Author: Gugu Lourie
Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments infrastructure company, today announces a strategic investment from Ripple, the leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions for traditional and digital finance. This partnership marks the definitive next phase of Flutterwave’s long-term stablecoin strategy, seamlessly connecting its existing cross-border settlement capabilities with enterprise-grade digital liquidity. By anchoring this infrastructure in the heart of the continent, Flutterwave is empowering African businesses to bypass legacy frictions, ultimately bolstering Nigeria’s role as the primary hub for global digital asset trade and driving sustained economic resilience across the African continent. The investment is a part of Flutterwave’s Series E fundraising, which…
Telecommunications companies (telcos) are strategically diversifying into healthcare by leveraging their existing assets—network infrastructure, customer bases, and billing systems—to bridge gaps in access, especially for underserved populations. They are moving beyond traditional connectivity roles to become digital health service providers. For telcos with advanced 5G networks, the strategy is to provide the premium connectivity that next-generation healthcare requires. In Singapore, Singtel is powering community health posts with its 5G+ network, which uses “network slicing” to ensure a stable, uninterrupted connection for teleconsultations, even during periods of heavy network traffic, as reported by Healthcare IT News. This diversification is a natural…
South Africans are suddenly happy with their mobile networks. Or at least, they are happy enough not to leave. Despite rising data prices and lingering frustration with customer service, millions of people are choosing to stay with Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C. The days of mass “number porting” — switching networks while keeping the same phone number — appear to be over. And the numbers prove it. Porting Rates Have Collapsed According to the Number Portability Company (NPC), which manages the system that allows South Africans to switch networks without losing their numbers, the monthly average of people porting…
In my hometown, Bethal – a tiny Mpumalanga town of about 128,000 residents surrounded by coal mines and power stations – Eskom could close or reconfigure the many coal power stations in the area. This simply means fewer jobs for young people seeking employment. On the other hand, the massive R25 billion to R35 billion hybrid wind and solar facility currently being developed, already visible from afar when approaching Bethal, has not absorbed significant numbers of jobless youth. Young people in Bethal are eager to work, but the opportunities remain scarce. The lucky ones get employment at Sasol’s Secunda operations, which its future…
Netcare has announced that it is piloting clinical-grade wearable monitoring technology in general wards at a flagship facility, as part of a broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools across its ecosystem. The move positions the private hospital group as a continental leader in digitally enabled, data-driven healthcare. The announcement came as Netcare today published its results for the six months ended 31 March 2026, revealing strong financial momentum alongside major digital innovation milestones. Netcare is a leading healthcare provider in Africa, operating an integrated network of hospitals, emergency services, and primary care facilities. The group’s ten-year strategy focuses…
The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has appointed insider Charles Shilowa as its acting Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2026. Shilowa, currently Group Executive for Capital Infrastructure Asset Management, will take over when current CEO Nompumelelo Mpofu’s contract expires on 30 June 2026. Mpofu will also step down as an executive director at that time. Shilowa first joined ACSA in November 2015 as Group Executive for Business Development. He later served as Group Executive for Strategy and Sustainability from September 2021 to June 2023 before assuming his current infrastructure role. Prior to ACSA, Shilowa held senior leadership roles…
Vodacom, South Africa’s largest mobile phone operator by subscribers, continues to make significant inroads into the insurance sector as it steadily gains customer trust. The Vodafone-owned company has been expanding its presence in the insurance market by offering funeral, life, and device cover, alongside various short-term insurance services, to both existing and new customers. Insurance is widely recognised as one of the sectors most vulnerable to disruption – a finding backed by major consulting firms and risk surveys. While it may not always top current disruption rankings, its high susceptibility to future disruption – driven by technological stagnation, inefficiencies, and…
CANAL+, a global media and entertainment company, has confirmed its intention to complete a fast-track secondary inward listing of its ordinary shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on 3 June 2026. The French-based media conglomerate which already holds a primary listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), said the JSE listing will provide South African investors with a direct opportunity to invest in the group and enhance the long-term liquidity and tradability of CANAL+ shares. Fully Fungible Shares, No New Capital Raised CANAL+ will retain its primary listing on the LSE. Shares traded on the…
Balwin Annuity delivered another solid performance, with revenue increasing by 25% to R219.0 million for the year ended 28 February 2026. JSE-listed Balwin), a developer focused on environmentally responsible building practices and the delivery of high-quality, affordable, lifestyle-oriented apartments, today released its audited financial results for the year ended 28 February 2026. Balwin said the annuity said Balwin Annuity maintained its 8.1% contribution to group revenue, reinforcing the growing importance of complementary revenue streams around the core development business. The annuity platform includes Balwin ICT, Balwin Real Estate, rentals, customer services, Green Living and other businesses including padel, signage and…
Vodacom today published its financial results for the year to end-March and disclosed solid performance from its mobile money platforms. “Our mobile money platforms, including Safaricom, processed $525.6 billion of transaction value in the year, up 16.6%, representing leadership in the African FinTech space,” Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO, disclosed on Monday. This makes Vodacom’s mobile money platform the biggest on the African continent, ahead of MTN and Airtel Africa. The Vodafone-owned company disclosed that normalised M-Pesa revenue in its International business grew 22.8%, with growth across the portfolio of countries. M-Pesa revenue was supported by strong growth in our…
Vodacom Group today published its financial results for the year to end-March 2026 and gave the market a glimpse to the performance of its Internet of Things (IoT) business, IoT.nxt. IoT.nxt is a subsidiary of Vodacom South Africa and its financials are embedded in the local unit. Since Vodacom’s strategic R1 billion acquisition of a 51% stake in IoT.nxt in 2019, the IoT specialist has become instrumental in driving its Beyond Mobile strategy, enabling digital transformation across multiple industries through cutting-edge connectivity solutions. Asked to reflect on the performance of IoT.nxt, Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub, told TechFinancials the IoT business contributes R300…
Vodacom Group has released a set of financial results that shows headline earnings and free cash each growing by more than 20%, the benefits of our revenue and geographic diversification are apparent, even amid a complex and dynamic macroeconomic environment. The latest financials for the year to end-March 31, 2006 reflected a final dividend of R8.4 billion (405 cents per ordinary share) for the year ended 31 March 2026. Vodacom generated operating free cash flow of R33 billion, up 10.3%, reflecting the growth in EBITDA. The Vodafone-owned telco also invested R23.6 billion into capital expenditure, a further R7.4 billion was…
We spoke to Ross Tucker, who leads Packard Bell’s regional strategy, about the thinking behind the brand’s re-entry, its pragmatic approach to AI, and why South Africa is the perfect proving ground for accessible innovation. What inspired Packard Bell’s return to South Africa? South Africa represents a tale of two economies. On one side, you have world-class infrastructure and formal markets; on the other, an enormous informal sector driving grassroots innovation. Yet, most global PC players treat this as one homogenous market. We believe South Africa is underserved, there’s a mismatch between global strategies and local realities – and our…
Porsche will begin selling an all‑electric Cayenne Coupe—its latest signal that the German automaker still sees strong market demand for EVs. The full 2026 Cayenne Coupe Electric range is available to order now and will be sold alongside the existing gas‑powered and plug‑in hybrid Cayenne Coupe variants. Pricing starts at $113,800 for the base Cayenne Coupe Electric, $131,200 for the Cayenne S Coupe Electric, and $168,000 for the Cayenne Turbo Coupe Electric. The german automaker says with its striking flyline, the Cayenne Coupe Electric now complements the Cayenne Electric SUV line-up. The company added that the iconic 911 “flyline” and…
Clicks Group reports resilient first-half performance despite systems delays and consumer pressure, fueled by strong loyalty programme growth. Clicks ClubCard, the group’s flagship loyalty initiative, grew its active membership base by 800,000 to reach 12.9 million members during the first six months of the 2026 financial year. The program now contributes a commanding 83.7% of total sales at Clicks, underscoring the strategic importance of customer retention in a challenging retail environment. Loyalty members received R527 million in cashback rewards over the period, reinforcing the value proposition for South African consumers facing constrained spending power. “The growth of Clicks ClubCard to 12.9 million active members reflects the…
MTN and Cell C share co-leadership in South Africa’s overall mobile ranking, with MTN posting the highest Download speed (Mb/s) at 41.3 Mbps and Cell C maintaining the best Latency (ms) for the fifth consecutive year. Download speeds progressed across all operators in the overall ranking this year, reflecting a broad-based improvement in network infrastructure across the South African mobile sector. Cell C recorded a strong 15% improvement in Upload speed (Mb/s) overall versus the previous period, while Vodacom claimed first place in Web Browsing (%) and Youtube streaming (%) for the first time, signalling meaningful gains in everyday user…
What do Platinum and Titanium ratings mean for PC power supplies? Platinum and Titanium are 80 PLUS® certification levels that define how efficient a power supply is. Talking more technically, how effectively it converts electricity from the mains into a stable power supply for PC components. SeaSonic Platinum power supplies provide up to 90-94% of efficient performance to PC components under heavy loads. SeaSonic Titanium power supplies give even more, ~96% of efficiency under any load scenarios for PC users. For professional PC builders or businesses, this means lower energy loss, less heat generation, and quieter system operation. It affects…
Netflix cofounder and Chairman Reed Hastings will step down from the company’s board this summer, choosing not to extend his tenure when his current term expires. The streaming giant disclosed in a letter to shareholders that Hastings is exiting to concentrate on “philanthropy and other pursuits.” The news came Thursday as part of Netflix’s first-quarter earnings release. According to the regulatory filing, Hastings’s official departure will take effect in June, when his term concludes. The letter stated that “Reed Hastings has informed us that he will not stand for re-election to our Board when his current term expires at the…
London, United Kingdom — As the English Premier League enters its final weeks, sports data platform TipsGG has released new data on referee disciplinary patterns in the 2025/26 season, revealing major differences in how matches are officiated. The report highlights a significant statistical variance in officiating styles, with Stuart Attwell and Anthony Taylor emerging as the league’s most punitive officials. To quantify card distribution, the TipsGG dataset tracks a Strictness Summary (cumulative points: 3 for a direct red, 2 for a second yellow, and 1 for a single yellow) and a Strictness Index (Strictness Summary per match). Both Attwell and…
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has imposed an administrative penalty of R1 500 000 on Mr Ian Roscoe (Mr Roscoe) and debarred him for a period of 20 years. The FSCA stated that the regulatory action follows an investigation by the Authority in respect of Mr Roscoe. The FSCA confirmed that the investigation found that Mr Roscoe rendered intermediary services that resulted in his clients investing in the BHI Trust investment, which was run by Mr Craig Warriner (Mr Warriner). According to the FSCA, the BHI Trust and Mr Warriner were previously found to have contravened section 7(1) of…
Optasia, an AI-powered financial infrastructure platform serving underbanked customers in emerging markets, notes that FirstRand Limited has increased its shareholding in Optasia to 26.1% through the acquisition of an additional 6% stake. FirstRand acquired 74,103,711 ordinary shares in Optasia at ZAR20.00 on 25 March 2026 from an entity owned by Bassim Haidar, founder and non-executive director of Optasia. This follows FirstRand’s initial strategic investment in Optasia in October 2025, where it acquired 20.1% of Optasia ahead of its IPO. Subsequent to the transaction, Bassim Haidar now holds an aggregate, indirect shareholding of 1.5% of the total issued shares in Optasia,…
A landmark Vodacom transaction, alongside strong operational showings from Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa, has propelled Remgro’s fibre infrastructure arm, CIVH, into profitability. In interim results for the six months to 31 December 2025, released on Wednesday, Remgro revealed that CIVH recorded headline earnings of R216-million – a marked improvement from the R248-million loss in the comparative period. The fibre unit’s contribution to Remgro’s headline earnings similarly strengthened to R123-million, reversing a loss of R141-million a year prior. CIVH contributed a profit of R123 million to Remgro’s headline earnings, a sharp improvement from the R141 million loss a year earlier.…
Cinergy Mobile Power has officially launched in South Africa, bringing smart, diesel-free energy systems to the country’s film, TV and live event industries. The company is the first to offer purpose-built mobile power solutions tailored for African film and entertainment. Instead of relying on traditional diesel generators, Cinergy’s modular systems combine solar and battery technology to deliver silent, cost-effective energy with zero emissions. The systems also provide real-time data on power usage, helping productions work smarter. And crucially, they fit straight into existing workflows – no need to change how crews already do things. “Energy has become a strategic production…
BMW has redefined its iconic sedan. The newly unveiled BMW i3—the electric version of the beloved 3 Series – is making a bold statement, positioning itself as a leader in range and technology. Built on the revolutionary Neue Klasse platform, this vehicle isn’t just an EV; it is a technological quantum leap into a new era for the brand. Record-Breaking Range and Ultra-Fast Charging The headline feature of the new i3 is its exceptional range. Thanks to a massive 108 kWh battery and sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, the vehicle achieves up to 895 kilometers on a single charge under the…
Spar Group informed shareholders on Tuesday that it will implement a voluntary severance programme in certain areas of the business as part of its ongoing focus on improving operational efficiency and competitiveness. “The severance programme forms part of a broader reset designed to align the Group’s cost base with current trading conditions and ensure Spar is appropriately structured to support future sustainable growth,” reads the statement. The company said the process does not affect the Group’s retailers or services provided to Spar’s retail network. The Group remains focused on strengthening operational performance and supporting its network of independent retailers. This…