South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) CFO Innocent Gumbochuma shares how trust, governance and human insight are anchoring the organisation’s digital transformation journey. As finance leaders embrace AI and blockchain, he emphasised that “trust is our currency in finance” and that technology must enhance, not replace, the human element.
In a rapidly digitising world, finance leaders are being called upon to balance innovation with integrity. Speaking at the 2025 Finance Indaba, Innocent Gumbochuma, CFO of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), described how the finance function is evolving from a purely transactional unit into a strategic driver of value and trust.
“Trust is our currency in finance. Our role is to take noisy data and turn it into meaningful decision-making tools. As a finance function, we’re undergoing a major digital transformation with the evolution of AI,” he said.
For SAQA, this transformation is not merely about adopting technology, it is about embedding governance, security and ethics into every part of the organisation. Innocent explained that trustworthy data begins with a robust governance framework that defines ownership and accountability. The organisation has recently had its data strategy approved by the board, establishing a clear structure of data stewardship.
He added that engineering for truth is equally critical. SAQA is building modern data warehousing systems that allow every insight to be traced and audited from source to dashboard. “We want to have a dashboard that’s not just visually impressive but auditable. When you have that in place, you can trust the insights that flow from your data,” he said.
Innocent also emphasised that non-financial outcomes such as service delivery, human resources and environmental performance must be treated with the same seriousness as financial results. In the public sector, he noted, these metrics play a central role in shaping decision-making and accountability.
Focusing on cybersecurity
Cybersecurity, he said, has become a cornerstone of the organisation’s digital journey. With over 25 million South African qualification records under its custodianship, SAQA has established its own in-house cybersecurity function rather than outsourcing it. “Imagine if someone’s qualifications were found on the dark web,” he said, stressing the importance of protecting sensitive data at all costs.
Yet, amid all the talk about automation, Innocent was clear that human judgement remains irreplaceable. “AI gives us insights, but it doesn’t make the decisions. There’s no way emotions and ethics can be replaced by algorithms. The human in the loop cannot be substituted,” he said.
He noted that trust is not built by technology alone. It is earned through transparency, accountability and consistency. “We also have to build trust with our customers and ensure we have clean audits,” he said. “That’s what builds credibility in both the public and private sectors.”
As part of its drive to strengthen data integrity, SAQA is also exploring blockchain technology to make its qualification verification services tamper-proof. The organisation has already completed a proof of concept with a major financial institution to assist in FICA verification processes. “Apparently, the higher educated, the less risky you are”.
“When this financial institution saw our systems, they were impressed with our cybersecurity setup and verification processes. We’re now building APIs to connect with departments like Home Affairs and the police, creating a one-stop verification platform,” said Innocent.
This initiative responds directly to the growing problem of fraudulent qualifications in South Africa. “We call them misrepresented qualifications, but they’re fake qualifications,” he said.
“Blockchain will ensure that academic records are authentic and tamper-proof, protecting both employers and institutions.”
Looking at the future
For Innocent, the shift from transactional to transformational finance, highlights the urgency for finance professionals to evolve their skillsets and mindset.
“Technology can either accelerate mistrust or multiply confidence,” he said. “We have to ensure that as finance leaders, we deliver insights that are not only correct but trusted and actually used.”
Looking ahead, SAQA is recruiting a full-time AI expert to strengthen its data-driven capabilities, a move that highlights how even public entities are competing for scarce digital talent.
“We’re not yet there, but we’re serious about building a finance function that is digital, secure and trusted.Technology should not replace people, it should enable us to deliver better insights faster and with integrity,” he said.
