Author: Gugu Lourie
JLR has unveiled a series of subtle but long-awaited updates to the second-generation Range Rover Evoque for the 2024 model year. The new Range Rover Evoque is available to order now with prices starting at R1.25 million. Configure yours here – range-rover/range-rover-evoque Inside, Range Rover’s reductive design philosophy is amplified with a new 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen, seemingly floating within the driver’s eyeline for improved visibility, while liberating space for interior stowage and Wireless Device Charging. Powered by Pivi Pro, with regular Software Over The Air drops, the new centre console offers clients a seamless, comfortable digital experience. The interface is…
Google for Startups (GfS) has selected three South African startups to be part of its $4 million (R73.6 million) Black Founders Fund for innovators across the continent. The Black Founders Fund, now in its third year, aims to help tackle systemic racial inequality in venture capital (VC) funding by providing equity-free grants and mentoring to early stage Black-led high-growth businesses across Europe and Africa. The selected cohort of 40 startups from Europe and Africa, includes 25 African startups that embody the diverse entrepreneurial spirit across the African continent. Startups led or co-founded by women make up 72% of the group,…
Vodacom will now offer eSIM support for smartphones across prepaid, top-up/hybrid and postpaid contract types. This means that users with selected eSIM-enabled smartphones will be able to connect to the Vodacom network and enjoy the benefits, capabilities, and flexibility that an eSIM provides. eSIMs also known as embedded SIMs are not just the next generation of SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card technology, they also help drive the eradication of the need for a physical card entirely. In addition, this also eliminates the need to manufacture and ship the associated plastic, thereby reducing carbon emissions. Traditional SIM cards contain unique identifying…
The Huawei ICT Academy is set to highlight Huawei’s ethos of diversity and inclusion by supporting Youth Month and expanding its successful Women in Tech initiative with a focus on young women. Called the Huawei Young Woman in Tech programme, the course is taking place from 21 to 28 June 2023. The course is open to all young women who are either currently studying in the ICT field or who would like to in the future. The course programmes will take place entirely online and will cover topics including artificial intelligence (AI), big data and cloud computing. The initial training…
Applications for the inaugural Tech Awards will be open from 1 July 2023. The South African Annual Tech for Innovation and Social Impact Awards, soon to become one of the premier annual ICT events in South Africa, will be hosted by the Empire Partner Foundation (EPF) in collaboration with MICT SETA. The awards gala will take place on Saturday 11 November 2023 at Montecasino Ballroom in Fourways, Johannesburg. The South African Annual Tech for Innovation and Social Impact Awards provide a platform for youth, businesses, startups and innovators to showcase their tech solutions. The aim is to promote technological innovation,…
Mobile phone operator Cell C, which is owned by JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms, has confirmed the appointment of Jorge Mendes As CEO. His appointment is effective 1 July 2023. IT Web speculated on Wednesday that Mendes will be revealed as CEO today by Cell C. Cell C today said Mendes brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role and is widely regarded as a strategic leader with a proven track record of driving growth and profitability in the telecommunications industry. “We are thrilled to welcome Jorge Mendes to the Cell C team,” said Joe Mthimunye, Cell C Board Chairman…
Jorge Mendes, former chief consumer business officer at Vodacom South Africa, is to become Cell C’s new CEO, according to a report published by IT Web on Wednesday. According to the report, Cell C did not deny that Mendes is the new man taking control of the company when asked for comment. Instead, Cell C told the technology publication that the company will announce the appointment of its CEO tomorrow. Mendes will replace Brett Copans, chief restructuring officer, who had been interim CEO, succeeding Douglas Craigie Stevenson, who stepped down as Cell C’s chief executive in March. In January, Mendes…
Spar announced on Wednesday that it had delivered a commendable trading performance in the six months to the end of March 2023 in a challenging environment. Group revenue increased by 7,9% to R72,9 billion. It added that over the past 12 months, all regions have come under significant inflationary cost pressures. “The cost pressures, coupled with SAP software go-live challenges at the KwaZulu-Natal distribution centre (KZN DC) and subsequent loss of turnover during the latter half of the period, resulted in a decline in operating profit of 17.5%to R1,5 billion,” Spar said. “Due to rising interest rates across all geographies,…
JSE-listed retailer Spar said South Africa experienced unprecedented levels of electricity loadshedding which directly is impacting trading performance and profitability of its retailers. Higher levels of loadshedding are expected to impact retailer profitability due to the additional energy costs associated with back-up solutions required during loadshedding hours, said the retailer. “Our retailers have experienced a significant increase in operating costs, primarily driven by the increased cost of diesel required to run generators during the higher levels of loadshedding, coupled with higher repairs and maintenance costs, and product wastage, as generators occasionally fail under extended periods of usage,” said Spar. Spar estimates…
South African supper app VodaPay, which is operated by Vodacom, has launched a feature that makes the platform to look like a bank. Two new Deposit and Send Money services have been added to the VodaPay super app, according to Vodacom Financial and Digital Lifestyle Services. “VodaPay’s new Deposit and Send Money services support our intention to accelerate digital and financial inclusion. Both banked and unbanked users can deposit and/or send money from their VodaPay Wallet, securely, cost-effectively and instantly. By building broader, more convenient offerings onto VodaPay, such as deposit and cash-out networks, we aim to enable more people…