Author: Staff Writer
Teraco, Africa’s largest vendor-neutral data centre and interconnection services provider, has completed the JB3 data centre facility, located within the Isando Campus in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. This multi-billion-rand facility represents a strategic addition to Platform Teraco, offering enterprises a scalable platform for IT infrastructure deployment while sustaining performance, reliability, security, and the widest network choice. JB3 comprises 45000sqm of building structure, 12000sqm of data hall space, and 29MW of critical power load. When combined with the existing Isando Campus facilities, the critical power load totals 40MW across the campus data centre footprint with room for further growth.…
The Shoprite Group has launched its new ground-breaking digital business hub, ShopriteX which is piloting Checkers Rush, an automated, cashless “no queues, no checkout, no waiting” concept store, where employees can grab products and walk out. Incubated over the past year, ShopriteX is combining data science and technology create more personalised shopping experiences for customers. ShopriteX already delivered two industry-leading innnovations – Xtra Savings, South Africa’s fastest-growing rewards programme with 20 million members to date, and Checkers Sixty60 the first on-demand 60-minute supermarket grocery delivery service in South Africa. “We are serious about being Africa’s most customer-centric retailer, and the launch of ShopriteX represents our investment in fit-for-the-future precision retail, which is increasingly digital and data-led,” said Pieter Engelbrecht, Shoprite Group CEO. The launch is part of Shoprite’s…
South Africa has to date administered 9 557 542 jabs with 158 103 of those being administered on Monday. The total number of Pfizer administered in the last 24 hours was 122 056 and a total of 36 047 Johnson and Johnson were administered. Meanwhile, South Africa recorded 7 983 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 613 569. This increase represents a 21.1% positivity rate. “As per the National Department of Health, a further 299 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 77 440 to date,” the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said. The majority…
Shoprite is once again stepping up to enable entrepreneurs to grow their businesses with the 2021 Shoprite Hustle competition. The annual competition boosts small business development and will celebrate established and promising small business owners who stand to win a share of more than R1 million in prizes. The 20 winners will each receive R50 000 in cash, a laptop, digital and social media support and access to Startup Circles’ Ignition programme. Shoprite recognises the critical role the more than 2 million SMME’s (Small Medium and Micro Enterprises) in South Africa, many of which are in the informal sector, play in growing the country’s economic future. Established small business owners, aged 18 or over and a citizen or permanent resident of South Africa, are eligible to apply. Entries must be submitted online by 19 September 2021, and winners will be announced between 27 September and 31…
Affordable residential and student housing specialist, Quorum Holdings, is the first in South Africa to accept rental deposits in cryptocurrency, and to allow tenants to potentially benefit from an increase in value. While rental deposits are standard practice in South Africa, tenants do not usually benefit from the money being held by their landlords. And deposits can be held for several years, depending on the lease. With a growing portfolio expected to reach around 3,000 residential units in Johannesburg over the medium term and another 5,000 beds in student accommodation through a subsidiary Urban Circle, the business owns and manages…
Africa’s largest content platform as a service (CPaaS) provider, SMSPortal, has seen the COVID-19 pandemic intensify the demand for Content-as-a-Service, with some 1.3 million businesses using app-to-peer (A2P) SMS in 2020, according to their data. “The CaaS market is growing massively, both globally and here in SA,” says James Pearce, co-founder of SMSPortal. “Today, the total number of businesses now using this channel, globally, is just under eight million, which is an increase of 20% on the number using A2P SMS prior to the pandemic.” Given the impact of the pandemic and of course, the dispersed working environment most find…
TymeBank, one of South Africa’s leading digital banks, will export its business concept and experience to its international sister company Tyme’s newly established banking operations, GOtyme, in the Philippines. GOtyme, which has had its digital banking licence application approved by the Philippines Central Bank, will benefit from TymeBank’s high-touch high-tech banking model, world-class technology, unique kiosks and digital banking expertise to bring banking simplicity and financial empowerment to the lives of Filipino consumers. The approval of the licence application, which is the first of a three-step Philippines Central Bank application process, comes shortly after TymeBank secured international investors in February…
BrainQ, an Israeli stroke therapy technology startup, today announced it has raised a $40 million or R592 million to support a multicenter pivotal trial for its groundbreaking technology for ischemic stroke survivors in selected US hospitals. The funding round is led by Hanaco Ventures, along with Dexcel Pharma, and Peregrine Ventures, bringing the total raised by the company to over $50 million or R739 million. This year, BrainQ received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation allowing the company to work closely with the FDA to expedite development plans and premarket clearance, with access to the new Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology pathway. “We’ve seen…
MALII FinTech platform, founded by Oratile Seabela, aims to solve the cash payment system, lack of public transport integration, financial exclusion, and inefficiencies in the minibus taxi industry. MALII is an app that enables taxi commuters to make payments without using cash. Commuters upload funds for the month in the MALII wallet, using their bank card or top up at the nearest spaza shop. They then find a QR code sticker positioned on the taxi window and can scan the QR code with their smartphone. The idea for MALII came to Oratile in 2017 while she was taking a taxi.…
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has expressed its dismay at reports that some healthcare workers, including doctors, have discouraged patients from getting COVID-19 vaccinations, based on doubts about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. SAMA Chairperson, Dr Angelique Coetzee, said the organisation wholly rejects any doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine. “There is high confidence among the scientific and medical community about the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines being rolled-out in South Africa, and they have also undergone safety and efficacy tests by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. “These are overwhelming endorsements of the vaccines, and there should…
The Department of Public Enterprises has announced a master plan for the Port of Durban which will seek potential private investments of R100 billion into the port over at least the next ten years. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says the master plan for the Port of Durban is currently undergoing consultation processes. “The Port Master Plan…will serve as a basis for investment in the port both in respect of the port infrastructure – now governed by the Transnet National Ports Authority – but also in respect of the terminals and the freight infrastructure that services these ports as well,”…
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has authorised local biotechnology company CapeBio to manufacture rapid COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits. Announcing the approval of the test kits on Monday, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, said the COVID-19 test kits, co-developed by CapeBio and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), will help to reduce South Africa’s reliance on imports, making it easier for the country and the rest of the continent to gain speedy access to test kits. “Given Africa’s dependence on imports, the government, through the Department of Science and Innovation…
Former ICASA CEO Pakamile Pongwana has passed away, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa said in a statement. “ICASA is deeply saddened by the recent passing of its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Pakamile Pongwana,” reads the statement. Pongwana was at the helm of ICASA as the CEO from 2013 to 2017, where he contributed immensely to the work and performance of the Authority. “He is widely regarded as one of the industry veterans and a key architect of the ICT sector since the dawn of democracy,” said ICASA. “When joining ICASA as CEO, Pongwana arrived at a time…
The 2Africa consortium, comprised of China Mobile International, Facebook, MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, stc, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone and WIOCC, announced today the addition of four new branches to the 2Africa cable. The branches will extend 2Africa’s connectivity to Seychelles, the Comoros Islands, and Angola, and bring a new landing to south-east Nigeria. The new branches join the recently announced extension to the Canary Islands. 2Africa, which will be the largest subsea cable project in the world, will deliver faster, more reliable internet service to each country where it lands. Communities that rely on the internet for services from education to healthcare,…
The new Audi’s Skysphere is a self-driving roadster that drives itself while passengers relax and can change shape at the touch of a button. Details of the new Audi’s electric concept car were revealed this week by the German carmaker. With the touch of a button, the driver can take advantage of their freedom and choose their own driving experience– either they pilot their 4.94-meter-long e-roadster themselves in “Sports” mode with a reduced wheelbase, while the rear-wheel steering ensures that the vehicle remains extremely agile despite its dimensions. Or they can choose to be chauffeured around in a 5.19-meter GT…
Disney+, the Walt Disney Company’s popular and fast-growing streaming service, is coming to South Africa to compete with Netflix, ShowMax, Amazon Prime Video and DStv Now. News24 reported that Disney’s subscription video streaming service Disney+ will finally launch in South Africa around June 2022. The publication quoted Bob Chapek, CEO of Walt Disney Company, as saying the “expanded Disney+ footprint will include parts of the Middle East and South Africa”. The Walt Disney Company Africa late on Thursday night told Channel24 in a statement: “As confirmed in The Walt Disney Company’s Q3 earnings call, Disney+ will launch in South Africa in winter…
South African venture capital firm Imvelo Ventures, founded by Capitec Bank and Empowerment Capital Investment Partners, has invested in Acumen Software, a company that is revolutionising the interaction between South Africans and their municipal service providers. Funding from Imvelo, which identifies and funds promising South African small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) across the broad spectrum of financial technology, and Sappi’s Andzani Ventures, has enabled the development of My Smart City, a platform for city residents to report service delivery issues, track reported matters, and mobilise fellow community members. Johannesburg and Cape Town are the first two cities with access to…
We all look forward to the day when we can play immersive, virtual-reality games on our 5G phones with ease and speed. But 5G’s advances in bandwidth and latency will go far beyond the consumer experience. It’s also a potential game-changer for enterprises, manufacturers, universities, hospitals, the public sector and beyond. For many of these organisations, a private 5G network will be the way to go, often in tandem with Wi-Fi 6. All will want to step up to the next level of digitalization and transformation — for example, by realising the full potential of the Internet of Things technologies. And by enabling them to build and easily…
African microinsurance FinTech aYo Holdings, together with MTN and Sanlam Life has launched two innovative insurance products in Côte d’Ivoire that will contribute towards MTN subscribers enjoying peace of mind. “It is estimated that less than 2% of the Ivorian population currently has insurance. This is because most people think insurance is only for white collar workers with high incomes,” CEO of aYo Intermediaries Cote d’Ivoire Limited, Jean-Charles N’Gotta, said. “We want to show that with aYo services, people with all levels of income can get peace of mind at an affordable cost to help take care of their financial…
Sanlam and MTN announced today that they are joining forces in an exclusive strategic alliance to distribute Sanlam insurance and investment products across Africa, further developing MTN’s mobile financial services business. The Alliance will build a digital insurance and investment business, which will be an integral part of MTN’s fintech offering. It will provide people across the continent with easier access to these services, particularly those sectors of the population that have typically been unable to access traditional distribution channels for such products. The Alliance has the potential to pre-empt and adapt to digital disruption in markets where both Sanlam…
Huawei South Africa is calling on women entrepreneurs to apply for its digital skills training programme, Women4Tech. The free online course is open to savvy, tech-forward women entrepreneurs, and aims to advance their skills and help them use new technologies to grow, improve and digitise their businesses. The training comprises of three courses, Cloud Computing and how it benefits SMME’s, digital marketing for business success, especially in an increasingly competitive online market space, and the last part of the training is an introduction to App Development and a networking opportunity with award winning App Developers within the Huawei Mobile App…
KFC launches WhatsApp-based ordering in South Africa through Chat Commerce – an innovative chat-ordering channel, which allows customers to place and pay for an order via WhatsApp. KFC celebrates 50 years in South Africa this year and this launch demonstrates a sound commitment to innovation in servicing the South African market. An e-commerce rollout is a significant technical undertaking, even on traditional channels. Providing it on WhatsApp requires a rethinking of the user journey and engagement paradigm. “As a consumer-led organisation, we understand the limitations that high data costs can pose in transacting online. WhatsApp, with its lower data use,…
Showmax Pro announced it will live stream all matches of the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and the DStv Premiership, courtesy of SuperSport in more than 50 countries across Africa. The new season of Premier League, now in its 30th year, begins on 13 August, with newly promoted Brentford hosting Arsenal to kick things off. As ever, the transfer season has had fans enthralled, with much of the focus on Tottenham striker Harry Kane’s future. For now, he is available to face Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League season opener – according to coach Nuno Espirito Santo, at least. Manchester City are the defending…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the scrapping of license booking system to make more renewal slots available to motorists in the country. The DA in Gauteng said it was concerned that motorists would not be able to renew their licenses before they expire, turning them into criminals, potentially affecting Motorists in Gauteng are anxious that their licenses will expire by the end of August and that they will be driving illegally because they cannot get online booking slots to renew their licences. Many motorists require valid licenses to retain their jobs. Should they be unable to renew their…
Refinitiv, a London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) business, announced today the launch of the Refinitiv Satrix South Africa Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) index. In collaboration with Satrix, a leading provider of index-tracking solutions in South Africa, the new index offers an innovative benchmark for investors wishing to commit capital to companies that actively invest and promote I&D values across their business operations. The index tracks the total return of select publicly-traded equities with high I&D scores on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Over a five-year period, the Refinitiv Satrix South Africa D&I index’s annualised return earned 6.56% outperforming the Refinitiv South…