SA Parliament Appoints Unathi Thosago As CIO

The Parliament of South Africa has appointed Unathi Thosago as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), starting January 2026.

Thosago is an IT expert with more than 20 years of experience in financial services, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, insurance, and public-sector technology. She will lead Parliament’s efforts to improve cybersecurity, modernise its digital systems, and make technology more secure and accessible for the public.

Before joining Parliament, Thosago worked at Old Mutual as a Service and Client Technology Executive, leading major technology projects to improve systems and services. She has also held senior roles at Adcorp Group, Rand Mutual, and Transnet, focusing on digital transformation, infrastructure upgrades, and system integration.

“The goal is to build a digital Parliament that is secure but easy to use,” said Thosago. “We want systems that help lawmakers do their work, protect the integrity of the legislative process, and make it easier for the public to participate. Technology should not just make work faster. It should build trust and accountability.”

Thosago holds an MBA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and Management from GIBS Business School and has completed an Executive Development Programme at Wits Business School.

Her appointment comes after a search led by Revolution Human Capital. Nonkululo Maqungo, CEO of Revolution, said, “The CIO is now a key leadership role that directly affects trust in Parliament. Unathi’s appointment shows that technology leadership is central to transparency, security, and accountability in government.”

This appointment comes at a crucial time as Parliament accelerates its digital transformation to address cyber threats, rising public expectations, and the need for more open, resilient, and citizen-focused governance.