Perspectives on the Impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Labour Practice in South Africa

Tinyiko Vivian Dube; Delani Milton Mahhumane

doi:10.25159/2522-6800/17972

Authors

Tinyiko Vivian Dube University of South Africa
Delani Milton Mahhumane University of South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4084-0333

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-6800/17972

Keywords:

artificial intelligence (AI), Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), labour rights, digital divide, information and communication technologies (ICTs), Internet of Things (IoT), South Africa

Abstract

This study presents a detailed content analysis of the emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as it gained momentum in the twenty-first century and its influence on human rights in labour practice. It sets out to investigate the potential implications of the 4IR for the protection and realisation of labour-related human rights in South Africa. The literature review incorporates a critical analysis of the existing and relevant literature that further expands the research problem. The study employs a qualitative method of data collection, evaluating the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, relevant legislation, policy documents and other authenticated information sources. The aim is to identify research gaps not addressed in previous studies. While the major technological advancements associated with the 4IR are intended to improve workplace practices, many South Africans remain disadvantaged by the digital divide and cannot fully benefit from the opportunities the 4IR presents. This article provides an overview of the existing and emerging regulatory frameworks associated with advanced information technologies and concludes by identifying gaps in the current landscape.

References

Andelkovic M, Radosavljevic D and Radosavljevic Z, ‘Man in the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (2021) 10 International Journal of Economics & Law.

Banyera E, The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Recolonization of Africa: The Coloniality of Data (Routledge 2021) <https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003157731> DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003157731

Bosch R, ‘South Africa Events of 2018’ (2018) <https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/south-africa> accessed 28 February 2022.

Bothma R, ‘Artificial Intelligence Arrives in HR’ (2017) 4 HR Future.

Braham S, ‘Wits, Sibanye-Stillwater Join Hands to Take Mining Digital’ Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy <http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2225-62532018000400002&lng=en&nrm=iso> accessed 21 June 2025.

Butler M, ‘What Can Africa Contribute to the Fourth Industrial Revolution?’ (2021) <https://www.usb.ac.za/usb_news/what-can-africa-contribute-to-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/> accessed 1 March 2022.

Dhanee AS, ‘The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Shaping Legal Practice’ (2025) <https://www.albaraka.co.za/blogs/legalease-3-2024/the-role-of-artificial-intellegence-in-shaping-legal-practice> accessed 19 June 2025.

Dimitrieska S, Stankovska A and Efremova T, ‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution Advantages and Disadvantages’ (2018) Economics and Management 14(2) 182–187.

Du Toit C, ‘Artificial Intelligence and the Question of Being’ (2019) 75(1) HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies <https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i1.5311> DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i1.5311

Dwolatzky B and Harris M, ‘Huge Gap Between SA’s 4IR Strategy and What Commission Recommends’ (Daily Maverick, 15 January 2021) <https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/opinion/2021/2021-01/huge-gap-between-sas-4ir-strategy-and-what-commission-recommends.html> accessed 21 August 2022.

Effoduh JO, ‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (2016) 3(1) Transnational Human Rights Review <https://doi.org/10.60082/2563-4631.1023> DOI: https://doi.org/10.60082/2563-4631.1023

Elo S, Kääriäinen M, Kanste O, Pölkki T, Utriainen K and Kyngäs H, ‘Qualitative Content Analysis: A Focus on Trustworthiness’ (2014) SAGE Open <https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014522633> DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014522633

Farrukh Q, ‘The Benefits of McDonald’s Self Ordering Kiosks’ https://www.wavetec.com/blog/mcdonalds-leveraging-self-service-technologies/ accessed 6 May 2025.

Gillwald A, ‘4IR in SA is Too Important to Remain the Domain of the Elite’ (Africa Portal 2020) <https://www.africaportal.org/features/4ir-sa-too-important-remain-domain-elite/> accessed 23 February 2022.

Giwa F and Ngepah N, ‘Artificial Intelligence and Skilled Employment in South Africa: Exploring Key Variables’ (2024) 8 Research in Globalization <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2024.100231> DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2024.100231

Government Gazette, ‘Department of Communications and Digital Technologies; Notice 591 of 2020’ <https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202010/43834gen591.pdf> accessed 2 March 2022.

Hoppit J, ‘Understanding the Industrial Revolution’ (1987) The Historical Journal: 211–224 <https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X00021993> DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X00021993

Iles AT, ‘The Human Genome Project: A Challenge to the Human Rights Framework’ (1996) 9 Harvard Human Rights Journal.

Mabasa FD, ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution: Threat and Opportunity on Employment Relations’ (2020) The 5th Annual International Conference on Public Administration and Development Alternatives <http://hdl.handle.net/10386/3233> accessed 21 June 2025.

Manwaring K and Hall C, ‘Legal, Social and Human Rights Challenges of the Internet of Things in Australia. Input paper for the Horizon Scanning Project “The Internet of Things” on behalf of the Australian Council of Learned Academics’ (2019) <https://acola.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/acola-iot-input-paper_legal-social-and-human-rights-challenges_manwaring-hall.pdf> accessed 1 March 2022.

Mbandlwa Z, ‘An Examination of How the Fourth Industrial Revolution Will Impact on Labour in South Africa’ (Durban University of Technology 2019).

McGinnis D, ‘What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution?’ (Salesforce 27 October 2020) <https://www.salesforce.com/blog/what-is-the-fourth-industrial-revolution-4ir/> accessed 1 March 2022.

Media Advisory, 2020 Workshop on ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities for National Human Rights Institutions’ (4 March 2020) <https://www.sahrc.org.za/index.php/sahrc-media/news-2/item/2284-media-advisory-workshop-on-fourth-industrial-revolution-4ir-and-human-rights-challenges-and-opportunities-for-national-human-rights-institutions/> accessed 20 August 2022.

Mfanafuthi M, Nyawo J and Mashau P, ‘Analysis of the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics on Human Labour’ (2019) 17(3) Gender and Behaviour.

Mohajan H, ‘The First Industrial Revolution: Creation of a New Global Human’ (2019) 5(4) Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Mpofu R and Nicolaides A, ‘Frankenstein and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR): Ethics and Human Rights Considerations’ (2019) 8(5) African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure.

Mtuze SSK and Morige M, ‘Towards Drafting Artificial Intelligence (AI) Legislation in South Africa’ (2024) 45(1) Obiter <https://doi.org/10.17159/obiter.v45i1.18399> DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/obiter.v45i1.18399

Niller E, ‘How the Second Industrial Revolution Changed Americans’ Lives: The Rapid Advancement of Mass Production and Transportation Made Life a Lot Faster’ (2019) <https://www.history.com/news/second-industrial-revolution-advances> accessed 23 February 2022.

Olaitan O, Issahn M and Ntombovuyo W, ‘A Framework to Test South Africa’s Readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (2021) 23 South African Journal of Information Management <https://doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v23i1.1284> DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v23i1.1284

Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, ‘New Laws and Re-skilling People Will Be Required for Fourth Industrial Revolution – Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane’ (29 November 2018) <https://www.parliament.gov.za/news/new-laws-and-re-skilling-people-will-be-required-fourth-industrial-revolution-mmamoloko-kubayi-ngubane> accessed 23 February 2022.

Schwab K, The Fourth Industrial Revolution (World Economic Forum 2016).

Sima V and Gheorghe I and Subić J and Nancu D, ‘Influences of the Industry 4.0 Revolution on the Human Capital Development and Consumer Behavior: A Systematic Review’ (2020) 12(10) Sustainability <https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104035> DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104035

The World Social Report 2020 <https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/02/World-Social-Report2020-FullReport.pdf> accessed 21 August 2022.

Cases

Makunga v Barlequins Beleggings (Pty) Ltd t/a Indigo Spur (19733/2017) [2023] ZAWCHC 332.

Mavundla v MEC: Department of Co-Operative Government and Traditional Affairs KwaZulu-Natal and Others (KZP) (unreported case no 7940/2024P, 8-1-2025).

Legislation

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996.

Labour Relations Act Amendment Act 9 of 1991.

South African Law Reform Commission, Privacy and Data Protection, Discussion Paper 109 (October 2005).