The South African government needs to create an environment that supports tech innovation and they need to do it fast. This is word from Google South Africa country manager Luke McKend.

McKend says that South Africans are “definitely an innovative bunch”, but that many people leave the country to fulfill their entrepreneurial ambitions.

“We need a greater sense of urgency from government to create an environment that supports tech innovation (DTI’s partnership with us for Woza Online is a good example), and from investors to identify and fund new ventures to ensure that this talent is nurtured and stays in SA,” says McKend.

The Google SA head says that despite the pace of digital growth in South Africa, there is still a great deal of room to grow. This growth, says McKend, is possible both in terms of the impact that the Internet can have on people’s lives, as well as untapped potential for businesses to take advantage of reaching new consumers using great technology.

But McKend warns that the country will lose out unless we act immediately: “Without a sense of urgency, South Africans may fail to realise the fantastic opportunity we have to lead Africa in tech and online innovation, losing further ground to the rest of Sub Saharan Africa, in particular places like Kenya and Nigeria”.

Google South Africa is currently driving online innovation and growth through projects like Woza Online and Umbono. These projects provide support for entrepreneurship and small business development which McKend says are “incredibly important for the development of a vibrant internet eco-system in SA”.

“We look forward to seeing both projects grow, and to bringing tens of thousands of businesses online, for free,” says McKend.