Author: Gugu Lourie

Yassir is set to become available to Uber Eats users across multiple locations in Gauteng, with a national rollout anticipated early next year. The integration of Yassir stores into the Uber Eats app will grant customers convenient access to a diverse array of grocery options for swift delivery. This strategic move aligns seamlessly with Yassir’s dedication to broadening its offerings and cultivating strategic relationships. At the forefront of its collaboration with Uber Eats, Yassir is unwaveringly committed to furnishing consumers with an extensive selection of goods and services, including fresh groceries, convenience items, personal care products, pet food, and more—all…

African Rainbow Capital Investments announced today that Tyme is on the verge of concluding its Series C Capital raise. The funding round, which involves both existing and new shareholders, is set to propel Tyme, encompassing local digital bank TymeBank and the Philippines-based digital bank GoTyme, to new heights. African Rainbow Capital Investments also disclosed that Tyme, inclusive of TymeBank and GoTyme, boasts an annual revenue run rate exceeding R1.8 billion for TymeBank and R100 million for GoTyme. The business is experiencing rapid growth in its two key markets – South Africa and the Philippines – acquiring an impressive 450,000 new…

Increasingly, South Africans are opting for Suzuki vehicles. In November, the Japanese automaker achieved a sales milestone, with 4,381 vehicles sold, marking a 2% growth compared to November 2022. This stands in contrast to the general vehicle market, which experienced a 13.4% decline in the same month. More importantly perhaps, was the massive jump in dealer sales. Of its total vehicle sales, the Suzuki dealer network sold 3 947 units. This is a new record in South Africa, and it beats the previous record of 3 857 sales, set by Suzuki dealers a mere 30 days ago. This is the…

Elon Musk is currently pursuing $1 billion or R18.9 billion in funding for his upcoming venture, xAI, which is an artificial intelligence (AI) company. As per an SEC filing, Elon Musk has secured about $135 million or R2.6 billion from four undisclosed investors. The initial transaction took place on November 29. This indicates that he still needs to raise approximately $865 million to reach his target of $1 billion. Up to this point, xAI is developing Grok, Elon Musk’s response to platforms such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard. Grok is an AI modeled after the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,…

Airtel Africa has officially launched Nxtra by Airtel (Nxtra), a new venture dedicated to addressing the escalating demand for reliable and sustainable data center capacity across the continent. Nxtra’s primary goal is to cater to the burgeoning digital economy in Africa by establishing a robust network of data centres strategically positioned in major cities within Airtel Africa’s operational reach. With aspirations to create one of the largest data centres networks in Africa, Nxtra plans to deploy high-capacity facilities in key urban centers, complementing its existing edge sites. This ambitious initiative aims to meet the evolving requirements of African enterprises, featuring…

Ofcom, the regulatory body overseeing the Internet in the United Kingdom, has released preliminary guidelines outlining the measures that adult content websites must adopt to comply with recently enacted stringent legal mandates aimed at preventing children from accessing explicit material. The new age-check guidance are set to be protectt children from accessing online pornography. Latest research[1] shows that the average age at which children first see online pornography is 13 – although nearly a quarter come across it by age 11 (27%), and one in ten as young as 9 (10%). Additionally, nearly 8 in 10 youngsters (79%) have encountered violent…

Two weeks ago, Telkom revealed its plan to sell its masts and towers business, Swiftnet. The giant telco said it has entered an exclusivity period with a preferred bidder, a consortium led by a reputable private equity firm with black economic empowerment backing.  Simultaneously, African Rainbow Capital (ARC) – empowerment investment company – announced plans to raise R750 million through a rights offer.  The purpose of the rights offer is to raise additional capital for ARC Investment to invest in ARC Fund. This private equity fund focuses on market expansions for Rain and the growth of digital bank Tyme. Rain…

Sungrow introduces smart energy solutions that resonate with the daily experiences of households grappling with load shedding. Real-life stories from South African users highlight the tangible impact of Sungrow’s residential solution on overcoming the hurdles of power disruptions. Championing Energy Independence in South Africa Sungrow’s commitment to providing a reliable power supply aligns seamlessly with the aspirations of South Africans facing the frustration of load shedding. Users from various regions share heartfelt experiences of reclaiming control over their energy destiny, transforming load shedding challenges into opportunities for energy independence. Key Features Rooted in Real South African Experiences: Fast Charge: In the…

South Africa’s telecommunications regulatory authority, ICASA, has issued a warning, declaring the utilization or facilitation of access to SpaceX’s Starlink services in the country as illegal. ICASA has expressed disapproval towards companies that have allegedly been involved in importing and selling Starlink satellite internet terminals within South Africa. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) issued its warning through an official notice published in the Government Gazette on Tuesday. Icasa emphasised on Wednesday that Starlink, the internet satellite fleet in low Earth orbit overseen by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, lacks the necessary license to operate in South Africa. The reason…

JSE-listed retailer Pepkor announced on Wednesday that Pep ,which is synonymous with quality clothing at discount prices, sold eight million cellular handsets during the year, 50% of which were smartphones. The retailer said the growth in consumer demand for smartphones exceeded product availability in certain smartphone product lines. With the aim of making smartphones affordable for customers, a cellular handset rental product was developed and is being tested in 180 stores. “To date, 120 000 cellular rentals have been provided through both the group’s internally developed capability and third parties,” said Pepkor. The company added that Pep achieved very pleasing…