Author: Staff Writer

The Telkom Foundation is bringing students and youth educational content through a platform called IGNITE. The platform is an extension of the company’s video streaming platform, TelkomONE. From today, High School students in grade 10-12 can gain free access to the new educational platform and will not be required to pay a subscription fee to sign up and be able to utilise the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)-based content that has now been added. TelkomONE IGNITE content will focus on fours content areas: STEM-specific topics and subject matter (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths); Content that directly supports the SA…

Dineplan, a South African software company, has clinched an agreement with Google to allow users to make instant bookings at restaurants directly from Google Search, Maps or Assistant. In a blog, Dineplan said it has integrated with Reserve with Google for diners to see live availability at their favourite restaurants, and conveniently book directly via Google. Dineplan is used by thousands of restaurants nationwide to manage their bookings. Consumers can use Reserve with Google to plan their week and stay notified through Google Calendar, Gmail and via their devices, as well as use the Dineplan mobile app to cancel, confirm…

MTN customers stand a chance to win a share of R50 million in rewards through the MyMTN YelloBucks loyalty and rewards programme from today until 30 September 2021. In the months of May and June, MTN will give away R1 million in grand prizes each month – five customers will each win R100 000 in MoMo cash, and ten customers will each win a holiday experience to the value of R50 000. MTN customers can win entries into the monthly draws by playing the YelloBucks Tap & Win game on the MTN App, or by just being a MyMTN YelloBucks…

Volvo Car South Africa has launched My.Volvo, a unique online store that will enable South Africans to purchase or rent a new car in as little as 20 minutes – and without leaving home. The store – the first for Volvo in the Sub-Saharan Africa region – is available exclusively to South Africans. However, this is not the first time that Volvo has dipped its toe in the online shopping arena. Volvo Cars global launched its first online sales store in 2020 as a result of lockdown restrictions the world over. My.Volvo offers a smooth, convenient and secure end-to-end vehicle…

Direct Transact, the largest independent provider of transaction processing solutions for banks and businesses in SA, is appointing three financial industry heavy-hitters to expand the local industry’s open finance capabilities in the global market. The company, which handles more than R30 billion in financial industry transaction flows per month – the flows of nearly 70% of SA’s second-tier clearing banks and nearly 10% of SA’s monthly transactional value through BankservAfrica – is appointing FinTech trailblazer Christo Davel as the company’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), C-suite banking veteran Arina McDonald as Non-Executive Director and banking technologist Clinton Haley as Executive Head…

Cyber protection company Acronis has received more than $250 million (R3, 6 billion) in a funding round from CVC Capital Partners VII and other investors. The investment values the company at more than $2.5 billion (R36 billion). Acronis said it will use the funds to further accelerate growth by expanding its portfolio of natively integrated cyber protection products. A significant portion of the investment will be used to further enhance Acronis’ go-to-market initiatives by expanding its partner network – most notably managed service providers (MSPs) – to help them better serve the cyber protection needs of their clients. Acronis has…

South Africa’s retail rewards industry has ballooned over the past decade as giants like Checkers, Pick ‘n Pay, Spar and Woolworths compete for a bigger slice of the consumer market. Store cards and rewards schemes have found favour among customers and retailers alike, but for different reasons. Customers are lured in with the promise of financial benefits in the form of loyalty points and discounts while retailers see the card as a cheap way to collect comprehensive customer data. This has led some market analysts to question the growing disconnect between the designers and users of the schemes. “Retailers have…

SA’s diversified technology group 4Sight has entered into a strategic partnership with Cognius.AI, a highly innovative AI specialist developer based in Singapore. 4Sight will collaborate with Cognius.AI in creating solutions that leverage Cognius.AI’s Sofia, conversational AI platform for the enterprise market. Cognius.AI’s Sofia platform has the potential to revolutionise AI by modelling AI to human interaction more closely on how human to human conversations work. Cognius.AI was founded at the end of 2019 and has already begun to make inroads into the enterprise market with its Sofia conversational AI platform. Conversational AI refers to technologies that users can talk to…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has announced the appointment of Makano Mosidi as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In a statement issued on Monday, the PIC said Makano’s mandate will be to provide sound leadership in all aspects of the business’ information and communications technology as well as leveraging technology to position the PIC as the leading asset manager. Makano joins the fund manager from Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) at Standard Bank. “She is a seasoned and highly experienced CTO, having been in Executive roles for the past 24 years, with an overall ICT working experience of 31…

Telkom is launching a new multi-channel whistleblowing platform to enable the public to report any acts or suspected acts of fraud, corruption, and irregular conduct within the organisation. Telkom has partnered with safe line service provider Advance Call to launch the #Vulumlomo | Speak Up anti-fraud and corruption campaign to encourage the public to come forward and anonymously report any acts or suspected acts of fraud, corruption, and irregular conduct. Every individual has a responsibility to play their part in rooting out fraud and corruption in our society, communities, and organisations. South Africa was recently ranked #69 out of 180…

MTN has today made history in Rwanda by being the first mobile network operator to list its shares on the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE). As part of the May 4th listing by introduction, Crystal Telecom Limited’s shareholders now hold a direct 20% stake in MTN Rwanda and can trade their MTN Rwanda shares directly on the RSE. These shares were previously held by Crystal Telecom PLC. MTN Rwanda CEO Mitwa Ng’ambi said the listing was good news for MTN and Rwanda. “We are honoured to be the first telecommunications network provider in Rwanda to be listed on the RSE. We…

Vodacom is introducing a Support Package for job seekers through ConnectU platform, a free service you can enjoy by connecting to the Vodacom network. The Support Package is aimed at connecting more than seven million unemployed South Africans to jobs. Combining discounted voice and data offers, continued access to learning and skills with Udemy, access to six zero-rated job sites and its Future Jobs Finder tool – all housed under the ConnectU portal – Vodacom is committed to helping job seekers go Further Together. Vodacom is also donating Facebook advertising to job seekers, helping them to promote their profiles using…

MTN Nigeria subscribers dropped by 5 million to 71.5 million due to the effects of customer churn and the regulatory restrictions on new SIM sales and activations. This is according to the company’s Q1 2021 results released on Friday. Last December, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) directed the NCC to embark on another audit of the Subscriber Registration Database again. The regulator directed telecoms firms to stop selling SIM cards while it audits compliance with SIM registration rules. “We continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Communications Commission…

MTN has announced its first commercial installation today of Supersonic AirFibre. The first commercial rollout will commence in Soweto, Mamelodi, Fairlands and Honeydew. AirFibre uses out of the box thinking to find innovative solutions that can help connect the unconnected. It harnesses existing open spectrum frequencies, which can lower the cost to serve customers. This is built as a premium uncapped technology that ranges from 5Mbps to 100Mbps, which allows users access to the internet as a full-fibre experience. MTN used the period since the launch of AirFibre for customers to register their demand. Since the announcement of the launch…

A recent decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal, handed down on 13 April 2021, will have a material impact on South Africa’s insurers, requiring them to review their policies. The King Price Insurance Company Ltd v Concise Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd case focused on the rejection of any insurance claim on the basis that a person who is not the policyholder, provided false, incorrect or dishonest information to the insurer, such as the regular driver (or persons covered under the relevant policy). In 2013, a company vehicle that was insured by King Price was damaged in a late evening…

The R350 COVID-19 grant for the jobless, hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic introduced by the South African Government last year comes to an end today. The special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month is paid to individuals who are currently unemployed and do not receive any other form of a social grant or UIF payment. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in a statement reminded recipients of the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress that it comes to an end today, Friday 30 April 2021. “This means that no new applications will be accepted after this…

Vodacom Group is strengthening its partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa. The company is embarking on a project to help restore and conserve healthy oceans and ensure the sustainable production and consumption of seafood. This project aligns with Vodacom’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The aim is to use digital innovation (SDG 9) to address sustainable patterns of consumption and production (SDG 12) to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for the benefit of future generations (SDG 14). According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), more than a…

Aura, South Africa’s security and medical response platform, recently announced its expansion into Kenya, followed closely by a move into the UK where it aims to have over 10,000 users receiving the company’s service within seven months. Later this year, the startup will look at possible expansions in Mexico and Nigeria. Warren Myers, Aura’s CEO believes that South African startups can compete with the best in the world thanks to a focus on smart innovations that answer real-world issues. “The biggest problems in the world are starting to feel fixable for the first time in history. Many people are still…

A positive attitude to change, being open to new technology, adaptability – these are three of the six traits that help ‘future ready’ businesses succeed, even as businesses around the world have faced disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the new Future Ready report by Vodafone Business, ‘future ready’ businesses (FRBs) can be identified by six unifying characteristics, including a positive attitude to change; are open to new technology; have clear steps towards business transformation and a detailed strategy; they are up to date with trends and uncertainties, and are adaptable. These are the attributes of the…

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed FedEx Corp., the world’s largest express transportation company, has launched its new state-of-the-art facility in Johannesburg, near the OR Tambo International Airport. The new Southern Africa hub, which consolidates three facilities into a single location, boosts operational efficiencies to meet growing customer demand across the region. With the new facility, FedEx Express has more than 6,000 m2 dedicated to operations and warehousing, and more than 11,000 m2 of office space in a modern, sustainable building. “Moving to this new facility reinforces our commitment to our customers in the region,” says Taarek Hinedi, vice president…

Prices of pre-owned electric vehicles (EVs) on AutoTrader show some models losing significant value in the first twelve months after registration. Although this might be bad news for those who bought new, it does give a handful of shrewd buyers the opportunity to buy EVs at much-reduced prices. Unfortunately, even in the pre-owned market EVs are still priced well beyond the average motorist’s car budget. Only four EV model ranges are available new in South Africa: the MINI Cooper SE, BMW i3, Jaguar I-PACE and Porsche Taycan. The Nissan LEAF is no longer available, since Nissan South Africa decided not…

The Printer Distribution Company (PDC) has been appointed as an authorised distributor of Honeywell, global leader in Safety and Productivity Services, within the Sub-Saharan Africa region. “We are very excited to have added Honeywell to our portfolio as this appointment enables our extensive partner network to add more value to their respective customers through the provision of world-class product solutions,” says Frikkie Koegelenberg, CEO at PDC. PDC provides industrial, back and front office enterprise printing solutions for customers throughout Africa. The company also distributes a large range of mission-critical printing equipment for the office, industrial marketplace and distribution supply chain.…

The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation today launched the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize programme. The multi-year initiative will focus on global innovators and entrepreneurs on developing technological solutions that accelerate progress towards implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a spotlight on the African continent. This programme will include multiple technology prize competitions in the areas of agriculture, energy, education, and health. “Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies have the power to solve complicated socio-economic and human problems. In the hands of entrepreneurs, these technologies can turn Africa into a global economic powerhouse and transform the world,” said Dr.…

Game-changing justice startups looking for the opportunity to take their business to new heights have until 30 April 2021 to enter the prestigious Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) Innovating Justice Accelerator. Interested applicants can enter via www.hiil.org/innovating-justice-challenge. Successful candidates will earn a place in the prestigious international HiiL Justice Accelerator programme, along with EUR 10,000 in funding and a package of tailored local support. In addition to receiving a significant boost of non-equity seed funding, selected startups will have the opportunity to present to an international jury and compete for additional cash prizes of up to EUR 20,000…

Absa has taken its latest step towards expanding its ever-growing digital payments universe with the launch of QR Payments. “With our innovative  QR Payments functionality, which is free of charge, Absa customers registered on the Absa Mobile Banking App can now scan any QR code in the market, such as Zapper, SnapScan and Pay and Absa will process payments securely, without the need to download any other service provider apps,” says Cowyk Fox, Managing Executive: Everyday Banking, Absa Retail and Business Bank. All payment processing will be subject to customer authentication using their Banking App PIN code, providing customers with the…