Author: Staff Writer
Vodacom Eastern Cape region is investing more than R400 million in network infrastructure this financial year, underscoring its commitment to expanding coverage, enhancing capacity, and empowering deep rural communities across the province. This investment will drive the rollout of advanced technologies, including 4G and 5G, and extend connectivity to underserved rural areas. Of the total spend, over R38 million is allocated to network modernisation to enable 4G and 5G technologies, with more than R87 million dedicated to network capacity expansion. Over R8 million will go towards core network upgrades to support network infrastructure needs. Transmission infrastructure investment for the 2025…
Huawei South Africa and Henley Business School Africa have completed the fourth edition of the Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme with 40 women entrepreneurs and government leaders, preparing them to scale in a rapidly digitising economy. Launched in 2021, Huawei Women in Tech has become a modern incubator for tech-curious women. More than 300 participants have now taken part in the programme, which combines practical leadership development with exposure to cutting-edge digital technologies. This year’s cohort included entrepreneurs and senior women managers from the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) and the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD),…
Following a highly successful registration season, Vodacom Business and the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) are celebrating the positive outcomes delivered by the upgraded Online Admissions platform for the 2026 school year. The new system provided a smarter, simpler, and more transparent admissions experience for parents and department officials alike. “Vodacom Business has been a longstanding technology partner to the GDE,” says Videsha Proothveerajh, Vodacom Business Director. “The project gave us the opportunity to provide our digital expertise to enhance the country’s education system. For parents, applying to schools can be an incredibly stressful process. Our aim for the platform…
The new Volvo XC70 SUV is Volvo Cars’ first long-range plug-in hybrid, offering an all-electric driving range of over 200km under the CLTC testing cycle – the longest of any Volvo plug-in hybrid to date. Blending the latest technology, advanced safety and Scandinavian design, the new XC70 is a perfect choice for families seeking a more comfortable and relaxed lifestyle without compromising on performance or capability. Built on Volvo Cars’ new Scalable Modular Architecture (SMA) platform for long-range plug-in hybrids, the new XC70 represents an important addition to the company’s product lineup. It is designed to meet growing demand for…
AutoTrader data shows sales of Chinese vehicles jumped 89% in the first half of 2025. Once the underdogs of the automotive world, Chinese automakers have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with, giving many established players in South Africa’s car market cause for concern. New car sales for Chinese brands have skyrocketed, and the same trends are evident in the used car market, with AutoTrader’s latest Mid-Year Report revealing sales of Chinese brands rose by 89% in the first half of 2025, led by BYD (+637%), Omoda (+99%), and Jaecoo (+168%). While these percentages are striking,…
If you do the maths, South Africans spend more than 16 days a year commuting, according to a study conducted by the University of Cape Town¹. That’s over two weeks of our lives stuck in traffic, rushing to school drop-offs, or inching towards the office. With that much time on the road, it’s no wonder our cars have quietly transformed into more than just a way of getting from A to B. They’re private stages, snack havens, and sometimes, the backdrop to life’s most unexpected moments. As part of AutoTrader’s ‘Find Your Happy Place’ campaign, AutoTrader surveyed 3,483 local drivers…
Following the success of its initial media literacy campaign, Legit.ng, a top Nigerian digital media outlet, has launched a free, edutainment-style fact-checking course. The initiative is a direct response to research conducted by the team earlier this year. It reveals a trend among Gen Z audiences across the continent (including South Africa): while their interest in politics and educational content can be unpredictable, they are consistently drawn to compelling human-interest stories and engaging entertainment. By framing the course in an engaging, creative way, Legit.ng aims to hold the attention of young Africans while reminding them to be sharp about…
S.MAB Group, a pioneering business that began with S.MAB Agency, founded in 1999 by a black female entrepreneur who was later joined by her daughter after completing her degree, is entering a new chapter of growth with the appointment of Glad Dibetso as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This marks an exciting phase of expansion across the Group’s diverse businesses, which span healthcare, training, property, and design. With over 26 years of impact across multiple sectors, S.MAB has built a reputation for empowerment, excellence, and innovation. The Group remains majority female-owned and female-led, with founder Snoekie Mabena-Saleh continuing as…
Huawei South Africa, in partnership with three government departments, Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), Employment and Labour (DoEL), and Small Business Development (DSBD), has celebrated the fourth edition of the Women in Tech Digital Skills Training programme, bringing together 40 women from government and business for hands-on technology learning and practical leadership development. The goal is to equip women to lead with confidence in South Africa’s growing digital economy and to position them at the centre of the country’s economic transformation. The three-day programme combines technical training with Huawei specialists in 5G, Cloud and AI, along with leadership development from…
Yesterday, the City of Cape Town’s Fleet Management Department hosted a live demonstration of its new technology-driven fleet tracking solutions. This initiative represents a key milestone in strengthening fleet security, enhancing safety protocols and improving operational efficiency. Read more below: High resolution images are available here: https://bit.ly/3URlXU0 ‘We are proud to showcase the City’s latest innovation in fleet security, safety and operational efficiency. The live demonstration highlighted the installation process, tracking technology and new protocols designed to safeguard City assets and improve service delivery. The City of Cape Town manages a large and complex fleet that is central to service…
The 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) has identified Mauritius as the leading government in Africa, followed by Rwanda and Botswana. The average score for countries in Africa was the lowest amongst all regions, although there has been modest improvement between 2024 and 2025. This is according to Dinesh Naidu, Director (Knowledge) at the Chandler Institute of Governance, who was speaking at a recent regional launch of the Index in Pretoria. The event brought together policymakers, academics, and practitioners to reflect on Africa’s governance journey and the lessons emerging from the latest findings. Now in its fifth year, the CGGI…
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments most people will ever make. Yet, while buyers often focus on location, interest rates, and monthly bond repayments, many overlook the fact that they need insurance cover as a condition of their bonds, says John Wessels, Executive for Product and Analytics at BetterSure. There are three main types of insurance every homeowner should consider: homeowner’s (building’s) cover, which is mandatory, life insurance, and home contents insurance. Building’s insurance “When you take out a home loan, homeowner’s cover – sometimes called building’s or home structure insurance – is mandatory,” says Wessels.…
: Plaud.ai, the world’s leading AI note-taking brand, proudly introduces the Plaud Note Pro—the latest device in its award-winning product lineup of AI powered productivity tools. Engineered for tech savvy workers, those seeking enhanced lifestyles, even healthcare & education professionals all who demand uncompromising performance. The Note Pro is the most advanced and versatile AI note-taking hardware ever created by Plaud and it comes wrapped in a luxurious rippled aluminum, ultra-thin lightweight package enhanced for every day useability. Featuring Plaud’s App 3.0, the Note Pro delivers smarter, more powerful onboard capabilities to capture, analyze, and transform what you say, hear,…
Vodacom Group today announced the appointment of Ayman Essam as Chief Officer: External Affairs, with effect from 1 October 2025. He succeeds Stephen Chege, who will return to Kenya at the end of September to take up the role of Group Chief External Affairs Officer at Safaricom. In his new role, Ayman will assume responsibility for Vodacom Group’s external affairs strategy across its footprint, including the DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania. He will report directly to Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group Chief Executive Officer, and join the Vodacom Group Executive Committee. Commenting on the appointment, Shameel…
The Jannie Mouton Stigting / Foundation (Trust or JMF) has made an offer to acquire all of the issued shares in Curro Holdings Limited for c.R7.2 billion. The Jannie Mouton Stigting is a charitable organisation established as a Public Benefit Organisation founded by Jannie Mouton, the renowned businessman who founded Capitec Bank, PSG Group and PSG Financial Services. Mouton is widely respected for his instrumental role in building and growing some of South Africa’s most successful companies -including Curro itself. The JMF endeavours to make a meaningful contribution towards improving South Africa for all its people, ensuring that it remains…
DFA, South Africa’s premiere enterprise connectivity provider, and Ciena, a global leader in high-speed connectivity, have achieved a landmark breakthrough in fibre capacity – delivering more than 4 times the performance of previous trials. In this world-first trial, using Ciena’s innovative WaveRouter and WaveLogic 6 Extreme solutions, DFA successfully transmitted 1.6 Tbps (terabits per second) over a single wavelength – setting a new performance benchmark for IP/optical convergence. The trial was conducted over a 40 km stretch between Isando and Midrand, using DFA’s high-capacity core network. The route chosen replicates the previous trial that had demonstrated 400 Gbps capability. “This greatly enhances the capability of DFA’s…
South Africa stands at a critical crossroads. With one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, the crisis is most deeply felt by young people. Today, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, 58.7% of youth between the ages of 18 – 35 are unemployed, and more than 9.2 million South Africans are not in education, employment or training. Behind each number lies a story of untapped potential, young people eager to work, families searching for security, and communities held back by limited opportunity. With many left without access to earning opportunities, the country cannot afford to rely on…
Vodacom Central Region, covering both Free State and Northern Cape provinces, is investing over R400 million this financial year in the region’s network. This will be directed towards expanding network infrastructure, enhancing capacity and resilience, and empowering communities, with a particular focus on connecting underserved areas across the Free State and Northern Cape. The region spent R500m during the 2024/25 financial year and R340 million in 2022/23 on expanding broadband coverage across the region. This is an investment totalling over R1,2 billion over three years and it is part of Vodacom’s long-term vision, to have the widest and reliable network…
WeThinkCode_, a leading tuition-free software development academy, proudly celebrates the graduation of its 2025 class, a cohort that signals both the close of one chapter and the dawn of a bold new era for tech talent development in South Africa. This year, 361 students graduated across four campuses: 189 in Johannesburg, 67 in Cape Town, 73 in Durban, and 32 from CJC Parktown. The average pass rate stood at an impressive 79.52%, underscoring WeThinkCode_’s continued academic excellence, commitment to inclusivity, and future-forward learning approach. The 2025 graduates were the first to complete newly introduced, industry-aligned electives in Cloud Computing (Koedr and AWS), Data Engineering (Spatial…
SwapVend has announced the official launch of its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) on Saturday, 23 August 2025. SwapVend is a South African built digital platform connecting informal traders to opportunity and support by making them visible. By combining grassroots insight with bold technology, SwapVend aims to rewrite the story of economic access – one person at a time. Already described as a “digital taxi” for its ability to transport township traders into the digital economy, SwapVend is reimagining inclusion by creating a platform that requires no startup capital, and no digital fluency to participate, only ambition. This MVP marks the…
MortgageMarket, South Africa’s first independent online home loan marketplace, has partnered with Takealot, the country’s largest online retailer, to launch the Takealot Home Loan Hub – a fully digital platform that empowers South Africans to access the best home loan offers from the country’s top banks. Powered by MortgageMarket’s cutting-edge technology and strong relationships with leading banks, the Takealot Home Loan Hub allows customers to apply for financing as seamlessly as shopping online. MortgageMarket is digital home loan marketplace, empowering consumers with tools and technology that make getting a home loan easier, faster, and more transparent. Since 2020, MortgageMarket has…
The University of Pretoria (UP) has achieved the top position in South Africa for artificial intelligence (AI) research, according to the latest rankings of higher education institutions published by EduRank. The analysis, based on over 61 200 academic papers and 969 000 citations from 24 South African universities, places UP No. 1 in South Africa, No. 2 in Africa, and No. 532 globally for research output and impact in AI. The ranking reflects the University’s growing influence in AI scholarship and its commitment to advancing knowledge that addresses both local and global challenges. UP’s success is built on years of…
The much-anticipated Groot Phesantekraal View in Durbanville officially opened its doors, bringing an exciting new shopping and lifestyle destination to the area. Spanning 30,000sqm and developed by Abland Property Developers in collaboration with Sasol Pension Fund, Groot Phesantekraal View promises to become a cornerstone of convenience, offering a diverse range of retail, dining and entertainment options for the rapidly growing community of Durbanville and beyond. The modern convenience shopping centre is located just northeast of Durbanville on the corner of Okavango Road and the R312, Klipheuwel Road. It functions as a vital part of the dynamic Groot Phesantekraal precinct, which…
A new chapter in South Africa’s entrepreneurial story opened today with the launch of the Regenesys School of Entrepreneurship in Sandton. Positioned as a hub for innovation and growth, the school aims to bring entrepreneurs, corporates, funders and mentors under one roof to strengthen Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By equipping entrepreneurs with the practical skills, networks, and access to capital required to thrive, the School ensures that success is not just about starting a business, but about achieving scale and sustainability. In doing so, it aims to build resilient enterprises that drive economic growth, job creation and long-term impact across the…
Investec and Visa have renewed their strategic partnership for a further five years, reaffirming a relationship that has spanned more than 28 years and significantly contributed to payment innovation and premium client offerings in South Africa. This renewal, formalised at a recent signing ceremony in Johannesburg, aims to accelerate the development of best-in-class digital banking solutions and continue driving innovation in the affluent segment. By combining Investec’s deep expertise in Private Banking with Visa’s global leadership in digital payments, the partnership will deliver secure, seamless, and personalised financial experiences for clients. “Investec’s long-standing partnership with Visa is grounded in a…