Author: Staff Writer

South Africans placing bets online may be gambling on illegal offshore websites without even realising it. As these operators increasingly target the local market, the South African Bookmakers’ Association (SABA) is using Responsible Gambling Month this November to highlight a simple precaution consumers can take before depositing money: scroll to the bottom of the website’s homepage and check the operator’s licence details. Licensed South African bookmakers are required by law to display regulatory information, including the name of the licensed operator, its bookmaker licence details and the provincial gambling authority that issued the licence. “Don’t be fooled by appearances,” warns…

Western Cape-based fibre network operator (FNO) Octotel has launched Octotel Business, a new B2B brand bringing its existing business connectivity services together under one proposition. The offering introduces Business Broadband, a new service for companies whose connectivity needs have outgrown standard shared fibre but do not require a fully dedicated connection, alongside Octotel’s existing Active Ethernet and Datacentre Interconnect services. The next generation Business Broadband product is a first in the market, giving businesses an enterprise-grade connectivity service. Octotel CEO, Trevor van Zyl, says the need for business connectivity is becoming less closely tied to the size of a company…

Bose Corporation, the world-renowned premium consumer audio company, has appointed Core, a leading distributor of professional and consumer technology in Sub-Saharan Africa, as the authorized distributor for Bose consumer products in South Africa. The partnership strengthens Bose’s local presence, increasing market reach and accessibility to its range of audio products. Core will oversee distribution and market expansion for Bose in South Africa through its network of retail and reseller partners, enhanced in-store and digital commerce experiences, and ensuring consumers have timely access to the latest Bose innovations through authorized channels. The portfolio will include home theatre products, over-ear and in-ear…

Classic table games have stayed relevant because their rules are easy to grasp and their decisions stay engaging over time. What has changed is the way people reach them. Developers now rebuild familiar formats for browsers, phones, and tablets, making setup faster and access wider without removing the structure that made these games last. Backgammon, dice titles, card tables, and board-based systems are all being reworked with touch controls, automated scoring, live matchmaking, and guided tutorials. That shift has created two clear paths: digital versions that focus on practice and social play, and platform-based versions shaped around pace, interface, and…

South Africa’s competitive electricity market has welcomed a new independent participant, with EPIX commencing operations in August 2026 following the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA)-approved transfer of Investec’s energy trading licence to the joint venture platform in June 2026. Established as an equal joint venture between Energy Partners and Investec, EPIX combines renewable generation sourcing, funding capability and customer demand in a dedicated platform built to deliver flexible electricity solutions to South Africa’s commercial and industrial sector. “The launch of EPIX marks an important milestone in the development of South Africa’s private electricity market,” says Mpho Modise, Managing…

Insurance platform Naked has introduced pet insurance for cats and dogs, with accident-only cover starting at R40 per month for cats and R55 for dogs, and automated processing that allows some claims to be paid within minutes. “For many of our customers, their pets are part of their family. When a pet needs emergency treatment, you’re already worried about what might be wrong and whether they’ll recover,” says Sumarie Greybe, co-founder of Naked. “The last thing you want to worry about is how you’ll pay the vet bill or how long you’ll have to wait to get your money back.…

South Africans could soon find it easier to access everyday legal services, with proposed regulations paving the way for affidavits to be commissioned remotely and signed electronically, replacing rules that have governed oaths and affirmations for more than 50 years. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development published the draft Regulations Governing the Administering of an Oath or Affirmation on 31 July 2026. If finalised, the regulations would allow for electronic commissioning through audio-visual communication and recognise electronic signatures. The proposed changes could remove uncertainty over whether a deponent and commissioner must be physically present together. LexisNexis South Africa previously…

Disney+ debuted the official trailer and key art for the Hulu Original series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County”, the next installment in the hit franchise. The all-new series premieres with all eight episodes on Thursday, 12 November on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. A new group of dynamic young mothers in Orange County collide in a community where beliefs are not just their religion; they are their identity. While some defend their way of life, fighting against modernity, others embrace change, becoming a platform to disrupt the status quo. Scandals and secrets will be revealed, facades will crumble,…

Africa’s fintech sector is forecast to grow revenue roughly 13-fold, to around $65 billion by 2030 – the fastest rate anywhere in the world, according to Boston Consulting Group. The figure has done what a headline number is supposed to do. Boardrooms across the continent are now debating how to move beyond payments into credit, insurance and cross-border transactions. Far fewer are asking the question that decides whether any of it works: can the systems we run today actually carry those products? For a lot of institutions, the honest answer is not yet. And closing that gap is a multi-year…

Advtech, Africa’s leading private education provider, has acquired a 25% stake in education technology company MathU, securing a seat on its board and exclusive rights to current and future AI-enhanced education solutions. MathU’s digital learning platform has been used across Advtech’s Schools Division since 2023 under the Advlearn brand, providing personalised learning in Mathematics and Physical Science, with English set to launch shortly. “Working with Advtech will accelerate the reach of our technology and bring innovative learning solutions to more students,” said WA Burger, CEO and Founder of MathU. The partnership will support the continued development of new digital tools for…

Las Vegas –  Omnisient, the consumer intelligence company founded in South Africa, has won the Banking Grand Prix at the 2026 Money20/20 Money Awards for an initiative developed to help banks assess consumers overlooked by traditional credit information. The winning initiative brought together two major South African banks and a leading national grocery retailer. By analysing patterns in shopping history, the collaboration helped banks identify potential creditworthiness among consumers with limited or no conventional credit histories. Approximately 40% of previously credit-invisible consumers assessed were identified as qualifying for credit, according to Omnisient’s award submission. The Grand Prix is the highest…

Vodacom Mpumalanga has reinforced its commitment to connecting communities and advancing digital inclusion through a significant investment of over R600 million in network infrastructure and technology this financial year to expand broadband connectivity and support growing demand for digital services across Mpumalanga. The investment is focused on expanding network coverage, enhancing connectivity, improving network resilience and capacity, and extending access to digital services in underserved rural, township and urban areas of the province. By continuing to invest in critical telecommunications infrastructure, Vodacom Mpumalanga is helping to bridge the digital divide, stimulate economic growth and ensure that more people can participate…

While the price of data in South Africa continues its welcome downward trend, the overall cost of digital communications requires urgent attention. ISPA, South Africa’s official internet Industry Representative Body (IRB), says little action is evident when it comes to the accepted global policy of Universal and Meaningful Connectivity (UMC) which prioritises the ability to afford both connectivity and the necessary devices. A 2026 Cost of Living Report compiled by the Competition Commission indicates that affordability of services and devices remains a substantial barrier to achieving UMC locally. Echoing this, the recent South Africa Digital Infrastructure Investment Study published by…

Why AI will never replace the one thing patients need most: human care. When most of us hear the words artificial intelligence, we imagine robots replacing people. In healthcare, the reality is far more reassuring. AI is transforming the way doctors diagnose disease, but it isn’t replacing the expertise, empathy or judgement that patients depend on. For Dr Aobakwe Segwe, radiologist and co-founder of the Centre of Medical Imaging (CMI), the future of medicine isn’t about choosing between technology and people. It’s about using both to deliver better care. Today, AI can analyse thousands of medical images in seconds, detect subtle abnormalities…

A survey of entrepreneurs found that 87.7% experience at least one mental health challenge in their daily lives. Anxiety was the most common, affecting 50.2%, followed by high stress (45.8%), financial worries (39.2%) and burnout (34.4%). Impostor syndrome affected 31.7%, and only 12.3% of the entrepreneurs surveyed reported no mental health challenges at all. Peer-reviewed research comparing entrepreneurs with a matched group of non-entrepreneurs found that 72% of founders were affected by mental health conditions, either personally or through their immediate family. Almost half reported one or more lifetime conditions and 32% reported two or more. For small businesses, the…

The Gauteng Department of e-Government waited two weeks to report the e-Panic data breach to the Information Regulator, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has revealed. The department was alerted to the data breach on 21 September 2026. Michael Waters, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for e-Government, demands the release of the original security assessments and the full findings regarding the e-Panic Button data breach, as well as an explanation for the delayed notification to the Information Regulator. The data breach allegedly exposed highly sensitive personal information of hundreds of thousands of residents. Two-Week Delay and Independence Concerns Waters expressed concern that the department…

South Africans who fall victim to cybercrime now have more support available. Today, MiDO Academy, The Cyber Helpline (UK), and Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched the pilot of The Cyber Helpline in South Africa, a free, confidential service providing practical guidance and compassionate support to individuals affected by online fraud, investment and employment scams, hacked accounts, phishing and smishing, social media fake profiles, sextortion, online harassment, identity theft, malware and ransomware incidents. A Proven Model Comes to South Africa The pilot project builds on a successful helpline model that is already in operation in the United Kingdom and the United…

Any attempt to restrict access to legally authorised gambling through telecommunications regulation, rather than gambling legislation, would raise serious legal concerns and could face a court challenge. This is according to gambling law expert Wayne Lurie, from Lurie Inc Attorneys, who says that while Communications Minister Solly Malatsi is entitled to explore measures to protect consumers accessing gambling products through mobile networks, neither the minister nor communications regulator ICASA has the authority to determine which forms of gambling are lawful in South Africa. “A bet does not become unlawful simply because it is placed on a cellphone. Nor does the…

As South Africa prepares for its sixth local government elections set for 4 November 2026, TikTok is sharing information about its preparation ahead of the elections, including efforts to combat misinformation, and ensure that users have access to information from reliable sources. This work forms part of TikTok’s ongoing, year-round commitment to protecting the integrity of the platform and ensuring a safe, authentic, and creative experience for the South African community. TikTok’s dedicated elections taskforce is already leading this work. The taskforce is made up of experts in platform integrity, cybersecurity, deceptive behaviour, misinformation, and election integrity. These teams work…

KnowRoaming, the international travel technology company founded by South Africans, has launched KR.One, the universal travel eSIM designed to simplify the connected travel experience and eliminate the need for travellers to install a new eSIM every time they go abroad. Travellers activate KR.One once and keep their eSIM profile on their device. For future trips, they can add a destination-specific data plan through the KnowRoaming app without downloading and installing another eSIM. “Travel has become increasingly digital, yet staying connected abroad can still feel unnecessarily complicated,” said Michael Roffey, Executive Director at KnowRoaming. “Travellers tell us they love the flexibility…

Rising 173 metres above the Johannesburg skyline, the Ponte City Tower has long stood as an unmistakable symbol of brutalist architecture, urban resilience, and the shifting tides of South African history. Once a celebrated icon of modern high-rise living in the 1970s, the hollow cylinder tower later became synonymous with the complex inner-city transitions of Hillbrow. Today, this monumental landmark is writing a bold new chapter in its history, one defined by seamless digital inclusion thanks to Rise Telecoms, which has recently completed a comprehensive, building-wide fibre deployment, connecting more than 480 residential units to high-quality, fast, and reliable internet.…

Vodacom South Africa and SmartOps Fleet have brought together partners from the technology, financial services, automotive and e-hailing sectors, in a new integrated programme designed to broaden participation in South Africa’s growing e-hailing economy. With an ambition to introduce up to 55,000 vehicles over the next 9 to 12 months, the programme could support up to 110,000 driver opportunities, based on two drivers per vehicle. The initiative also targets a fleet mix of 66% electric vehicles (EVs), supporting growth in South Africa’s e-hailing sector. Launching during Transport Month, the programme brings vehicle ownership, finance, technology and professional fleet management together,…

Infinite Partners has announced the final close of Infinite Partners Core Equity Fund II, securing R2.8 billion in capital and exceeding its R2.5 billion target. The milestone reflects strong support from a 100% South African institutional LP base, comprising pension funds, insurers, asset managers, and banks, with additional support from new and established relationships across the asset consulting community. The independent South African private equity firm specialises in mid-market growth and buyout investing. Founded in 2022 by Edward Pitsi, Titi Sekhukhune, Tabane Matheolane and Naomi Nethengwe, who have spent more than a decade investing together in private markets, Infinite Partners…

Salesforce today announced it has landed its first-ever Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) partner training in South Africa, running 5–7 October 2026 in Johannesburg. The three-day, hands-on workshop extends Salesforce’s global, invite-only FDE Partner Network to the South African market for the first time, giving local partners early access to a programme that has driven Agentforce implementation success for partners elsewhere in the world. Through the “Making Agents Matter” curriculum, participating partner practitioners build practical, engineering-grade skills to design, build, and deploy AI agents for South African customers, helping translate AI strategy into measurable, value-driven business outcomes. The agenda spans Design…

Vodacom Western Cape is making bold strides towards digital inclusion through an investment of more than R500 million in network infrastructure during the current financial year. The investment will focus on network expansion, modernisation and upgrades, energy resilience projects, and the rollout of new sites, including deep rural communities and township areas across the province. This demonstrates Vodacom’s firm commitment to building a digital society that leaves no one behind. The largest portion of the capital expenditure budget, approximately R380 million, will be allocated to Radio Access Network (RAN) modernisation. More than 50 sites across the province will be upgraded…