This report provides an overview of discussions and outcomes from the first Research Software Indaba held on 19 May 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. The event brought together leaders in the field of research software from diverse disciplines such as bioinformatics, public health, astrophysics, eResearch, and high-performance computing. Attendees shared their experience in research software and systems and specifically focused on: African initiatives; funding and policies; existing capacity and training; and next steps. For more information, read the associated blog post or visit the event website. Questions can be addressed to Anelda van der Walt. The first Research Software Indaba was organised by Talarify in partnership with ReSA and RSSE Africa.