Author: Gugu Lourie

KFC wants to take you into the world of virtual reality gaming at its new store in Braam. You might have seen stores like this before—they’re all about trying new things and bringing brands into the modern age. That’s exactly what KFC Africa is doing with its brand-new store in Joburg’s Play Braamfontein area. KFC Play Braam at 73 Juta Street is more than just a place to shop—it’s also a hub of creativity and innovation for the brand. It’s where new ideas come to life right before your eyes, covering everything from delicious food to trendy fashion, friendly service…

Checkers Sixty60, the leading grocery delivery app in South Africa, continues to capture the admiration of its online customers. The online shopping platform and rapid delivery service, operated by Shoprite, witnessed a remarkable surge of 63.1% in online sales during the initial half of the year. Since its launch in November 2019, Sixty60 has spearheaded on-demand grocery delivery in South Africa. Distinguished by its promise of delivering orders within 60 minutes for a nominal fee of R35, Checkers Sixty60 stands out as the nation’s preferred on-demand grocery delivery service. Boasting over 3.1 million downloads, the app now extends its services…

RMB has joined forces with the well-established South African-owned Independent Power Producer (IPP), SOLA Group (SOLA), to secure a substantial R2.8 billion debt and equity package. This financial endeavor aims to support the development of a pioneering 150MW multi-offtake Solar PV Project situated near Virginia in the Free State region. The initiative marks a pioneering step in South Africa’s energy landscape as it pioneers one of the country’s inaugural multi-buyer programmes. Anticipated to achieve commercial operations by mid-2025, the project operates under several power purchase agreements (PPAs). Notably, it stands as one of the largest Solar PV installations in the…

Telkom and SAPS have secured hundreds of convictions for cable theft, helping to turn the tide on infrastructure vandalism. As part of this joint effort, Telkom has helped to win convictions for cable theft and infrastructure vandalism at various operations across the country, in terms of its Telkom Group Security Strategy of effective security governance, and agile and responsive security risk management. The Telkom Security and Investigation Team has managed to significantly reduce infrastructure-related crime at Telkom facilities. The community has also played a significant role through tip-offs to police and Telkom reporting hotlines. “Our partnerships made it possible to achieve great results, helping to turn the tide against crime,” says…

JLR South Africa has officially announced the availability of the New Range Rover Velar and the New Range Rover Evoque for ordering. Representing the epitome of contemporary luxury, the New Range Rover Velar boasts cutting-edge technology, quintessential Range Rover elegance, and a strikingly sleek and minimalist design. Its updated grille harmonises with the iconic floating roof, seamless waistline, and sleek deployable door handles that distinguish the world’s most coveted luxury SUV range. Similarly, the New Range Rover Evoque exudes charm and sophistication with its minimalist design, enhanced by state-of-the-art technologies and opulent material selections tailored for discerning modern luxury enthusiasts.…

In response to the pressing needs of South Africa’s digital economy, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is currently deliberating a potential regulatory relief amidst the challenges of load shedding. This initiative holds particular significance for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, a cornerstone of the nation’s digital infrastructure and economic progress. A plan to conduct a survey on the impact of load-shedding on the ICT sector has been met with enthusiasm by telecom giants who say they won’t hold back on their horror stories, reports Sunday Times. In recent years, mobile operators, notably MTN and Vodacom,…

Vodacom, with a market value of R208 billion on the JSE, operates as a purpose-driven African connectivity, digital, and FinTech provider, alongside Safaricom. With a customer base of 185.8 million spanning consumer and enterprise sectors, Vodacom, owned by the UK-based Vodafone, oversees several companies that may surprise you. Mezzanine Vodacom’s “tech for good” platforms help diversify its revenues and drive societal benefit. The company actively contribute to creating a digital society by developing solutions across critical verticals, including agriculture, education and healthcare. Mezzanine, a Vodacom subsidiary, is a key enabler of its “tech for good” solutions in these industries, partnering…

The South African Police Service (SAPS) commemorated this year’s National Police Day by rallying support for the children of fallen police officers, standing firm in their duty. “On National Police Day, we honor the sacrifices of our men and women in blue, who courageously safeguard South Africa,” said General Bheki Cele. Cabinet designated 27 January as National Police Day in 2005, a tribute to those who serve. In the past four years alone, SAPS mourns the loss of 140 officers who perished while serving, many of whom were the main providers for their families. On Thursday, 25 January 2024, over…

South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago has announced that the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has unanimously agreed to keep repurchase rate (repo rate) at 8.25%. Kganyago announced this at a press briefing on Thursday afternoon. “At the current repurchase rate level, policy is restrictive, consistent with the inflation outlook and the need to address rising inflation expectations. Serious upside risks to the inflation trajectory from global and domestic sources are evident and… the economic outlook is highly uncertain. “The inflation and repo rate projections from the updated QPM [Quarterly Projection Model] remain a broad policy guide, changing…

Eskom has declared a temporary suspension of load-shedding for a duration of five hours on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, owing to the availability of ample generation capacity. Commencing with stage 1 load-shedding in the morning, Eskom will refrain from power cuts between 11:00 and 16:00. Subsequently, the power utility will initiate stage 2 load-shedding, which will continue until 05:00 on Thursday, January 25, 2024. Resuming stage 1 load-shedding, Eskom will implement power cuts from 05:00 to 16:00 on Thursday. Eskom has indicated its intention to issue an update regarding the load-shedding schedule on Thursday afternoon following this period.

Eskom is spearheading a transformative journey for the residents of Clarens, propelling the picturesque art town towards a new era as a smart town. Through the strategic implementation of load curtailment, Eskom is playing a pivotal role in reshaping the community’s energy landscape. This innovative approach not only addresses energy efficiency but also marks a significant step in the evolution of Clarens, blending its artistic charm with cutting-edge technology for a sustainable and forward-looking future. For the residents of a tiny town that depends on an economic inflow from tourists visiting their small businesses mostly over weekends and holidays, power…

Embarking on a new era of entertainment, MTN today introduced a lineup of Showmax streaming deals. Brace yourself for a thrilling journey into the world of limitless content, sparking excitement and joy, all starting at just R19/week. The deals are available from 12 February 2024. First up is the Showmax Premier League LivePass, which will offer MTN customers live-streaming access to all 380 matches via Showmax’s brand-new Showmax Premier League plan for mobile. For just R79 per month the offer includes sufficient streaming data to watch all live matches. Subscribers will also have access to additional Premier League content like…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi unveiled a R560 million bursary fund to support the educational pursuits of over 4000 high-achieving matriculants from no-fee schools and institutions catering to learners with special needs in the Gauteng region.  The fund, administered by the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA), aims to eliminate financial barriers and nurture the academic potential of these students. Addressing the packed auditorium at Vodaworld in Midrand, Premier Lesufi commended the learners, saying, “I didn’t invite you here; you invited yourself with your marks.” Emphasising the uniqueness of the GCRA Bursary, he declared, “A bursary that does not have any limits,…

Eskom has declared a scheduled power outage in Zonkizizwe, Gauteng, in order to facilitate necessary maintenance on the distribution network. Zonkizizwe is in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. “Eskom would like to inform customers in Zonkizizwe of an electreicity supply interruption due to maintenance to be conducted on the distribution network,” said the company in post on X. Eskom added that the outages will affect customers in Zonkizizwe Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and Nkanini on Tuesday, 23 Januray 2023, from 09h00 to 18h00. “The interruption in electricity supply is necessary to perform maintenance on our distribution power lines,” said…

On January 12, 2024, the Microsoft security team detected a nation-state attack targeting corporate systems. Swiftly activating their response process, Microsoft investigated, disrupted malicious activities, mitigated the attack, and denied further access to the threat actor, identified as Midnight Blizzard, a Russian state-sponsored actor also known as Nobelium, the company wrote in a blog post. “In alignment with their commitment to responsible transparency, as outlined in the Secure Future Initiative (SFI), Microsoft shares this update on the incident.” Timeline of the Attack Commencing in late November 2023, Microsoft said Midnight Blizzard utilised a password spray attack to compromise a legacy…

Convergence Partners, owned by ICT industry veteran Andile Ngcaba, is buying South African IT services group Datacentrix from the previously listed Alviva Holdings. Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund (CPDIF) has entered into a definitive agreement with Alviva Holdings to acquire 100% of Datacentrix Group. The acquisition is alongside the existing Datacentrix management team that has successfully led the company for over 20 years.  Alviva is exiting Datacentrix pursuant to its delisting from the JSE in early 2023, to focus on its core operations in hardware distribution. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction aligns with the CPDIF’s strategy of investing…

Global logistic firm FedEx introduces “fdx,” its pioneering data-driven commerce platform, revolutionising the entire customer journey. This comprehensive solution simplifies demand growth, boosts conversion rates, optimises fulfillment processes, and streamlines returns for businesses. Setting itself apart, FedEx stands as the sole logistics company providing end-to-end e-commerce solutions on a unified platform, catering to businesses of all sizes. The platform may compete with Amazon. “FedEx is transforming into a digitally-led business powered by our extensive physical transportation network, leveraging our scale and insights from moving 15 million packages per day,” said FedEx Corp. president and CEO Raj Subramaniam, who announced the…

JSE-listed Metair, an automotive components and batteries industry player, announced Paul O’Flaherty as new CEO. His appointment is effective from Thursday, 1 February 2024. O’Flaherty, a professional Chartered Accountant, is acknowledged for his accomplished history in leading successful turnarounds, overseeing restructurings, managing mergers and acquisitions, and demonstrating proficiency in program and project management. He joins Metair from EY Parthenon (Africa) (“EY”), which he led from February 2021 to January 2024. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. in 1986 and served as an audit partner for 6 years in the Energy and Mining sector. Since 2001, he has served in both CFO…

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has announced a significant partnership with KOKO, a forefront player in climate technology. In this collaboration, RMB assumes the role of the lead mandated arranger and financier for an innovative carbon financing solution, aimed at advancing KOKO’s climate-centric goals. Across Africa, a staggering 900 million people rely on polluting fuels like charcoal for cooking, directly contributing to deforestation spanning millions of hectares. This practice also results in over 600,000 deaths annually due to household air pollution, and the emission of greenhouse gases on a scale comparable to the global aviation industry. Addressing this challenge necessitates a…

SAP, the German software company, has agreed to a settlement of approximately $222 million or R4 billion to conclude investigations into bribery schemes across seven countries, as announced by U.S. authorities on Wednesday. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, SAP has entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement to address criminal charges related to allegations of conspiring to bribe government officials in Indonesia and South Africa with the aim of securing business. SAP has additionally reached a correlated civil resolution with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, settling charges related to purported bribery schemes in Azerbaijan, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi,…

In a significant move, Pravin Gordhan, South Africa’s Minister of Public Enterprises, is set to introduce a groundbreaking bill in parliament. The proposed legislation aims to establish a government-owned entity, the State Asset Management SOC Ltd., tasked with overseeing and managing a portfolio comprising at least 13 key state-owned enterprises. Outlined in an explanatory note dated January 9, as published in the Government Gazette, the National State Enterprises Bill lays the groundwork for the creation of the State Asset Management SOC Ltd. The bill outlines a phased transfer mechanism for the incorporation of various state enterprises into this central holding…

Walmart has revealed its intentions to delve deeper into the realm of artificial intelligence and drones with the aim of enhancing customer shopping experiences. During a keynote presentation at the CES trade show in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Walmart’s President and CEO, Doug McMillon, along with other executives, provided insight into how the retail behemoth is leveraging emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR), drones, generative AI, and other artificial intelligence tools to enhance the overall shopping experience for its customers. Specifically, Walmart revealed a new GenAI-powered search experience now available to iOS customers. The enhanced search experience allows customers to now search…

At CES today, Intel unveiled its strategy to extend its AI everywhere initiative into the automotive sector, marked by the acquisition of Silicon Mobility, a fabless silicon and software company renowned for its expertise in System-on-Chips (SoCs) designed for intelligent electric vehicle (EV) energy management. In addition, Intel introduced a novel family of AI-enhanced software-defined SoCs for vehicle systems, with Zeekr being the inaugural original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to embrace the cutting-edge SoC for delivering generative AI-powered living room experiences in next-generation vehicles. “Intel is taking a ‘whole vehicle’ approach to solving the industry’s biggest challenges. Driving innovative AI solutions…

Meta has announced that it will automatically restrict the content visible to teen Instagram and Facebook accounts. Starting today, these accounts will be limited from accessing harmful content, including posts related to self-harm, graphic violence, and eating disorders. Meta added that it will start to hide more types of content for teens on Instagram and Facebook, in line with expert guidance. Furthermore, the company will also start prompting teens to update their privacy settings on Instagram in a single tap with new notifications. “We want teens to have safe, age-appropriate experiences on our apps. We’ve developed more than 30 tools…

Mercedes-AMG has unveiled a pioneering technology called MBUX SOUND DRIVE, aimed at redefining the driving experience by merging cutting-edge technology with artistic creativity. The German automaker has partnered with the multi-talented artist, innovator, and entrepreneur, will.i.am. The  MBUX SOUND DRIVE employs advanced software to synchronise music with the car’s movements, establishing a seamless connection between driving dynamics and musical expression. By analysing various elements like recuperation, acceleration, steering, and braking through a sophisticated suite of sensors, MBUX SOUND DRIVE transforms the vehicle into a virtual musical instrument. “This revolutionary integration elevates the already exceptional Mercedes-AMG driving experience into a captivating…