Author: Gugu Lourie

In a major move to digitise and personalise the customer experience, Famous Brands, Africa’s largest restaurant franchisor, has announced a strategic partnership with MoEngage, a Customer Data and Engagement Platform (CDEP). The collaboration is set to revolutionise how the company’s iconic brands, including Mugg & Bean, Wimpy, and Milky Lane, build customer loyalty and drive repeat business. The initiative focuses on unifying customer data from multiple sources to seamlessly connect digital interactions with in-restaurant transactions. A key objective is to enhance the performance of loyalty programmes by encouraging both the earning and spending of points, creating a continuous and rewarding…

In a significant move to address the stark funding inequality for women entrepreneurs in tech, global investment giants Naspers and Prosus have announced the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge. The programme will award a total of $100,000 in equity-free grants to outstanding women-led startups across the continent. This initiative, launched in partnership with the Lionesses of Africa network, directly tackles a critical issue: while women represent 26% of Africa’s entrepreneurs, their startups receive less than 3% of venture capital funding. This gap, estimated at $42 billion, represents a massive untapped opportunity for continental economic growth. “The Tech FoundHER Challenge is about…

In its financial results for the 52 weeks ended 29 June 2025, JSE-listed retail group Woolworths highlighted its on-demand Woolies Dash offering as a critical growth engine, significantly outpacing overall group performance. Despite navigating challenging macroeconomic conditions and global trade uncertainties, which saw group turnover grow by 6.1%, Woolies Dash delivered explosive growth. The platform recorded a staggering 41.6% surge in sales, helping to propel overall online sales for its Food division by 32.9%. Online sales now contribute 6.6% to total Food sales. This robust performance from the on-demand sector underpinned a “creditable” overall result for Woolworths South Africa, which was…

For the past two years, I’ve been privileged to test drive the silent, swift and sophisticated electric vehicles from Volvo. This experience stands in stark contrast to my daily reality: behind the wheel of a diesel-guzzling V6, wincing every time I fill up at the pump. That deep down understanding of the high cost of combustion is what makes the emerging electric vehicle (EV) narrative in South Africa so compelling. It’s no longer a distant fantasy; it’s a tangible, financially savvy alternative quietly building momentum right under our noses. While projections suggest a modest 1,100 EVs on our roads by…

 In a major step for electric transport, the STS Tech Group has launched ‘Smart EV’, a new charging infrastructure designed to tackle South Africa’s unique energy challenges. The company, known for building Africa’s largest EV charging centre, is using powerful global partnerships to bring world-class technology to local roads. This new system is a full service, offering smart, scalable charging solutions for everyone from homeowners to large companies. A key feature is its ability to work around power cuts. The system can boost charging capacity and speeds by up to 300% when grid outages loom, helping to keep essential transport…

Alighting from a BMW M3 at the Mall of the South, Johannesburg South, the driver exclaimed, “Wow, it is such a beautiful machine, this one,” adding, “It’s so pretty and looks like my gorgeous Palesa”. That was some stamp of approval. My family and I were on the first day of our adventure with the new Volvo EX90. The BMW M3 passenger noticed that we were in earshot as he cast a glance at our gleaming Volvo EX90. “Volvo has done an amazing job,” he said. “What is it called, my brother? Can it compete with a Range Rover?” Not…

Land Rover has unveiled its most exclusive vehicle yet for South Africa: the Range Rover SV Polar Night. With a price tag of R6,521,929 and only five units available, it’s designed for the most discerning luxury buyer. The name “Polar Night” comes from the twilight skies in the far north. This theme is seen in its unique Spectral Light Blue paint, contrasted by a glossy black roof and mirrors. The SUV sits on massive 23-inch alloy wheels in Satin Dark Grey and Black. Inside, the exclusive feel continues with blue and black two-tone leather seats, a matching blue steering wheel,…

 In a significant ruling welcomed by the power utility, a director implicated in a multi-million rand fraud scheme targeting Tutuka Power Station has been sentenced and ordered to repay Eskom R2,595,000. The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court handed down its sentence on 22 August 2025 against Ms Jessie Phindile Kubheka, a director and majority shareholder of one of the implicated companies. The court sentenced Kubheka to 12 years for fraud, suspended for five years under strict conditions, and a further four years for money laundering, also suspended for five years. The sentencing relates to a 2020 case where an Eskom…

The financial market infrastructure giant BankservAfrica has officially been rebranded to PayInc. The launch, held yesterday, marks a decisive shift in the organisation’s role at the centre of South Africa’s payments landscape. More than a simple change, the rebrand reflects a renewed purpose, positioning the leading payments provider as the trusted partner in building a digital payments ecosystem that is secure, efficient and inclusive for all. “Our new name strongly positions who we are. ‘Pay’ highlights what we do, while ‘Inc’ speaks to why we do it – economic inclusivity,” says PayInc CEO, Stephen Linnell. “This change is not cosmetic.…

In a move set to transform the local business landscape, a new South African software platform is using advanced artificial intelligence to automate critical administrative tasks for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). TechFinancials sat down with the founder of Skhokho AI Bertha Kgokong, a chemical engineer turned self-taught software developer, to discuss how her all-in-one solution – Skhokho 2.0 -is seeking to level the playing field. When asked how Skhokho 2.0 will benefit users, Kgokong was clear about its core mission: to eliminate administrative drag. “Skhokho 2.0 is designed to take the pain out of everyday business administration,” Kgokong stated. “Instead…