Author: Staff Writer
October is the month when cybersecurity experts are busiest, keeping us all safe online. With Black Friday around the corner, there are deals everywhere, people clicking fast and scammers are sharpening their digital claws. Around 68% of South Africans said they were targeted by fraud (email, phone, text, online) from Aug-Dec 2024 and 33% of them lost money during that time. It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to buff up your online street smarts. Being connected shouldn’t mean being careless. With these tips in mind, you’ll hopefully stay safer than a bank vault. Rename your Wi-Fi…
Telkom FutureMakers, in partnership with the UK–SA Tech Hub, an initiative of the UK Government, is proud to support the AI Readiness Accelerator – a programme designed to give South African startups the tools, talent, and opportunities to make AI their competitive advantage. “Unlike other programmes that teach you, this one builds with you,” said Telkom on its linkedln page. “This intensive, six-month journey is fully funded and founder-centric, providing a concrete path to AI integration and investment. The selected cohort will receive unparalleled support, including embedded engineers to build their Data and Cloud foundations and engineering work aligned with…
Marking three decades since its 1995 launch, MultiChoice is reviving a classic South African TV tradition: Open Time. The celebration grants all active DStv satellite subscribers a full, complimentary Premium pass for the weekend of November 7-9, 2025. This strategic move allows customers to experience the platform’s top-tier sports, movies, and entertainment, serving as both a thank-you to existing users and a compelling reason for new and existing customers to upgrade. Three familiar faces from South Africa’s television past, Ashley Hayden, Scot Scott and Doreen Morris, are among the many icons returning to the screen to celebrate DStv’s 30th anniversary.…
Vodacom South Africa has launched the Eco-Warriors Sustainability Competition, a nationwide learner-led initiative set to mobilise the country’s next generation of environmental leaders. Targeting Grade 9 to 11 learners from Vodacom-supported Schools of Excellence across five provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga), the Eco-Warriors Competition is more than just a contest. It’s a call to action for young South Africans to design real, tech-enabled solutions to tackle environmental challenges in their schools and communities. “The solutions to our biggest challenges are already coming from young minds,” says Takalani Netshitenzhe, Director of External and Regulatory Affairs for Vodacom…
In a move signalling continuity and confidence in its leadership, the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) has announced the reappointment of Yershen Pillay as its Chief Executive Officer for a new term, effective until 31 March 2030. The reappointment, confirmed by Minister of Higher Education and Training, comes alongside the installation of a new CHIETA Accounting Authority, led by Interim Chairperson Gerhard Cloete, as of 30 September 2025. Pillay’s renewed leadership follows a period of remarkable achievement for the sector skills authority. Under his guidance, CHIETA has secured three consecutive clean audits and delivered 100% performance against its…
Google, in partnership with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), has launched a new AI Glossary for isiZulu, isiXhosa and Afrikaans, giving millions of South Africans the language tools to engage with artificial intelligence in their mother tongue. The launch took place at Google’s South Africa offices in Johannesburg, where representatives from the Pan South African Language Board, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Higher Education, and the SABC were joined by academics, translators, and language experts. The event included a panel discussion on how African languages can adapt alongside…
The world’s #1 AI CRM will surface directly in ChatGPT New integrations bring OpenAI frontier models and Salesforce into unified experiences across both platforms SAN FRANCISCO — October 14, 2025 — Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) and OpenAI announced an expanded strategic partnership, establishing a new generation of employee and consumer experiences powered by Salesforce’s Agentforce 360 and OpenAI frontier models. This first of its kind partnership will let companies access Salesforce’s Agentforce 360 platform in ChatGPT — querying sales records, reviewing customer conversations, or building Tableau visualisations, simply by typing a query into ChatGPT. They can also use OpenAI’s latest frontier…
Volvo Car South Africa’s (VCSA) electric momentum continues to build. Following a year of significant growth in its electrified lineup – including the EX90 and EX30 Cross Country, alongside updated plug-in hybrid versions of the new XC60 and XC90 – the brand now turns its attention to its next all-electric SUV: the new Volvo EX60. The EX60 will be revealed on 21 January 2026 in a global livestream from Stockholm, Sweden, marking the next step in Volvo’s drive to make electric luxury more accessible to South Africans. Positioned between the XC40 Recharge and the flagship EX90, the EX60 will strengthen…
Agriculture remains one of South Africa’s most strategically important sectors. But to future-proof it, we need to change the story young people hear about farm work and match that with real pathways into modern, tech-enabled roles. More than compliance, this is about securing food systems, rural livelihoods, and export competitiveness by building a larger, more intelligent talent pipeline. “Too many young people still picture agriculture as low-skilled manual work,” says Sandra Pretorius, General Manager at Afri Training Institute (ATI). “On the ground, the work has changed with soil analysis, sensor-driven irrigation, quality data, biosecurity, and cold-chain logistics becoming an integral…
OpenAI today announced the roll out of ChatGPT Go across Africa. ChatGPT Go is a new tier of subscription plan designed to give more people access to ChatGPT’s advanced capabilities at a more affordable price. The launch comes as Africa continues to adopt AI at a rapid pace. ChatGPT Go subscribers gain access to ChatGPT’s most popular features, including higher message limits, image generation, file uploads, and memory – all powered by GPT-5, OpenAI’s most-advanced model. The subscription reflects a 75% reduction in price on average compared to the next tier of ChatGPT subscription. Compared to OpenAI’s free plan, ChatGPT…
Vodacom Limpopo region has announced a major investment of more than R500 million in network infrastructure for the current financial year (FY26). Building on last year’s R414 million commitment, this substantial investment reaffirms Vodacom’s commitment to empowering communities and driving economic growth throughout the province, using broadband connectivity. This year’s capital expenditure brings the total investment in radio and transmission infrastructure to R3,1 billion over a period of seven years in Limpopo province alone. “At Vodacom, our vision is to connect every individual and community, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the digital economy and reaping the…
Salesforce, the world’s #1 AI CRM, announced the general availability of Agentforce 360, the culmination of a year of transformation, redefining how work gets done in the age of AI. While others are just beginning to showcase what’s possible with agentic AI in the enterprise, Salesforce has spent the past year delivering it — with four major releases, thousands of customer deployments, and Salesforce itself as Customer Zero, proving how the Agentic Enterprise comes to life. The Agentic Enterprise represents a new model for work — where AI elevates people rather than replacing them. In an Agentic Enterprise, every team operates with 24/7 intelligence: sales…
Westbrooke Renewable Energy Alternatives, an alternative investment strategy managed by Westbrooke Alternative Asset Management has acquired a portfolio of operational solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) assets located at 91Shell Downstream South Africa (SDSAs) owned service stations across South Africa. The portfolio was purchased alongside one of Westbrooke Real’s partners, CVE South Africa, an experienced independent power producer. The assets were acquired from Thebe Solar Energy, which exited its position as part of a strategic realignment. The portfolio is fully operational and produces approximately 7.8 GWh of renewable power annually. The acquisition forms part of Westbrooke Real’s…
African founders are invited to apply for exclusive pitch days taking place in Cape Town this November, where a total of R25 million in early-stage capital will be deployed into exceptional startups operating across the continent. Driven by entrepreneur and investor Alexandria Procter and a collective of early-stage investors, the initiative aims to discover and back Africa’s next wave of standout startups. Over a series of exclusive pitch sessions in Cape Town, founders at the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages will have 10 minutes to make their case for a share of R25 million in early-stage funding. “Africa’s founders…
Knight Piésold Southern Africa is proud to officially launch the 2025 Bokamoso Creative Essay Competition, an initiative designed to empower Grade 10 and 11 learners from under-resourced public high schools across Gauteng through creative expression and engagement with real-world sustainability challenges. First introduced in 2019, the Bokamoso Creative Essay Competition forms a core part of Knight Piésold’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, which is focused on advancing access to quality education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Following the successful revival of the competition in 2024, the 2025 edition aims to deepen impact within the Gauteng province by…
WeThinkCode_, South Africa’s leading software engineering academy, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Collective X, a national coordinating intermediary committed to unlocking scalable, demand-driven digital skills development. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in building a more inclusive, outcomes-based tech talent pipeline for South African youth. The partnership is anchored in a shared commitment to digital ecosystem building, bringing together government, industry, and training providers to co-pay and co-design pathways that align with real employer demand. As a partner, Collective X’s financial support enables WeThinkCode_ to expand access to work-integrated learning opportunities and long-term employment, ensuring that graduates…
As emotional bonds with Artificial Intelligence (AI) raise ethical concerns worldwide, customer engagement consultancy Khumbula Tech has taken the lead locally by committing itself to an ethics-centred approach in its AI consulting. While the most recent Global Index on Responsible AI ranked South Africa as the highest-performing country in Africa*, reflecting the country’s strong legal foundation underpinning its approach to AI, KPMG** found last year that a substantial 77 percent of SA CEOs were concerned about ‘ethical issues’ in AI adoption locally. “From blue chips to start-ups, local business leaders always want to know how they can roll out AI…
Broadband Infraco (BBI), in collaboration with Huawei, launched an upgraded intelligent backbone network at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg. The upgraded backbone network directly supports the goals of SA Connect and will bring high-capacity, affordable broadband to millions of South Africans. The launch was witnessed by over 200 leaders from the public and private sectors in South Africa and other SADC countries. As a state-owned enterprise mandated by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) to expand South Africa’s broadband infrastructure, BBI is implementing the upgrade as part of its Backbone Network Expansion Strategy. The investment aims to extend electronic…
Telkom today announced a major contribution to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) with the donation of land valued at R3.9 million across Gauteng and the Western Cape. The pledge was formally made during a meeting held at Telkom’s offices yesterday, attended by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, as part of her drive to mobilise private sector support for education. The land donation will be used to strengthen school infrastructure, enabling the Department to expand access to quality learning environments for learners in need. Speaking during the engagement, Mpho McNamee, Group Chief of Corporate Affairs at Telkom, said,…
The use of social media at work – especially on devices connected to internal networks – is putting South African businesses at risk of data breaches and cyberattacks. With no specific laws governing social media use in the workplace, many businesses operate without cybersecurity policies for online platforms. From Facebook updates and WhatsApp conversations to LinkedIn networking, this leaves the door wide open for cybercriminals looking to exploit employees who have their guard down. “This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re raising awareness around unregulated use of social media platforms in the office,” says Carey van Vlaanderen, Group CEO at ESET Southern…
Microsoft has announced that Vukani Mngxati has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft South Africa, effective 1 October 2025. His appointment builds on Microsoft’s more than three decades of partnership and investment in South Africa, reflecting the company’s continued commitment to enable public and private sector companies to unlock the power of AI, and drive inclusive economic growth and long-term prosperity for all. In his new role, Mngxati will lead Microsoft’s South African operations, driving initiatives that support the country’s digital and AI transformation journey. Leveraging the foundation built, he will focus on expanding cloud infrastructure, growing AI…
South Africa is urbanising at speed. Every day, thousands of people move into cities in search of work, education and opportunity. However, the same forces that make cities engines of growth also create silent risks for health. Sedentary lifestyles, fast food on the go, long commutes and relentless stress are reshaping the nation’s health profile. Cardiovascular disease, once seen as a disease of affluence or old age, is now rising sharply among younger South Africans. Dr David Jankelow, past president of the South African Heart Association, has described the country’s cardiovascular epidemic as a tsunami overwhelming both public and private…
Despite its history of resilience and globally recognised innovation, the eyewatering pace of cyber threat evolution, characterised by rapid mutation and increasing sophistication, is forcing South Africa’s banking sector to rethink its approach to security. In its 2024 Annual Crime Statistics report, the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) notes that digital banking fraud saw a significant escalation, with an 86% increase in incidents and a 74% rise in associated losses, totalling R1.89 billion. Digital banking fraud accounts for almost 70% of recorded financial losses in the banking industry. SABRIC has laid a good deal of the blame on…
Uber has launched Women Drivers in South Africa, a product designed to empower women through choice. The product allows female riders to select female drivers, responding to the growing demand for safer, more inclusive mobility options while reinforcing Uber’s commitment to innovation, empowerment, and trust in the local market. The product draws on extensive testing in markets such as some cities in the USA and France, where it was adapted based on rider and driver behaviour. Uber has localised these insights to meet the specific needs of South African riders and drivers, where safety perceptions remain one of the most…
In South Africa, funerals are not just family affairs – they’re collective moments that draw entire communities together. When someone passes away, it’s not unusual for neighbours, relatives and friends to contribute financially, cook for guests, or simply show up to offer support. It’s a lived expression of Ubuntu – the belief that our lives are intertwined. But as funeral costs increase, fewer people carry cash, and more families are separated by geography, this tradition is evolving. South Africans are finding new, digital-first ways to uphold it – not by replacing cultural values, but by adapting them. At the heart…