Author: Gugu Lourie
SEACOM, Africa’s telecommunications and managed services provider, today announced that Alpheus Mangale, is joining SEACOM as incoming Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2023. He is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years’ experience across the enterprise, telecoms, financial services and technology markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He will work alongside the company’s outgoing Group Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Fortuin, for a three-month period to ensure a smooth leadership transition, at the end of which he will assume full responsibility for the business. “I am delighted to join SEACOM at this critical time in Africa’s…
TROOP, the award-winning global developer of corporate meeting technology and services, has announced that it has secured $11m (R201m) in Series B funding. This funding will contribute towards expanding the company’s presence in South Africa and globally. TROOP plans to engage with engineering and product talent in South Africa and double its current employee base in 2023, as well as build a team of 170 people globally by 2025. TROOP has entities in the USA, Spain, South Africa, and the UK. TROOP’s technology platform helps companies plan, book, expense, and manage logistics for in-person meetings. The demand for group meetings…
The Shoprite Group has launched UNIQ, its new clothing brand fashioned on simplicity, comfort, superior fabrics and value. The first standalone UNIQ store opened in Cape Town’s Canal Walk shopping centre with another eight stores scheduled to open in the next month. Catering for the entire family, the UNIQ range consists of premium basics in a variety of colours and fabrics that are easy to mix and match. Every item of clothing is thoughtfully designed and made to last, pairing durable fabrics with stylish and versatile designs. UNIQ has sourced materials specifically engineered for comfort and convenience, and it is the first local clothing retailer to introduce Supima cotton to the mass market. With longer fibres than regular…
MINI South Africa has teamed up with Red Bull to launch the country’s first MINI-branded solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Cape Town. Head of MINI South Africa, Shaun Willis noted: “MINI and Red Bull have a long-standing relationship, forged 17 years ago in California when the first MINIs were converted into the iconic Red Bull MINI. There has always been a strong union between our brands, and this collaboration on our first solar-powered charging station is further evidence of this in South Africa.” The launch of the first solar-powered charging station is another sign of MINI’s pledge to…
MpiloTech, a fast-growing, medium-sized, specialist software development company, has added two new executive roles as it gears up for expanding its digital banking services to the financial services sector. “More so than ever banks and other financial service providers are continually bolstering their digital services offerings in an extremely competitive trading environment and where cyber security threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. This creates a massive growth opportunity for us as our technology is capable of addressing such challenges with laser-focussed solutions and mitigations,” says CEO and Founder Denzil Fillis. MpiloTech services companies such as Standard Bank, Absa, Discovery, Grindrod Bank…
k’nect mobile, the Shoprite Group’s cellular network, has slashed its data prices by more than 35% to now offer the lowest data rates in South Africa, with 1GB starting from as little as R19.50. Data bundles from k’nect mobile also only expire after 60 days, instead of the more common 30-day period. “With soaring living costs, our customers want and need affordable data which doesn’t expire in a matter of days,” explains Jean Olivier, GM: Financial Services for the Group. “Shoprite is South Africa’s low-price champion, and that extends to our growing suite of fintech products which is driven entirely by customer needs.” Launched 24 months ago,…
Coaxle, the integrated data and insights company, has recently acquired a 50% stake in iX, a specialist provider of digital solutions, primarily to the retail automotive industry. The acquisition will strengthen the synergies between iX and long-standing partner Lightstone, a provider of comprehensive data, analytics and systems in the automotive and property sectors. The acquisition enables a broader and deeper value proposition as it creates cross-selling opportunities and will provide value to motor dealers through an enhanced stock management process, optimised digital customer engagement capabilities and streamlined finance and insurance application processes. “Coaxle is dedicated to the sustainability of the…
Kia has today revealed full details of the Kia EV9, its first three-row seat electric flagship EUV. Based on the game-changing Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9 ensures athletic performance, complemented by a targeted all-electric range over 541 km, according to the World harmonized Light vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP). Ultra-fast 800-volt charging capability enables the EV9 battery pack to be replenished with sufficient charge to power the vehicle for 239 km in approximately 15 minutes. “The Kia EV9 transcends all aspects of traditional SUV thinking and represents the pinnacle of Kia’s design and engineering capabilities. Created to meet the…
JUWI Renewable Energies, a global solar, wind and hybrid project developer, EPC and operations and maintenance (O&M) company, today announced that the 84 Megawatt (MW) Wolf Wind Project in the Eastern Cape has reached financial close. Exploding public and private demand for large-scale renewables due to South Africa’s energy crisis has led to rapid expansion of the clean energy leader’s footprint across the country, with over 1.5 GW of wind, 2 GW of solar and 500 MW of hybrid projects incorporating storage in development for private and public energy users. The Wolf Wind Project, located two hours from the city…
G-Star RAW has once again pushed the boundaries of denim design with its latest project involving artificial intelligence. G-Star RAW utilized AI to create 12 unique designs, with one of them being brought to life in the form of a RAW denim couture piece. G-Star RAW is the first denim brand to actually create AI-designed garments in real life, and the Denim AI garment is a testament to the brand’s commitment to creating the future of denim. Innovation is ingrained in the G-Star DNA, and the use of AI in the design process showcases the brand’s willingness to embrace new…