We are waiting on Eswatini Govt – Google

Multinational technology company and search engine Google says it is still waiting on government to complete its internal processes on the now controversial agreement, maintaining that nothing has changed on its side since initial engagements, even as uncertainty around the deal continues to grow.

According to the tech giant, its proposed framework for the kingdom remains intact, with its technical proposal and architecture for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) still on the table. However, it made clear that progress now rests with government.

“Nothing has changed since the engagement. Our technical proposal and architecture for Digital Public Infrastructure remain valid. Eswatini is currently undergoing its required governance and compliance processes for partner selection,” said Google South Africa Communications and Public Affairs Manager Siya Madikane.

At the centre of the issue is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), referred to by Google as a “letter of collaboration,” which has not been made public by government.

While Google has confirmed engagement with government, it has also not disclosed the specific terms of the arrangement, nor has it outlined the tangible benefits expected for Emaswati.

This lack of detail continues, particularly as Cabinet has offered differing accounts of the agreement’s origin, approval process and value.

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini raised doubts about the agreement, telling senators it may not even have been signed by Google and warning against ministers entering into arrangements without proper authorisation.

In contrast, Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo said the MoU had been vetted by his office, while Minister of Commerce Manqoba Khumalo described it as Cabinet-approved and strategically important for investor confidence.

The conflicting positions have left key questions unanswered — what exactly was agreed, what obligations were created, and what the country stands to gain?

Google’s latest position does little to resolve these concerns. While confirming that engagement took place, the company has not responded in detail to questions about what the agreement offers the country, particularly in relation to widely publicised claims that it could unlock income opportunities for local content creators.

When asked to explain the potential benefits for locals, including whether the arrangement could enable monetisation on platforms such as YouTube, Google did not provide further clarification.

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Equally, the company has not engaged with concerns raised by independent experts over data sovereignty.

Analysts who have reviewed the agreement warn that its broadly framed provisions could expose sensitive government data to foreign jurisdictions if not tightly governed.

These concerns centre on proposals involving cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and the use of Google Workspace across the public sector.

While such partnerships are common in digital transformation efforts, experts caution that without clear safeguards, they could shift control of national data beyond domestic regulatory reach.

The absence of a detailed public explanation has also intensified scrutiny of how the agreement was communicated to the public. Claims from the ministry of ICT that the MoU could provide a pathway for young people to earn income through digital platforms have featured prominently in official messaging, despite limited evidence that such outcomes are directly tied to government-to-company agreements.

Industry analysts note that monetisation on platforms like YouTube depends on factors such as advertiser demand, audience scale and platform policies, rather than the existence of an MoU.

In response to Google’s position that it is waiting on government, Minister of ICT Savannah Maziya said efforts were underway to align internal processes.

“Please allow us to realign a few things that will hopefully allow us to move forward from the side of government,” she said briefly.

Senator Princess Ncengencenge, who chairs the Senate ICT portfolio committee, has consistently argued that the central question is whether the agreement will deliver real economic benefits.

She has maintained that her interest lies in whether the deal will translate into income opportunities for young people as it has been marketed by the ministry of ICT, warning that in a country facing high youth unemployment, government must avoid raising expectations without clear evidence.