Author: Staff Writer
Digital transformation is crucial to ensuring that South Africa thrives in an age of mass disruption. That disruption is taking place across a variety of industries but also presents major opportunities for those willing to take them. That was the message from the Huawei Connect Summit, which commenced today. This year’s event, themed “Dive into Digital”, explores how digital technology can better integrate with business scenarios and industry know-how to address critical business challenges, and how stakeholders can work together more effectively to foster an open industry ecosystem and drive shared success. “So many organisations around the world have recognised…
Mining company Exxaro is developing a 70MW Lephalale Solar Project that will supply renewable energy to the Grootegeluk Complex. The Grootegeluk Complex is an integrated coal operations owned by another subsidiary of Exxaro, Exxaro Coal. Exxaro is executing the project through its renewable energy subsidiary Cennergi. The Grootegeluk Complex will derive long term sustainable benefits from the Lephalale Solar Project, including security of clean electricity supply, significant energy cost savings and a carbon footprint reduction. Roland Tatnall, Exxaro’s MD for Energy says “we are pleased to announce that Exxaro Coal and Cennergi have concluded a term sheet setting out material…
KFC South Africa has launched its very own in-house delivery service – KFC Delivery PLUS, enabling consumers to place their orders via the KFC mobile app or website. This addition is a key expansion of the brand’s eCommerce commitment and comes just a month after the launch of its WhatsApp ordering platform – a first for the QSR sector locally. “There is no doubt that much has changed in the world over the past 18 months. The nature of the various lockdowns and the need to isolate has driven a huge shift in consumer attitudes towards online ordering. This trend has been a key driver of the launch of KFC Delivery PLUS – focusing on fresh and fast delivery, to all corners of SA,”…
South Korean tech giant LG Electronics is buying Cybellum, a leading vehicle cybersecurity risk assessment solution provider. The deal allows LG to assume an approximate 64% stake in the tech company valued at $140 million or R2 billion, a strategic move that will enhance LG’s cybersecurity capabilities and accelerate its efforts to become an Innovation Partner for Future Mobility. Remaining shares will be acquired in the near future with the final valuation and total investment amount to be confirmed at that time. On top of this initial investment, LG committed to a simple agreement for future equity (SAFE) to invest…
Africa’s largest security services provider has been created after the Competition Tribunal approved the acquisition of digital signature services company Lawtrust by JSE-listed Altron. The R245-million deal will see Lawtrust being integrated into Altron, which also acquired identity management market leader, Ubusha Technologies, in 2019 to form Altron Security. Altron Group Chief Executive, Mteto Nyati, said the acquisition of Lawtrust positioned Altron Security as a one-stop shop for digital and information security. Lawtrust is a digital trust services and cyber information security solutions company which provides solutions used to verify the authenticity of digital identities and counterparty systems in transactions,…
Africa Data Centres, the only pan-African network of interconnected, carrier-and cloud-neutral data centres on the continent, has completed its new Johannesburg data centre, based in its Midrand Campus which is one of the largest in Africa. This state-of-the-art facility, designed with the latest global standards is the ideal location for technology companies and enterprises to secure IT infrastructure in an interconnected environment. This ultra-modern facility continues to strengthen the leading position that Africa Data Centres has in the South African market. The new hyperscale data centre is one of the continent’s most significant data centre deployments, which alongside existing facilities across…
Vodacom, and Mondia, a private m-commerce company dedicated to connecting, digitalising and monetising mobile consumers, announced the rollout of the Mum & Baby maternal health service across Lesotho from September 2021. Mum & Baby is a freemium mobile health intervention that provides Vodacom subscribers with maternal, neonatal and child health information designed to encourage good health practices amongst pregnant women, mothers, partners and caregivers. Vodacom partnered with Mondia to create Mum & Baby’s tailored content, which includes videos, expert articles, and information-sharing SMS messages. Mum & Baby also provides interactive tools including a due-date calculator, an immunisation calendar, a medication…
We thought it was important before, but in the Covid-19 era, the need for fast and reliable internet has become completely indispensable. At one point or another, the majority of industries have required employees to work from home, and many parents have had to battle the demands of online learning when schools have been forced to close. Fortunately, the HUAWEI Wi-Fi6 AX3 router is here to meet all your connectivity needs. The world’s first Wi-Fi 6 plus wireless router, the HUAWEI Wi-Fi6 AX3, runs at 3000Mbps, more than two times faster than the Wi-Fi5. Also, while Wi-Fi 5 routers and…
South Africa’s Telkom is planning to float its masts and towers business on the Johannesburg Strock Exchange. Swiftnet is a Telkom subsidiary under management by Gyro. Swiiftnet has 6 225 masts and towers, it is South Africa’s largest independently run tower portfolio. Telkom Group CEO, Sipho Maseko, says the approach to separate Telkom’s businesses has enabled clear visibility of the growth potential of each business. Under the management of Gyro, Swiftnet has diversified its tenancy with 56% of its tenants coming from the industry. According to Maseko the current Telkom valuation is not a true reflection of its intrinsic value.…
Finclusion Group has announced the acquisition of a strategic stake in HelloHR, a South African payroll software startup. The acquisition forms part of Finclusion Group’s strategy to provide holistic financial wellness products through employers, and will aid HelloHR customers by giving them access to Finclusion Group’s wage-streaming, financial wellness and insurance products. Finclusion CEO Timothy Nuy says that the acquisition marks the start of a symbiotic partnership that enhances both companies’ individual product offerings. “HelloHR will a contribute to the Finclusion Group platform, strengthening all offerings through improved customer experience and increased customer retention rates. The relationship allows the Group…
In a bid to get more South African homes connected, MultiChoice has launched DStv Internet to provide internet access to those who do not have access to fibre services. The move to bring more value to customers and diversify its offering is part of MultiChoice’s ongoing evolution from a traditional video entertainment business. MultiChoice delivers DStv, GOtv and Showmax to more than 20 million households across 50 countries in Africa, with the convenience of being able to enjoy content anytime, anywhere via satellite or streaming. DStv Internet is a fixed wireless access service, which means that customers can now get…
As more industries move to secure their data and protect customers, deploying outdated technology that cannot withstand modern security threats is simply bad business practice. For the many companies looking to replace legacy solutions like SMS OTP with stronger authentication mechanisms, or supplement OTP-based solutions with more robust alternatives, GSM authentication offers a compelling solution – both for the business and their customers. “SMS OTPs were a good go-to solution, but they are long past their sell-by date. Companies must look for better step-up authentication methods if they hope to fulfil their duties of protecting customers and their data,” says…
Approved recipients of the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant can collect their benefit from Pick n Pay and Boxer stores nationwide from Wednesday, 22 September. Pick n Pay and Boxer are the first retailers to become a collection point for the SRD grant. “Pick n Pay and Boxer are proud to assist grant beneficiaries access their funds more conveniently and safely, ensuring they receive much needed relief quicker than before,” says John Bradshaw, retail executive: Omnichannel, Pick n Pay. Step-by-step process to collecting the SRD grant: The grant applicant receives an SMS from the South African Social Services…
The best way to predict the future is to invent it, said computer scientist Alan Kay – and Reddford House students are making great strides in the right direction. In the recent Global Inspired Builds Robotics 2021 competition hosted by Fulham House School in London, UK, two Reddford House Grade 7 teams from South Africa were placed in the top 5 winning positions. A team comprising members from all three Reddford Schools in South Africa, called Inter-Reddford, and a team from Reddford House Blue Hills in Midrand, each produced a robot that complied with the competition’s focus, which this year…
Applications for the ISPA Inspires Bursary Programme, 2022, are closing on Friday, 01 October 2021. Applications were opened on 01 September 2021. The Internet Service Providers’ Association of SA (ISPA) is the Industry Representative Body (IRB) for over 200 of the country’s Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and associated organisations. Since 1996, it has played a leading role in boosting both free competition and skills development in the ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) sector. “Last year we received 288 qualifying applications and this year looks set to have that same impressive level of interest,” says Aurora Vani, chair of ISPA’s Social…
4Sight Africa MD, Christiaan Leboho, says the company, which targets the public sector, has achieved profitability over the past nine months based on the unique value proposition it offers in the Public Sector. 4Sight Africa is the broad-based black empowerment associate of AltX-listed 4Sight Holdings. “The public sector bears the responsibility for service delivery, and the right kind of technology solution can help it immeasurably,” he says. “Public-sector CIOs are eager to explore new ways of thinking about technology, the role it can play and, most important of all, how to fund it. They know they have to embark on…
South Africa’s most loved and awarded retail loyalty programme, Pick n Pay Smart Shopper, is celebrating its loyal members as the programme marks its 10th anniversary by offering them a share of more than R1 billion in rewards over the next few weeks. Pick n Pay Smart Shopper was introduced in 2011 and offered members the opportunity to earn points on their grocery purchases. It has since evolved to include a diverse set of benefits. “A decade of Pick n Pay Smart Shopper is thanks to our loyal customers. They’ve walked this journey with us and actively participated in its…
South Africa’s biggest banks are warning customers about a marked increase in vehicle purchase scams. Criminals place adverts for fake vehicles online at hugely discounted prices to lure in buyers hunting for a great bargain. Sameer Kumandan, Managing Director of SearchWorks, an innovative platform which allows consumers to perform live, accurate vehicle searches and valuations as well as company searches and property valuations, says South Africans are turning to online content for everything from comparing prices to doing more in-depth research, particularly when it comes to long term financial commitments such as buying a car. According to reports, fake vehicle…
With small businesses continuing to prove to be the backbone of the South African economy, business owners need every opportunity to help set them on a growth trajectory at a pivotal time in their recovery. The Xero 2021 Remote Roadshow is one such opportunity where the focus is to help drive recovery and support SMBs as they rebuild. A critical part of this effort involves innovation and ensuring small businesses have the right digital tools. These tools work seamlessly together to help make life easier for businesses. At Xero, we’re working to join the dots between key SMB stakeholders –…
In a quest to cater to our corporate customers in monitoring their employees who work remotely, inq. is launching HomeConnect; a work from home solution. The objective is to offer support and provide organisations with security for connectivity and application tools to minimise their risk as they connect remote users of organisations to productivity applications, business applications, and their customers. “Due to the current pandemic, there has been an explosion in employees working from home, this has put a lot of stress on IT support which many enterprises are struggling to scale,” Pramod Venkatesh, inq. Group CTO said. “Our partnership…
Online marketplace Yep! is determined to help small, micro, and medium businesses to successfully do business in the digital age. Yep! has introduced new solutions as part of the Yellow Pages digital suite, to help SMMEs to digitally transform and thrive in the digital economy. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the demand for digital services and Yep! is focused on developing innovative digital products that will enable businesses to access customers through multiple online platforms and increase their visibility. Executive Marketing: Yep | SMB | Financial Services, Innocent Pereira says “Yep! is on an exciting journey of digital transformation that will…
Liquid Intelligent Technologies is now delivering affordable high-speed connectivity to communities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) using state-of-the-art Wireless Optical Communication technology (WOC) from Project Taara at X, Alphabet’s moonshot factory. This achievement marks a robust high-capacity communications bridge between Kinshasa and Congo Brazzaville. Despite being just 4.8 kilometres apart, internet is more expensive in Kinshasa than in Brazzaville. The reason being, the two cities are separated by the Congo River, the second fastest and deepest river in the world, making it difficult to lay fibre across it. Historically this had resulted in operators directing traffic through their…
Vox, an integrated ICT and infrastructure provider and telecommunications company, has introduced an affordably priced, consumer-focused monthly managed IT (MIT) support service that combines cybersecurity with IT maintenance. “Up to now, consumers requiring home IT support generally had two options. They could phone a service provider who would send an engineer and charge anything from R800 to R1,200 per hour. Or they could pay a monthly fee of upward of R400 to have IT support on standby but may never even use it,” says Dominique Yeates, Product Manager for MIT at Vox. The Vox Home IT Support offering disrupts these…
To celebrate 135 years of championing women and beauty, Avon is doubling down on its pledge to help women step into their power and transform their lives for the better. The beauty pioneer has announced a number of enhancements to its relationship selling model including new features for Avon On, the digital platform that enables Representatives to sell online, and a new compensation model, Avon Rewards. It is also using its 135th anniversary to pledge a landmark $1.35m to women’s causes around the world, adding to the $1.1bn raised and donated by Avon and the Avon Foundation over the years.…
Coding is the new literacy and introducing your child to this new digital language is key to their future success. With that in mind, Curro will be hosting free Coding and Robotics Boot Camps at four of its schools. The two-day boot camps will take place on 1st and 2nd October 2021 and are free to Grade 7 learners from any school in the Western Cape and Gauteng. The four schools that will host the sessions include Curro Foreshore (WC), Curro Delft (WC) and Curro Jewel City and Curro New Road in Gauteng. Technology is a significant part of every…