The Angle Podcast

How much of South Africa’s digital future is really in its own hands? And what happens when civic tech depends on foreign platforms? In this closing episode of The Angle’s civic tech series, we speak with Gabriella Razzano, Executive Director at OpenUp and a leading voice in digital rights, governance, and civic innovation. From digital colonialism to the realities of data extractivism, Gabriella breaks down the geopolitical forces that shape civic space — from platform dependence to investment bias. We talk about what African innovation actually looks like, how to build meaningful community tech, and why data isn’t neutral—it’s power. We explore: -Why less than 1% of global AI investment reaches Africa -The difference between owning data and extracting value from it -Why revenue-driven civic tech is needed to build strong institutions -How the G20 and BRICS influence Africa’s regulatory future -The power of context, not code, in building civic products that last This is a thought-provoking, high-level conversation that brings the entire series full circle—from local innovation to global influence. This is part of a limited podcast series titled “The Digital Future of South Africa – Navigating Power, Policy, and Progress” in association with the Wits School of Governance, Tayarisha, and the Civic Tech Innovation Network. 00:00 – Intro: Digital power, global rivalry & civic space 02:00 – What is digital colonialism? 05:00 – Data extractivism & Big Tech’s role in Africa 09:00 – China vs. US: Competing tech models 12:00 – Where SA’s policy model fits (or doesn’t) 16:00 – Why owning data ≠ using data 20:00 – Platform dependence and shrinking civic space 23:30 – Reimagining civic tech from the grassroots 27:00 – Tech’s role in enabling (not replacing) civic action 30:00 – Opportunities for young civic tech creators 33:00 – The real investment problem in African innovation 36:00 – Revenue-first vs. grant-funded models for civic tech 40:00 – South Africa in the G20 and BRICS: Influence or inertia? 43:00 – Final thoughts on African digital sovereignty #DigitalGovernance #CivicTech #AfricaDigitalFuture #TechAndPolicy #DigitalInclusion #InnovationInAfrica #PlatformPower #SmartCitiesAfrica #DataSovereignty #TheAnglePodcast