr Linford Molaodi emphasised the importance of the informed and balanced use of artificial intelligence in educational processes. Molaodi stated that artificial intelligence tools should not replace students’ thought processes but should instead be positioned as tools that support learning and critical thinking.
Dr Liaqat Azam, CEO of the Mandela AI Hub, stated that artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities for reducing inequalities, supporting sustainable development and strengthening inclusive growth.
Stating that there is significant potential between Türkiye’s technological and manufacturing capacity and South Africa’s regional and international standing, Azam highlighted the importance of skills development, responsible governance, ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence, the preservation of cultural values, and the human-centred use of technology.
B&B Media General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Mahomed Irfan Bux assessed the shift in television broadcasting from linear broadcasting to digital, internet-based and on-demand models. Bux stated that digitalisation had created new economic, technological and cultural opportunities in the media sector, while internet-based broadcasting had increased content diversity and reach.
Dr Tunç Demirtaş, a researcher in the Foreign Policy Department at the SETA Foundation and moderator of the panel, emphasised the critical importance of education and human resource development in the age of artificial intelligence.
Demirtaş highlighted the importance of strengthening the capacity of universities and relevant institutions in the field of artificial intelligence, increasing the production of knowledge and skills, and enabling societies to become actors that not only use technology but also contribute to its development.
Programme contributed to Türkiye–South Africa strategic communication dialogue
The STRATCOM Roundtable and STRATCOM Public Forum contributed to strengthening engagements between Türkiye and South Africa in the field of strategic communication, assessing the communication risks and opportunities arising in the age of artificial intelligence from various perspectives, and enhancing the international exchange of knowledge and experience.
Held annually with international participation, STRATCOM continues to serve as an international forum for consultation where current issues in the field of strategic communication are discussed from different perspectives, bringing together public institutions, international organisations, academia, the media, civil society and the technology sector on a common platform.
