South Africa will become an irrelevant trading partner if the country does not keep up with the pace of global technological development says Communications and Digital Technology Minister Mondli Gungubele. "Digital transformation is moving fast globally. It is not informed by our spirit, it is informed by the speed of the world," he said in Durban on Tuesday. "The world is not waiting for us ladies and gentlemen, from both connectivity and broadband, and real connectivity." Gungubele said digital intervention was a tool to reduce unemployment in South Africa, adding that more investment in technology was required. The R3-billion that was allocated to South Africa Connect over the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years was not enough, the minister said. SA Connect is the country’s broadband policy and strategy that aims to create a "universally accessible" communication system. "I have said to my team, R3-billion for these years is not enough if we take into account that it required pace of connectivity and scale and the global challenges."