Author: Staff Writer
Next-generation financial services provider Mukuru and WeThinkCode_, South Africa’s premier software engineering academy, have marked another milestone in their ongoing partnership with the 2025 edition of the SheHacks Hackathon, a dynamic initiative aimed at driving diversity, inclusion, and innovation in the tech space. Held recently, the SheHacks Hackathon challenged students to design a Loyalty Rewards App that reflects Mukuru’s mission of financial accessibility and customer empowerment. The results were nothing short of inspiring: teams delivered slick, user-friendly prototypes while demonstrating leadership, creativity, and resilience under pressure. “At Mukuru, we believe innovation thrives when diverse voices are empowered,” said Koketso Ramose,…
Yellow Card, one of the largest licensed stablecoin-based infrastructures with capabilities spanning 34 countries, with a network spanning Africa, and other key global markets, has appointed Maria Oldham as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). A global executive with two decades of experience across finance, payments, and technology, Oldham joins Yellow Card to help scale the company’s next stage of growth as it expands its pan-African infrastructure for stablecoin-based payments and international money movement to South East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. “Over the past two decades, I have witnessed first-hand multiple waves of disruption in the payments…
Cape Town, 10 November 2025 – African ministers and ICT leaders have endorsed a continent-wide push to build shared artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, following a ministerial forum co-hosted by South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) on the side-lines of AfricaCom in Cape Town. The forum called for coordinated investment in sovereign computing power, local-language models and AI skills so that economic gains from AI are created in Africa and for Africa. Building on the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy, the AU’s framework to guide member states on AI policy, skills and infrastructure…
Choice of mild hybrid (B5) or plug-in hybrid (T8) powertrains, with up to 81 km of pure electric range and fuel consumption as low as 1.8L/100 km. Updated exterior styling, premium cabin finishes, and enhanced comfort features, including advanced air purification. New 11.2-inch Google-powered infotainment with Snapdragon Cockpit Platform, premium audio options, and comprehensive safety systems as standard. Volvo Car South Africa (VCSA) today introduced the new XC60 to the local market. With refreshed styling, an advanced user experience, updated design details, and enhanced comfort, the automaker’s best-selling model has received upgrades that bring it in line with Volvo’s growing…
The Drinks Federation of South Africa (DF-SA) commends the Minister of Finance’s unequivocal identification of the illicit alcohol trade as a critical threat to South Africa’s economy in his mid-term budget speech. “South Africa faces a problem of illicit trade that threatens our economy, endangers consumers, and robs the fiscus of billions in revenue,” the Minister stated. “The growing markets for illicit cigarettes and alcohol pose serious risks to public health and undermine legitimate businesses.” This declaration aligns with the stark findings of our sector. According to an independent 2025 study by Euromonitor International, commissioned by DF-SA, as of 2024,…
The inaugural edition of the Africa Stablecoin Summit 2025, powered by Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users, and supported by Tether, the largest company in the digital asset industry, VISA, and Telcoin, successfully brought togethermore than 300 high-level leaders from across Africa and beyond to explore how stablecoins can strengthen the continent’s financial systems, trade, and economic resilience ahead of the all important G-20 Summit. Larry Cooke, Africa Head of Legal, Binance, said; “Stablecoins are more than a technological innovation—they are a pathway to inclusive, cross-border financial systems that can empower businesses and individuals…
Vodacom has unveiled its new Black Friday deals, aimed at delivering extra value to customers, with up to 70% off many deals this Black November. The deals are aimed at making affordability accessible, with massive discounts across a wide range of products and services, accessories and so much more. “Our research shows that customers are constantly looking for ways to stretch their wallets, particularly at time when the cost of living is so high. As a brand, we recognise that every rand counts, which is why we regularly introduce affordable propositions to help customers ease the burden,” says Rashid Tar-Mahomed,…
Super Money SA (Pty) Ltd today announced the launch of ZAR Supercoin, a new stablecoin purpose-built for South Africa and the wider African market. ZAR Supercoin combines the speed and accessibility of blockchain technology with the trust and oversight of regulated finance. Licensed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and fully backed by rand reserves held in segregated accounts at ABSA Group Ltd, a Tier 1 South African bank, ZAR Supercoin allows users to hold, send, and redeem digital rands instantly and securely. Each ZAR Supercoin is redeemable 1:1 for the South African rand through approved channels. Super Money…
Vodacom Group announces a pivotal agreement with Starlink, the world’s largest satellite broadband provider, to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to millions of businesses across Africa and to expand rural network coverage. This collaboration marks a crucial step in bridging the digital divide and unlocking new opportunities for economic growth, education, and innovation across Africa. Transformative Impact Connecting the Unconnected: Integrating Starlink’s satellite backhaul into Vodacom’s mobile network will accelerate network coverage expansion while increasing network performance in rural areas. The collaboration will deliver robust connectivity to remote schools, health centres, and communities, empowering millions with access to digital services…
Barloworld Equipment is sharpening its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving yellow parts & component market, unveiling a series of operational upgrades, training initiatives, and strategic shifts that position its Barloworld Rebuild Centre (BRC) as a future-ready hub for high-precision component rebuilding. “We’ve commissioned new machining technology and smart tooling systems at the BRC, alongside innovative process changes such as the cylinder heads flow cells & warehouse-onwheels concept. The warehouse project ensures all required parts are prepared and secured in mobile storage before work begins, cutting downtime and boosting efficiency,” says Kamogelo Mmutlana, Executive Head: Business Excellence at Barloworld Equipment.…
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB), in collaboration with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), today announced the winners of the 2025 G20 TechSprint challenge on trust and integrity in scalable and open finance. Hosted under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the 2025 G20 TechSprint marks the first time the global innovation initiative has taken place on African soil. The competition sought to identify practical, technology-driven solutions to enhance trust, integrity and inclusion in the global financial system. The G20 TechSprint is a joint initiative between the G20 Presidency and the BIS Innovation Hub, designed to harness innovation in addressing challenges…
In a world where connectivity creates opportunity, millions of South Africans still sit on the wrong side of the digital divide. Approximately 21% of the population – around 13.6 million people – remain offline, locked out of the digital economy because internet access is intermittent or too expensive. Vuyani Jarana, CEO of Ilitha Telecommunications, says that this doesn’t have to be the case. To meet digital inclusion goals and enable affordable, meaningful broadband connectivity in every home, the traditional business model must be reimagined. “Investment in digital infrastructure must be about more than just statistics,” says Jarana. “These unconnected households…
SOFTSWISS, a global technology company with a growing presence in South Africa, has released its 2026 iGaming Trends Report, developed in partnership with NEXT.io. The study highlights a major shift in the digital entertainment and tech landscape, where operational AI, advanced cybersecurity, and brand reputation are becoming more critical than traditional performance marketing. The fourth edition of this annual study offers an in-depth look at the factors driving market transformation, with key findings relevant to South Africa’s entire digital economy: AI goes operational: The perceived importance of AI scored 8.41/10 in 2025, up from 8.15 the previous year, with 56%…
RoadMind AI, an innovative new startup, set to make waves in the African tech scene with its cutting-edge AI-driven solutions designed to transform the future of mobility across the continent. Co-founded by Tendai Joe and Athenkosi Nzala, the company aims to tackle some of Africa’s most pressing road safety and transportation challenges by leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology. A Vision to Revolutionize African Mobility At the core of RoadMind AI’s mission is a commitment to making African roads safer, smarter, and more efficient. With a focus on real-time hazard detection and predictive vehicle maintenance, the company is addressing critical…
Tracker’s vehicle crime statistics for January to June 2025 reveal that business-owned vehicles* are 48% more likely to be targeted than personally-owned vehicles. This trend is largely driven by hijackings, with notable shifts in both timing and location – Mpumalanga has emerged as a new hotspot, and incidents are increasingly occurring during the week rather than over weekends. The Tracker Vehicle Crime Index aggregates information from Tracker’s more than 1.1 million subscriptions. The data indicates that business-owned vehicles experience 32% more crime than their proportion within the Tracker base, highlighting a significantly higher risk compared to personally-owned vehicles. The majority…
FSCA issues public warning regarding impersonation of 27Four Investment Managers (Pty) Ltd and its Managing Director, Ms Fatima Vawda The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) warns members of the public to exercise caution when engaging in financial services-related activities with the administrators of a Telegram group operating under the name “LeaderFatima_Vawda.” The administrators of the “LeaderFatima_Vawda” Telegram group falsely claim to be affiliated with authorised financial services provider 27Four Investment Managers (Pty) Ltd (27Four Investment Managers), FSP number 31045, and its Managing Director, Ms Fatima Vawda. According to information received by the FSCA, the administrators of the “LeaderFatima_Vawda” Telegram group…
FSCA issues public warning regarding impersonation of Cuthman Capital (Pty) Ltd and its Chief Operating Officer. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) urges members of the public to exercise caution when dealing with individuals who falsely purport to represent Cuthman Capital (Pty) Ltd (Cuthman Capital) and its Chief Operating Officer. Ms Thandi Wille, the Chief Operating Officer of Cuthman Capital, submitted a complaint to the FSCA after discovering that impersonators were using Telegram accounts to pose as the company’s executives. These individuals are misleading the public by falsely claiming affiliation with Cuthman Capital. The Telegram usernames used by the impersonators…
The announcement of an ambitious plan by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to invest R2.23 trillion to build 105 000MW of new generation capacity between now and 2039 is commendable. Commenting on South Africa’s bold plan, Nokwanele Qonde, Founder and Chairperson of WASAA Group, cautioned that the envisaged 11% contribution of gas to the country’s future energy mix by 2039 “seems unrealistic and unfeasible”. Minister Ramokgopa revealed the expected gas contribution to the mix while outlining South Africa’s energy roadmap in a policy blueprint dubbed the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which was approved by Cabinet last month. WASAA is an independent,…
Local software company, Netgen Custom Software, is proud to announce that it turns 25 years old this year. Since first being registered by co-founders Grant Scheffel and Hardy Esterhuizen in October 2000, Netgen has grown into an established organisation with offices in two South African cities and a global footprint. “We recently celebrated this milestone with our teams, taking a day out to reflect, build connections, and share in 25 years of achievements together,” says managing director and co-founder, Grant Scheffel. “It was a powerful reminder that Netgen’s strength lies not only in our technology, but in the people and…
South African technology distributor Axiz has entered into a partnership with MBCOM Technologies, Broadcom’s sole distributor in the region, to distribute the full Broadcom software portfolio, in a move aimed at expanding access to Broadcom’s enterprise solutions and strengthening support for local channel partners. The agreement brings together MBCOM’s structured regional channel programme and Axiz’s established distribution network in South Africa. Partners in the country will now be able to access Broadcom’s software suite, which includes Symantec, Carbon Black, Enterprise Software Solutions (former CA portfolio), Mainframe, and VMware solutions, under a more formalised and supportive framework. “Broadcom’s software portfolio plays a significant…
The highly anticipated Mushroom Farm Shopping Centre officially opened its doors on Thursday, 30 October 2025, redefining the local convenience retail landscape with over 50 curated retail and service offerings. Owned and developed by Century Property Developments, the R600-million centre sits at the corner of Allandale and President Roads, in the heart of the Kyalami–Waterfall node. Its name pays homage to its history as a working mushroom farm neighbouring the original Waterval Farm, now Waterfall Estates. Conceived with input from local residents, the centre has been designed as a social and lifestyle hub anchored by a central community piazza. Japie…
OPPO has announced the launch of the OPPO A6 Pro 5G in South Africa, bringing exceptional battery life, dependable durability and powerful performance to local consumers. The launch builds on OPPO’s commitment to making advanced and reliable technology accessible to all South Africans, from busy professionals and creators to outdoor adventurers who expect a device that keeps up with them. “South Africans lead dynamic lives and their smartphones should do the same,” says Bradley Young, Head of Retail at OPPO South Africa. “With the A6 Pro 5G, we are delivering a device that lasts longer, performs better and inspires confidence…
Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) has announced that its life assurance subsidiary, Rand Mutual Life (RML), concluded a strategic agreement with B3 Insurance Brokers and B3 Funerals Soweto (which are registered Financial Service Providers) to underwrite B3 policies to RML. This landmark deal marks a significant step in strengthening the delivery of funeral assurance services to South African families. Since 1991, B3 Insurance Brokers and B3 Funerals Soweto have served South African families through their funeral parlours and related financial services, operating across five provinces with a network of 23 branches. The arrangement enables B3 to offer tailor-made life insurance solutions…
South Africa’s unemployment crisis remains one of the gravest in the world. The latest labour data shows joblessness at 33.2% overall and an alarming 62.2% among youth (ages 15–24). Yet thousands of digital roles remain unfilled. According to recent ICT sector data, more than 118,000 digital and tech jobs are open nationwide, 40,000 of them entry-level positions. While millions search for work, thousands of digital roles remain vacant. Tech-education leader HyperionDev is highlighting how accessible, outcomes-based training can close that gap, offering affordable, mentored bootcamps in coding, data, and software engineering designed to get learners career-ready within months, not years.…
The decision to remove South Africa from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist provides a timely confidence boost for the country’s residential property sector, and a strong signal that it is open for business. “After almost two years of intense scrutiny and rigorous monitoring, this delisting points to renewed confidence in our country’s financial systems and processes. This decision will have far-reaching positive implications for various sectors, including property,” says Bradd Bendall, BetterBond’s National Head of Sales. “Five repo rate cuts since November 2024 have already helped to reignite market activity, and this delisting is likely to attract fresh…