Author: Staff Writer

RecoMed, the largest and fastest growing online healthcare marketplace and booking platform in South Africa recently concluded a highly successful funding round of R21 million with a strong and diversified group of leading local and international investors. The round was led by Vunani Fintech Fund–   an investment vehicle focused on digital and tech-based solutions– which made  an investment of $1 million (USD), the equivalent of R15 million (ZAR). The round also included existing RecoMed investors AAIC (a Japanese private equity and venture capital fund focused on African investments), Growth Grid Venture Capital Partners, and Push Ventures based in Kenya. RecoMed,…

Atterbury, property investor and developer, is developing a new 24,000m² distribution centre (DC) for Takealot, South Africa’s largest online retailer, in Richmond Park, Milnerton, Cape Town. Takealot will begin operating from its Richmond Park DC from 1 August 2022. Construction of the 24,000m² facility consisting of 22,000m² of warehouse and 2,000m² of offices, has already commenced. The facility has been designed to provide Takealot with expansion options to add an additional 50,000m² of warehousing to the initial phase, which would increase its size to more than 70,000m². The new Takealot DC is designed for sustainability and will feature a dedicated…

Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Orange announced a new partnership to leverage each other’s existing networks in Africa, allowing them even greater access and opportunity to build their businesses throughout the continent. This partnership will give Liquid access to Orange’s extensive network in West Africa, including the new Djoliba network. Likewise, it will give Orange access to Liquid’s pan-African network. As a result, the two organizations will offer end-to-end high-speed connectivity and services across their networks, allowing existing and new customers in over 20 African countries greater access and opportunity to build their businesses. “We are excited about embarking on this…

ATEN International, provider of Audio Visual / Information Technology connectivity and management solutions, today announced it is establishing a local presence in Johannesburg, after being a player in the local market for the past six years. Customers will be able to enjoy local support and a virtual interactive showroom, for hands on training and product demonstration, all from the local office based in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. Benji Pienaar, Sales Manager at ATEN South Africa, explains that the company has made an extensive investment into opening an experience room or ‘showroom’ that will allow customers to experience much of the company’s…

In the face of rising unemployment in South Africa, B2B delivery-as-a-service platform OrderIn has launched a programme that aims to create opportunities for unemployed South African youth. With unemployment in South Africa hitting a new record high of 34.4%  in the second quarter of 2021 (according to the latest data released by Statistics South Africa in August) – there has never been a more crucial time to galvanise the creation of initiatives with the sole purpose of combating unemployment, inequality and poverty in the country. The data shows that the youth are even harder hit – with 64% of young…

Temenos, the banking software company, today announced that Barko, a microfinance company, plans to enter the retail banking market in South Africa with a new digital bank built on Temenos Transact and powered by The Temenos Banking Cloud. Barko will leverage the full front-to-back services, giving the new bank total control to create banking products that are easy to consume, configure and integrate with external applications. With Temenos, Barko aims to disrupt the banking status quo with more accessible and affordable banking to advance the financial wellbeing of millions of South Africans underserved by traditional banks. Critically, the investment in…

Pan-African telecommunications services provider SEACOM has announced that it has completed the 100% acquisition of Hirani Telecom’s metro fibre network. The network will be incorporated into SEACOM’s existing metro network in Nairobi, and will be under its full control. Hirani Telecom is one of Kenya’s fastest-growing triple-play service providers and the largest last-mile provider in the region. The acquisition is part of SEACOM’s ongoing strategy in the region to grow its on-net capabilities and provide its enterprise customers with world-class connectivity. Steve Briggs, SEACOM CSMO, expands on what the acquisition will mean for the region: “This is a first step…

The South African United Business Confederation (SAUBC) will embark on a three-city drive, called “VISION SA Roadshow” between November 2021 and March 2022. Sponsored by ITEC Tiyende, and JCDecaux South Africa the VISION SA Roadshow, is a series of staged events to reintroduce the confederation to its key stakeholder. The tour will be centred around wine tasting & cocktail extravaganza with golf days to be staged in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The roadshow will start in Cape Town on November 5, followed by Johannesburg on the 11 and 12th of November. Durban and Cape Town will host the main…

Generation Z are rapidly stepping onto the world stage. They are graduating from high school, entering the workforce and studying at tertiary education institutions. Referred to as digital natives, this generation grew up with technology and have no knowledge of life without it. They are globally connected, incredibly mobile, entrepreneurial and crave autonomy – especially when it comes to education where they want flexibility on how, where and when they learn. Are our South African universities equipped to engage with and stimulate these digitally immersed learners? Wits University’s Emeritus Professor Barry Dwolatzky, who serves on the Computer Science Advisory Board…

As an increasingly vaccinated world starts fighting its way back to a semblance of normality, it’s almost time again for the eagerly-anticipated annual Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run (MRWR), taking place this year on Sunday 5 December 2021. The event, which honours and remembers iconic global statesperson Nelson Mandela, will again take place in hybrid fashion, with the physical form at Tshwane’s Union Buildings for a restricted number of 1000 people, and the virtual form being open to participants globally who wish to take part in this special event. COVID restrictions forced the bulk of the event to take place…

Huawei has announced the winners of the 2021 edition of the Huawei HMS App Innovation Contest (Apps UP), with four African Apps being recognised and celebrated. Coresthetics walked away with one of the Best App Awards in the Middle East and Africa region, along with $15,000 in prize money. UniAPS bagged an Excellent Student Award, with $5,000 prize money, while Droppa and Secura received Honourable Mention Awards, which each come with $3,000 prize money. “The Apps UP contest is a great initiative from Huawei, and I hope that we continue to encourage app developers to make apps that are beneficial…

Xtra Savings members can now transact using their Xtra Savings cards following a significant update to the Shoprite Group’s Money Market Account. The Money Market Account, which has attracted 530 000 users since it launched just over a year ago, now provides customers with transactional banking functionalities, including sending money and making withdrawals. “The development and roll out of the account have been driven entirely by customer needs,” explains Jean Olivier, General Manager: Financial Services at the Shoprite Group. Customers indicated that they like transacting with their phones, but also with a card, and some raised concerns about how to…

The South African government plans to intervene in the impasse between mobile network operators and the country’s communications watchdog, ICASA, over the expiry of the temporary spectrum.  “The minister [Khumbudzo Ntshavheni] is engaging with all parties to find an amicable solution in the matter,” Communications department spokesperson Tlali Tlali told the Business Times. He added that “the department’s view is that the courts should be an option of last resort to be explored only in the event all other efforts do not yield desirable outcomes”. The temporary radio frequency spectrum was first assigned by means of an expedited ITA during…

MTN SA today launched MTN Online School, a free online portal that provides a comprehensive digital curriculum for grades R-12 and additional features like video lessons, assessments and extra-tuition lessons for Grade 10 to 12 learners. The solution is aimed at increasing access to curriculum-aligned educational content, as endorsed and provided by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in SA for Grades R-12 and for Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN), using a digital platform. The full content library will be added to the platform and made available over a period of three years, focusing on key subjects. “Our vision…

Sun International has used downtime during lockdowns to look at how it can improve and enhance its customer experience. In addition to introducing a speedy online booking platform, the company has also introduced a slick new App to streamline communication for its Most Valued Guest (MGV) programme. “The Covid-19 pandemic has catapulted the world into the digital era and has forever changed customer expectations and how we communicate with them,” Anthony Leeming, CEO of Sun International said. “Our MVG’s are no longer prepared to spend hours trying to access information about the best room rates or to confirm how many…

On the back of the findings of the Attacks From All Angles 2021 Mid-year Cybersecurity Report by Trend Micro, the remote workforce remains an organisation’s greatest vulnerability when it comes to cybersecurity. Zaheer Ebrahim, Cyber Security Consultant at Trend Micro, shares five ways businesses can ensure they are not compromised amidst a 47% year-on-year increase in cyber threats globally. From VPN vulnerabilities, cloud threats, email breaches and Covid-19 related scams, the pandemic and the consequential rise of the remote-workforce has given bad actors new opportunities to exploit weaknesses and vulnerabilities in individuals’ personal and organisations’ work-related cybersecurity systems. Modern ransomware…

Drawing up a Will and Testament is often forgotten and, in most cases, passing on without a will can turn out to be an expensive and time-consuming process for beneficiaries. Old Mutual has simplified the will drafting process, by introducing an online platform that makes it possible for anyone over the age of 16 to create and amend a will from anywhere and at any time – and it’s free. However, there are additional value add services that attract fees, these include estate planning, collection, and storage of signed will and checking with the Department of Home Affairs’ records to…

The Shoprite Group’s Money Market Account, which previously only enabled customers to deposit funds to pay for utilities and buy groceries, now provides customers with new transactional banking options including sending money and making withdrawals. Money Market Accounts offer banked and unbanked consumers, many of whom are regular customers at the Group’s stores, access to basic transactional banking activities that are specifically aimed at their needs. The account gives them: Simplicity and transparency, as there are no fees and no physical forms (all digital); Low-cost banking with no unwanted fees (no monthly fees, no load fees, no transactional fees, only…

Bolt Food has launched its food delivery services in Johannesburg, giving the city’s residents access to food deliveries from more than 300 restaurants and fast-food outlets. This follows the success of Bolt Food in Cape Town, where more than 800 restaurants have been added to the food app since it launched in April 2020. “We piloted Bolt Food in Cape Town last year, with outstanding results,” says James Townsend-Rose, Country Manager for Bolt Food in South Africa. “Restaurants and their customers welcomed Bolt Food’s affordable prices and quick deliveries, and we are excited to bring this solution to Johannesburg, and…

Sikonathi Mantshantsha, a former journalist and current Eskom spokesperson, has launched a crowdfunding appeal for about R1 million to cover the costs of fighting a defamation suit filed against him by former Eskom CEO Matshela Koko. Mantshantsha, who is now Eskom’s spokesperson, had reported extensively on corruption at Eskom in 2017 and is being sued by Koko for tweets in which he predicted the arrest, conviction and jailing of the former executive. Koko says the tweets are defamatory and is claiming R600,000 in damages. Business Day reported that Mantshantsha says that the tweets were not defamatory and that Koko is…

Social media giant Facebook plans to rebrand itself with a new name next week. The Verge reported on Tuesday, citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter, stating that the name change is to reflect its focus on building the metaverse. The Verge further reported that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to talk about the name change at the company’s annual Connect conference on October 28th, but could unveil sooner. The Verge added that the name is meant to signal the tech giant’s ambition to be known for more than social media and all the ills that entail. The…

With the latest release of the AppleWatch 7, the iPad Mini, and the iPhone 13, we’re left with so much excitement after Apple’s keynote event last September. With Apple being one of the leading brands of the tightly competitive market of smartphones, it’s safe to say that there is a HUGE demand for iPhone 13, so much so that the company is likely to cut the production due to chip shortage. However, it’s still a huge price to pay, especially since data from Numbeo shows that the average salary of people in a region like Southeast Asia, for instance, is…

Suraya Hamdulay has been appointed as the vice president of regional strategy and engagement at 2U, Inc., a global EdTech (education technology) platform that partners with great universities to build, deliver, and support online degrees, short courses and bootcamps at scale. Hamdulay is responsible for internal and external communications & engagement activities, public affairs, corporate social responsibility and B-BBEE & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy in the region. With over two decades of experience in both the public and private sectors, Hamdulay has held executive roles both at Vodacom Group and BCX. She has a proven track record of generating…

As 5G becomes increasingly ubiquitous, it will dramatically change the way business operates across Africa. While most people are aware of the impact 5G will have on ordinary people’s mobile internet speeds, it will also provide and enable new solutions across a vast swathe of industries. That was the overriding message from day two of the Digital Council Africa Conext 2021 conference, currently taking place virtually and which focused on the release of 5G to business and how it will impact Africa. While 5G coverage is still in its infancy across the continent businesses will be much better placed to…

Tiger Brands has been approved for secondary listing on A2X Markets and its ordinary shares will commence trading on the stock exchange from 26 October 2021. Tiger Brands Limited will retain its primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and its issued share capital will be unaffected by its secondary listing on A2X. Tiger Brands is one of Africa’s largest listed manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).  It was founded in 1921 and holds leading positions in most categories with a growing market presence across Africa. Its portfolio includes iconic brands that are well-entrenched with consumers such as All Gold,…