Abstract
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) forces governments around the world to implement strategies to accommodate the spread of technological advancement and integrate it in their ways of doing things. South Africa, like many countries in Africa, is faced with digital divide as many of its inhabitants cannot access resources to fully participate in the digital world. The fourth Industrial revolution brings many benefits for the world but requires countries to have a proper skilled workforce and infrastructure. South Africa is characterized by Socio-economic issues such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Therefore, to achieve digital equity, citizens need to be equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge to reap the benefits of 4IR through government initiatives. The above challenges faced by the country necessitated the need to research on the role played by digital equity in attaining social justice in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The study conceptualizes the concept of social justice, digital equity and 4IR and the current trends and policies employed by countries in accommodating the industrial revolution. The study further addresses the challenges faced by South Africa in attaining social justice through digital equity. The literature revealed significant gaps between developed and developing countries in adapting to 4IR technologies, with South Africa lagging due to socio-economic challenges. While countries like China and Japan have leveraged investments in IT infrastructure and skills development to reap 4IR benefits, South Africa struggles to bridge the digital divide, especially in rural areas where many remain in the Third Industrial Revolution. Moreover, the PC4IR's objectives remain unmet due to issues of accountability and transparency. The findings emphasize the need for South Africa to invest in digital infrastructure, ICT skills, and public-private partnerships to address poverty, inequality, and unemployment, fostering digital equity and socio-economic transformation.