Civil Coffee Klatsch

A peer learning network for local government practitioners, convened monthly on Microsoft Teams by De Wit Coetsee. Open to practitioners, consultants, students, private sector, and international participants.

Next session - 21 July 2026

Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 09:00-11:00 (SAST) - Microsoft Teams

Value First, AI Second: Strategy, Governance and Use Cases for Local Government

AI is on every agenda. The questions that matter are strategic, not technical: where does AI create value, under what guard rails, and who is accountable for the decision? This session places AI where it belongs - inside the value creation chain, from the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) through to the Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP). Format: four 15-minute presentations, a facilitated panel, and audience Q&A.

De Wit Coetsee - opens and sets the scene: value first, local government context
Dr Nick Bradshaw - AI strategy, South African AI Association
Shane Minnie - AI governance, Guardrail Labs
Carel van Niekerk - AI use cases, Bergrivier Municipality
Ruan Yacumakis - AI use cases, Prescient Investment Management

Focus areas

🏙️

Smart City

🔒

Cybersecurity

🤖

Artificial Intelligence

📋

ICT Audits

Who joins us

The network brings together local government strategic leadership, ICT managers, audit and risk practitioners, consultants to local government, students, private sector organisations interested in the subject areas, and international participants. Sessions are recorded and openly accessible.

Watch past sessions

▶Civil Coffee Klatsch on YouTube

Insights and write-ups

Digital Evolution

The Alibi We Call ICT Governance: Governing Value, Not Technology Series · Part 1

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Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity on the Municipal Strategic Agenda

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Artificial Intelligence

AI Governance in Local Government - A Strategic Approach

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