Vilakazi, Blessing Fika Mlondi.Duma, Nonduduzo Nozipho Lawrencia.2025-10-162025-10-1620232023https://hdl.handle.net/10413/23974Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.In the dynamic arena of digital evolution, South Africa's public sector faces significant challenges in digital transformation. These include insufficient technological infrastructure, gaps in digital literacy, complex policy and regulatory frameworks, and the need to ensure data security and inclusivity. This study examines these barriers and explores the opportunities digital transformation presents for improving service delivery, operational efficiency, and citizen engagement. Utilizing a qualitative research methodology with a phenomenological approach, the investigation sheds light on specific impediments that thwart the realization of digital transformation's potential benefits. The research involved a sample size of 16 respondents, drawn from various roles within the Gauteng Department of e-Government. It further evaluates the expansive impact of digital transformation on the public sector's capacity to tackle systemic challenges, stimulate economic advancement, and promote sustainable development objectives. Insights garnered from this study illustrate how Gauteng's public sector, extending to the broader South African context, can exploit digital technologies to ameliorate citizen services. The research pinpointed critical obstacles, including technological underdevelopment, a deficit in digital competencies among public employees, and the rigidity of policy and regulatory frameworks. Nonetheless, it also spotlighted digital transformation's capacity to revolutionize public service delivery, operational efficiency, and citizen interaction. The main results indicated that despite these challenges, digital transformation has the potential to significantly enhance public service delivery, operational efficiency, and citizen engagement. Drawing from these insights, the study proposes actionable recommendations for policymakers and governmental stakeholders. These encompass formulating comprehensive strategies and policies to navigate and surmount digital transformation challenges while capitalizing on its advantages. Recommendations include fortifying technological infrastructure, amplifying digital literacy among public service workers, and refining policy and regulatory frameworks to enable innovation and digital engagement.enCC0 1.0 Universalhttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/Digital TransformationPublic SectorChallengesOpportunitiesSouth Africa.Thesis