Author: Gugu Lourie
Axiz has entered into a distribution agreement with Object First, the company behind the Ootbi (Out-of-the-Box Immutability) appliance, and founded by Veeam founders Ratmir Timashev and Andrei Baronov. The partnership will provide African organisations with enhanced data protection for Veeam backups. The agreement covers more than 25 countries across southern, eastern, and western Africa, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia. Through this partnership, Veeam partners and customers in these regions can now procure Object First appliances via Axiz. Ootbi is designed to protect backup data against ransomware and other cyber threats. Its architecture prevents destructive…
The heart of eMalahleni is poised for a dramatic transformation with the announcement of Jumbo Mall, a 37,000m² retail development designed to be a modern community hub. Developed by New Africa Developments (NAD) with funding from Investec, the project, scheduled for a March 2026 opening, represents one of the most significant commercial investments in the Blesboklaagte area. It aims to bring a tech-forward, sustainable, and comprehensive shopping experience to a region ripe for growth. A Strategic Partnership for a Landmark Project This milestone project signals a deepened collaboration between NAD, a specialist retail developer, and financial powerhouse Investec. While the…
In a recent alert, Sharenet has issued a critical warning to investors: scammers are impersonating Sharenet staff on Telegram. These fraudsters are using fake names and profile images to promote fraudulent investment opportunities and offer unauthorized financial advice. How the Scam Works The impersonators create fake accounts on Telegram, posing as Sharenet employees. They may reach out to unsuspecting individuals, promising high-return investment opportunities or offering financial guidance. Their goal is to steal money, personal information, or sensitive investment details. Sharenet emphasizes that these scammers have no affiliation with the company, its products, or its employees. In their official statement,…
In the heart of South Africa’s townships, a quiet revolution is brewing. The nation’s tavern sector, worth an estimated R40 billion to R60 billion a year and comprising more than 34,000 licensed tavern owners, is finally going digital. For decades, these vital community hubs have operated on a basis of cash and manual record-keeping. But now, fintech solutions are sweeping in, transforming these cash-only businesses into digitally-enabled engines of growth. Bridging the Digital Divide The scale of the opportunity is massive. “Taverns play a central role in township life, offering social hubs to the community and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs,” says…
Zimbali Lakes is riding a wave of unprecedented momentum, shattering its own sales records while securing R1.2 billion reinvestment from its master developer, IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFAHR). This vote of confidence is fuelling the rapid acceleration of the estate’s most ambitious components, from a members-only supercar vault to a signature Ernie Els golf course, cementing its status as KwaZulu-Natal’s premier luxury address. The figures speak to an unrivalled market surge: R280 million in sales recorded in the first nine months of 2025 alone, marking the highest sales period in the estate’s history. With only 161 land opportunities remaining, demand…
A massive R660-million infrastructure investment is set to transform connectivity across Southern Gauteng, with Vodacom launching new sites and expanding its 5G footprint to bridge the digital divide. Vodacom Southern Gauteng is reinforcing its commitment to the region with a massive financial injection of over R660 million this financial year. The investment is strategically targeted at accelerating 4G and 5G rollouts, expanding coverage to underserved communities, and future-proofing the network against growing data demands and power challenges. The ambitious plan includes the deployment of 67 new base stations across key areas including Springs, Brakpan, Germiston, Tembisa, Soweto, and Alexandra. Simultaneously,…
Enartis, a world leader in oenological products and technologies, has announced the signing of a preliminary agreement to acquire 100% of Parsec, an Italian centre of excellence renowned for its advanced, integrated control systems for the wine sector. The strategic agreement, which is pending Italian regulatory approval, is a great step towards creating a unified technology platform that manages the entire winemaking process, from grape reception to bottling. The integration of Enartis and Parsec will create a global player capable of offering wineries worldwide a complete and smart management of their production processes. This synergy combines Enartis’s cutting-edge oenological solutions…
South Africa’s cryptocurrency revolution is accelerating, with platform Luno signing up more than 530,000 new customers in the past year, pushing its local user base to over 6.3 million. New data from the exchange paints a picture of a market rapidly maturing beyond Bitcoin speculation into sophisticated investing, everyday payments, and passive income generation. xStocks and Luno Pay See Remarkable Traction A key driver of this sophistication is the successful launch of Luno’s tokenised stocks (xStocks). These digital representations of actual stocks have quickly captured the interest of South African investors seeking exposure to traditional markets through blockchain technology. “19,000…
In a major move that redefines the future of business, Salesforce and Google have dramatically expanded their strategic partnership. The core of this alliance? A powerful infusion of Google’s cutting-edge Gemini models directly into the new Agentforce 360 Platform, setting a new standard for intelligent, connected customer and employee interactions. This is positioned as a fundamental shift towards an “Agentic Enterprise,” where AI agents work seamlessly alongside humans to automate complex processes and unlock unprecedented productivity. The Brain Behind the Operation: Gemini Powers Salesforce’s AI The expanded partnership places employee productivity at the forefront, but its intelligence runs deep. Customers…
In a move set to transform the region’s infrastructure landscape, Growthpoint Properties, South Africa’s leading Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), has made an initial investment with the right to co-invest and develop the new Cape Winelands Airport precinct. This marks the start of a strategic partnership to deliver the Western Cape’s next-generation aviation, hospitality and industrial hub. Growthpoint, which co-owns Cape Town’s signature V&A Waterfront and holds group property assets to the value of R155.8 billion, brings its extensive experience in large-scale, mixed-use precincts to the 450-hectare development. The airport will be developed on the site previously known as Fisantekraal,…