Author: Staff Writer

Kaspersky experts have detected a wave in scams related to the RAM courier service in South Africa: fraudsters are employing deceptive tactics to trick unsuspecting users into divulging their financial information by claiming packages were undelivered due to unpaid customs fees. RAM is one of South Africa’s most popular courier services. Cybercriminals are sending deceptive emails that appear to be from RAM courier service, falsely claiming that a package was not delivered due to pending customs fees. To create a sense of urgency, the email urges users to click on a provided link for further instructions. When users click on…

The Shoprite Group invites high-performing students to apply for its bursary programme for the 2023 and 2024 academic years.    Students enrolled for degree studies  in Criminology, Accounting, Information Technology, Retail Business Management, Food Science and more can now apply for funding by visiting the Group’s careers page before 30 September 2023.   The comprehensive bursary programme includes tuition fees, on-campus accommodation, a grocery allowance and guaranteed employment upon graduation.    In the last financial year, the Group spent over R16 million on its bursary programme, which funded 206 students.  As the largest private sector employer in South Africa, the retailer is…

Tertius Zitzke, CEO of 4Sight, says that the company is seeing huge interest in artificial intelligence (AI) from its customer base and 4Sight is already delivering these solutions incorporating AI to drive productivity as the ultimate goal for business. “The launch of ChatGPT end of 2022, created huge excitement in the market because it brings us closer to artificial generative intelligence (AGI), where AI becomes much more like human intelligence,” he says. “But we are only at the beginning of a steep learning curve as companies start to integrate AI into the way they do business. My prediction is that…

Modern consumers have become used to a plethora of easy pay options when transacting. One doesn’t think twice about using their phone or smartwatch to pay for their morning coffee after a workout session at the gym. Contactless payments (such as tapping your card or using your smartphone or smartwatch at a point of sale (POS) machine), are becoming increasingly popular due to the convenience they offer. However, with convenience comes great responsibility and the need for consumers to be more alert and aware as this payment method, like any other platform or area where money or the transfer of…

Cape Town’s Township internet service provider, TooMuchWifi, has announced that it has expanded its operations in the Western Cape province, bringing affordable and reliable internet connectivity to Mbekweni, a settlement between the towns of Wellington and Paarl, where there is a growing demand. In addition, the company is extending its operational reach to better serve the communities of Atlantis on the West Coast and Delft near Blue Downs, where it already has a footprint. This move marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth, in line with its mission to bridge the digital divide that prohibits so many communities from…

Santam, South Africa’s largest general insurer, has announced the rebranding of its app-based digital client solution from JaSure to Santam Switch, following the 100% acquisition of the insure tech company a year ago. As part of its multi-channel strategy, Santam is accelerating its growth through a variety of distribution channels and business models to reach new market segments through “new age” digital insurance solutions. According to Atang Matebesi, the CEO of Santam’s Client Solutions business, the rebrand accelerates a fully digital solution for Santam and positions the brand for growth within a younger market segment, while leveraging Santam’s established brand,…

Most nascent entrepreneurs raise funding from a combination of savings, goodwill of family and friends and angel investors to convert their idea into a prototype or a minimum viable product (MVP). For entrepreneurs from historically disadvantaged backgrounds (HDPs) in South Africa, pre seed funding is a  bigger struggle as many don’t have familial wealth or assets accumulated and lack access to angel investment networks. According to the 2022 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report, banks and venture capital funds are still the most likely sources of funding for most businesses in South Africa. But getting this capital is fiercely competitive for early-stage…

Kaspersky experts share insights on distinguishing voice deepfakes. Deepfake (“deep learning” + “fake”) artificial intelligence has been growing at a rapid rate over the past few years. Machine learning can be used to create compelling fakes of images, video, or audio content. To determine whether some audio piece is a fake or a speech of a real human, there are several characteristics to consider: the timbre, manner and intonation of speech. For example, a voice deepfake will give out an unnatural monotony of speech. Another feature that should be considered is the sound quality. So, illegible speech and strange noises…

Women gamers around the globe experience high rates of gender-based harassment, keeping many from participating in gaming. Independent research recently conducted in Argentina and the UK has revealed how females are treated in competitive multiplayer games, with verbal abuse, death threats and gender-based frustration very much the order of the day. Participants in both research studies even claimed that they could not compete with an open microphone as games often become impossible to play if the other players hear a female voice. “With the number of South African girls and women in the video gaming community growing at a rapid…

The effects of South Africa’s power cuts, inflation, cost of living and brain drain disproportionately affect domestic workers – 94% of whom are women. The average domestic worker in South Africa is their family’s sole breadwinner and sole caregiver, supporting an average of four dependents at home. This is apparent in the data gleaned from SweepSouth’s 2023 Report on Domestic Workers Pay and Work Conditions, released today. Distilling the survey responses of more than 5,500 participants, the sixth edition of the annual report reveals that the average domestic worker in South Africa is 37 years old and earns about R2,989…