Author: Gugu Lourie
The parliamentary uproar over Minister Solly Malatsi’s proposed policy shift on B-BBEE in the ICT sector has exposed a painful truth: South Africa’s mobile industry equity deals have largely failed to achieve meaningful black economic empowerment. While some politicians – acting along party lines – rail against potential changes to black economic empowerment equity requirements, evidence shows that existing deals have become little more than compliance exercises. Khusela Diko, chair of Parliament’s communications and digital technology committee, is a senior member of the majority party in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the African National Congress, while Minister Malatsi belongs…
Barloworld Equipment has invested R34 million in cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency at its Barloworld Rebuild Centre (BRC), one of only a few Caterpillar-certified Component Rebuild Centres (CRCs) globally. The upgrade includes robotic thermal arc spraying and CNC machining, enabling the refurbishment of critical components like cylinder blocks, final drives, spindles, wheels, and hydraulic parts. Thermal arc spraying is ideal for high-friction applications, providing a durable, wear-resistant coating that extends machinery lifespan. “This investment ensures cost-effective repairs, faster turnaround times, and a wider range of remanufactured components for our customers,” said Mbali Tshitenge, Executive: Aftermarket at Barloworld Equipment Southern Africa. The BRC features state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and test stations, ensuring rebuilt parts meet Caterpillar’s strict…
In the fast-paced aviation industry, even a brief network outage can disrupt operations and passenger flow. To address this, SITA – the air transport industry’s IT provider – has launched SITA Managed Satellites, a reliable, secure communication service that keeps airports and airlines online: even during blackouts, disasters, or in remote locations. Available in over 130 countries, this fully managed service leverages low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity. It serves as a primary, backup, or emergency network, ensuring airports maintain operations when traditional fiber or terrestrial networks fail. Why Airports Need Satellite Connectivity Recent global disruptions – such as extreme…
Gugu Lourie, tech analyst, joined Simon Brown on Moneyweb’s HOT 107.7FM to unpack South Africa’s shifting connectivity landscape amid updated empowerment laws. The discussion explored how these policy changes impact internet access, digital inclusion, and the role of equity equivalents in driving transformation. Stay informed with HOT 107.7FM for key insights on SA’s evolving digital future. Key Points Covered: How empowerment laws reshape SA’s connectivity sector Equity equivalents and their role in digital equity The future of internet access and broadband growth Listen Below #TechTalk #DigitalTransformation #HOT1077FM
For nearly three decades, South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy has been anchored on the premise that transferring 30% equity stakes to black shareholders would, somewhat, redress apartheid’s race-skewed economic imbalances. However, the results have been disastrous. For example, between 2003-2008, as much as R361 billion in BEE deals were concluded, yet black ownership on the JSE remains below 5%, unemployment has soared to over 32%, and GDP stagnated below 2%. This evidence shows that equity-based BEE has failed to redress apartheid’s economic ills, and South Africa must urgently rethink its approach. The Surprising Origins of BEE Contrary to…
Well-known South African technology entrepreneur Reshaad Sha is leading a management buyout of Altron Nexus from JSE-listed Altron Group, with the company set to be rebranded as Sentiv. The transaction, still subject to conditions, is expected to close by end June 2025. A New Chapter: Sentiv Emerges The name Sentiv – a blend of “sentient” and “intuitive” – reflects the company’s evolution into a platform-led business focused on real-time insights, adaptive connectivity, and predictive intelligence. Louis Du Toit, the current Managing Director of Altron Nexus, will become CEO of Sentiv, while Reshaad Sha takes on the role of Executive Chairman. Together, they aim to transform Sentiv into a future-ready technology provider specializing in mission-critical communications and Industrial IoT solutions. Altron…
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE), South Africa’s pioneer in developing a nationwide network of off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, has secured a R100 million equity investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). This funding accelerates the country’s shift toward a net-zero transport economy while reinforcing climate-resilient infrastructure. Andries Malherbe, Director and Co-founder of CHARGE, expressed gratitude for the investment, stating: “This show of faith by the DBSA is not just financial – it is symbolic. We are truly grateful.” The capital injection will support CHARGE’s mission to install ultra-fast EV charging stations every 150 km along national roads. Each site…
As Altron marks its 60th anniversary, the JSE-tech listed group has delivered a stellar financial performance, showcasing 50% growth in operating profit to R972 million and a 27% surge in EBITDA to R1.8 billion for the year ending February 2025. This strong performance emphasises the company’s resilience amid economic uncertainty and its ability to execute a disciplined growth strategy. A Year of Strong Financial Performance Despite flat revenue of R9.6 billion, partly due to the sale of its ATM business, Altron demonstrated underlying growth with a 3% organic revenue increase when excluding this divestment. More impressively, the company’s headline earnings per share (HEPS) jumped 73% to 178 cents, while…
The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has pledged full cooperation with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation authorising an investigation into its 2017 procurement process. The probe will examine the awarding of a turnkey software asset management and logistics support contract, assessing compliance with National Treasury regulations and potential irregularities. While the investigation focuses on a past tender, SITA emphasizes that it reflects its current leadership’s commitment to accountability. Since 2021, the agency has implemented sweeping reforms, including: Revised procurement frameworks aligned with PFMA and Treasury rules, Digital tracking systems for audit-ready contract management, Mandatory ethics…
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. The Technology Edge At the core of this partnership is IoT.nxt’s innovative edge-to-cloud platform that seamlessly bridges legacy systems with modern data sources, delivering real-time business intelligence. The company’s competitive advantage stems from three key technological differentiators: Raptor edge gateway technology – Enables rapid IoT deployment at scale Web-Commander software stack – Provides unified data aggregation with 3D visualisation capabilities Multi-directional rules engine – Facilitates…