Author: Staff Writer

Spotify announced today it has launched a “Lite” version of its music streaming app in South Africa. With Spotify Lite, you can easily control your data and storage. It’s only 10 MB, so it’s quick to install and load while offering the same great listening experience that lets you discover, play, and enjoy millions of songs. It also comes with the ability to set a data limit and get a notification when you reach it. This way, you’ll be able to focus on finding your next favourite song—not worrying about data. No need to worry if you’re running low on…

Warehouse Management Software Solution has received an undisclosed Series A funding round from Knife Capital – a venture capital firm with offices in Cape Town and London. Knife Capital invests via a consortium of funding partnerships, including SARS section 12J Venture Capital Company KNF Ventures and select family offices. Granite WMS is an easy to use barcode-based warehouse management system (WMS) developed by South African automated identification business: Cradle Technology Services. It integrates into various Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and accounting software packages and expands warehouse operations and business processes to help deliver products on time, accurately and cost-effectively.…

De Beers Group is investing $315,000 R4.4 million) over three years in programmes that aim to encourage young women to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and to pursue engineering careers in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. “With a global shortage of engineers, and women representing only 11 per cent of the engineering workforce, attracting more young women into engineering is vital,” Katie Fergusson, Senior VP Social Impact, De Beers Group, said. “In our fast-changing world, we need diversity of thought to find new solutions, so we are therefore thrilled to be able to partner with WomEng and…

Audi has launched a virtual reality-enabled Audi Customer Private Lounge (CPL) at Audi Centre Centurion in Gauteng, bringing the brand in South Africa in line with global trends, by offering an innovative, digital, retail solution which allows customers to customise the Audi of their choice. With the VR solution, customers can get an extremely realistic experience of their individually configured car, down to the last detail. The Audi CPL allows for a one-to-one engagement between a customer and a sales consultant in a digital, premium and intimate environment. Once in the CPL, digital technologies like the VR headset and 75-inch…

South Africa’s Naspers through its Naspers Ventures division and EQT Ventures have invested €30 million (R474 million) in Dott, a European micro-mobility company. EQT Ventures is European multistage venture capital fund with commitments of just over €566 million. Other investors include existing investors Axel Springer Digital Ventures, Felix Capital, FJ Labs, U-Start Club, and angel investors. Dott is a micro-mobility European start-up founded by Maxim Romain and Henri Moissinac, gathering the most experienced team in mobility and tech in Europe. Its mission is to beautifully design micro-mobility for safety, comfort, and durability, to make green travel an easy choice for…

The BMW Group and Daimler have signed a contract to jointly develop technologies for driver assistance systems, highly automated driving on highways, and automated parking. This cooperation was initially announced in February and now finally an agreement has been signed by both German car automakers. In addition, further talks are planned to extend the cooperation to higher levels of automation in urban areas and city centres. This underscores the long-term and lasting nature of the undertaking, which will extend to encompass a scalable platform for automated driving. The non-exclusive cooperation is also open to other OEMs and technology partners, with…

Frogfoot Networks, a licensed open access fibre network provider, announced on Wednesday it is rolling out fibre infrastructure in Protea Glen, Soweto, in a phased approach, with up to 20 000 homes and business, standing to benefit from access to affordable, reliable broadband connectivity. The areas being covered as part of the infrastructure rollout are Protea Glen East and West, with work starting in the West. This region will be divided into 10 Zones, while Protea Glen East will comprise 11 zones. Work on the project is set to commence in early July, and it is expected that the first…

VALR, a Johannesburg-based cryptocurrency trading platform with over 50 cryptocurrencies, announced on Wednesday that it is launching Ethereum-Rand (ETHZAR) trading to allow customers to buy and sell Ether. The company said the Ether-Rand (ETHZAR) trading will go live on 11 July at 11:11 a.m. In the last three weeks we have facilitated over R170 million worth of Bitcoin trades, VALR’s Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Badi Sudhakaran said. “Today we are excited to announce the launch of our second ZAR trading pair: ETHZAR,” he added. VALR is financially supported by ex-FNB CEO Michael Jordaan and US-based Bittrex. Bittrex is one of the…

uKheshe, South Africa’s economic and convenient QR cash card, on Tuesday announced the launch of the uKheshe Health Benefits card, an innovative and affordable medical aid solution for as little as R99 per month. Available from 1 July, uKheshe Health offers a host of rich benefits to bring greater healthcare inclusion for individuals and families, including cover for private ground and air ambulance, private stabilisation and hospitalisation cover as a result of an accident or emergency. uKheshe Health is available in two benefit options: Individual at R99 per month offers unlimited emergency medical services, R25,000 trauma cover, and R300,000 private…

4 Africa Exchange (4AX) announced on Tuesday that as part of their 6-month succession and handover over plan, Fay Mukaddam has stepped down as the CEO. Sean Emery, CEO of RainFin, has been appointed as interim CEO of the exchange, it said. Mukaddam remains an active shareholder in 4AX and continues to support the business operations in other positions, as well as is leading a rigorous recruitment process for her successor. “When I accepted the founding CEO role, I was excited about the challenge of leading this disruptive business out of the business plan phase to evolve into operating reality,”…

EOH announced on Tuesday it has entered into an agreement with German listed RIB Software SE (RIB) to sell 70% of Construction Computer Software (CCS) for R444 million. The JSE-listed technology group said the transaction will be facilitated through its wholly owned subsidiary, EOH Mthombo. The companies have also entered into a reciprocal put/call option, in terms of a shareholder’s agreement, for the disposal of the remaining 30% of the issued share capital of CCS at the same multiple applied to 31 December 2022 adjusted EBITDA.  The sale is capped at $30 million (R424 million). The company said 90% of…

The Gauteng Provincial Government wants to turn the province into a hub of Fourth Industrial Revolution. This was announced by Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Monday when he delivered his first State of the Province Address (SOPA) following the 6th General Election in May. “Our dream is that Gauteng should be a hub of Fourth Industrial Revolution skills and a centre of excellence for digital economy breakthroughs such as Artificial Intelligence, cryptocurrency, and big data,” Makhura said. At a packed University of Johannesburg campus in Soweto, Makhura said Gauteng — as the engine of South Africa’s economy — will contribute…

Black Beard, a South African tech solutions builder, has joined forces with local female tech champions, GirlCode in an initiative designed to collect and utilise old tech devices known as Tech Relief. Tech Relief aims to collect and distribute ‘old’ technological devices that are collecting dust in drawers around the world. These still equipped yet slightly outdated devices can be used to address the burning need for technological learning tools in educational institutions and initiatives, especially in underprivileged areas. To meet this need – Tech Relief has created a platform, in association with GirlCode, for the public to donate old…

MINI South Africa’s first local edition of the MINI Clubman, called the Modern African Gentlemen edition, made its stylish debut at a gala event in Johannesburg on Thursday, 27 June. It is the result of an exhaustive and comprehensive campaign to determine: “What is a modern African gentleman?” MINI South Africa then teamed up with artist Baba Tjeko, musician Langa Mavuso, and award-winning film and commercials director Tebogo Malope to help it interpret these findings into designs that could be applied to a special edition of the MINI Clubman for South Africa. Only 20 units of the MINI Clubman Modern African Gentlemen edition –…

The Nigerian court has postponed the $2 billion tax dispute between South African telecoms company MTN Group and Nigeria’s attorney general. Reuters reported today that a Nigerian judge adjourned the case until Oct. 29. The attorney general has demanded MTN pay the $2 billion in September. The company has said the tax demand is without merit and the attorney general has exceeded his powers in making the request. Lawyers for the government requested the adjournment. Late December 2018, MTN reached an agreement with Nigeria’s central bank when the $8.1 billion claim was reduced to $53 million. The South African-based telco maintains…

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant to Pan-African service provider, SEACOM Ltd., for a feasibility study to evaluate the market for fibre telecommunications services in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. The grant will provide SEACOM with analysis to determine where to expand infrastructure in the target countries and recommend related investments, such as fibre optic cabling and network equipment to increase and improve access to services across East Africa. The project will provide affordable, reliable high-speed connections across East Africa, enhancing business growth and spurring innovation and productivity in the region. “USTDA is pleased to…

Lulalend has raised a R93 million ($6.5 million) Series A round co-led by IFC and Quona Capital. TechCrunch reported that the South African lender will use the round to build its tech and data team and improve its ability to reach more SMEs in South Africa. “The biggest thing is strengthening our balance sheet so we can access traditional debt funding to grow our loan book,” Lulalend’s CEO Trevor Gosling told TechCrunch on a call. The company added on its Twitter page that: “We can’t wait to put this investment to work supporting SA SMEs & helping close the significant…

Avon Justine has announced that it will once again host the popular iThemba walkathon in partnership with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Wings of Hope and Look Good…Feel Better on Sunday, 20 October 2019 at Marks Park in Johannesburg. With a record 29 000 participants, the event remains the largest breast cancer education and awareness walk in over 50 countries in which Avon operates. Now in its 14th year, the cumulative distance walked by participants over the years amounts to an incredible 7.4 million kilometres, which is equivalent to circling the earth over 10 times! Online registration for the…

In future, drivers will be able to choose whether they wish to be driven or do the driving themselves. With the BMW Vision M NEXT, the BMW Group is revealing its take on how driving pleasure might look in future for those who enjoy taking the wheel themselves. It offers a foretaste of the BMW M brand’s electrified future by placing the focus squarely on the actively engaged driver. Intelligent technologies on board provide comprehensive yet carefully targeted assistance to turn them into the ultimate driver. “The BMW Vision M NEXT provides a glimpse into the future of sporty driving,”…

Stay indoors this winter with Telkom’s home internet deal that’s sure to warm up the whole family. Get Fibre to stream your favourite 123movies, music and shows and Telkom will give you 3-months Netflix subscription for free. The UNLIMITEDhomeLite fibre package includes uncapped data with up to 10Mbps Download and 5Mbps Upload, access to voice services, router, installation, and a LIT TV Box. This is available for R649 a month x 24 months contract. If you sign up for the UNLIMITEDhomeLite fibre package, you stand a chance to win 1 of 20 oh so home-entertainment Combo prizes. The promotional competition…

Troubled JSE-listed tech firm EOH today announced the appointment of Andrew Mthembu to its board of directors. Mthembu appointed with Dr Anushka Bogdanov and Michael Bosman as independent non-executive directors with immediate effect. “These appointments are another important milestone for the EOH Group as the skill and experience brought by our incoming directors will go a long way towards enhancing and complementing our leadership capability and governance oversight,” Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi, Chairman of EOH, said. “Our Board is now also compliant with the King Code of Corporate Governance.” Mthembu was born in Swaziland and started his career in the Ministry…

Vodacom announced Friday plans to sell its  Vodacom Business Africa’s Angolan operations and assets to Internet Technologies Angola (ITA), the largest independent enterprise telecommunications provider in Angola. The company has agreed with ITA to sell its operations and assets. The two entities are in the process of concluding the required agreements, which are subject to the approvals of the regulatory authorities within these markets. The financial terms of the transaction remain confidential. The transaction supports Vodacom Group’s enterprise strategy in Africa, which has been refocused to grow and strengthen its core business. It will no longer directly service global enterprise…

Naspers Foundry, a R1.4 billion startup fund aimed at boosting the South African technology sector, has taken a R30 million bet on rising tech start-up, SweepSouth. SweepSouth is an online cleaning services platform that connects clients with trusted, reliable domestic cleaners. The investment kicks off Naspers’ commitment to supporting talented and ambitious entrepreneurs in South Africa who are using technology to improve people’s daily lives. “We are excited to announce our first Naspers Foundry investment and to welcome SweepSouth to the Naspers family. We are inspired by entrepreneurs like Aisha and Alen who use innovative technology to improve people’s lives,”…

The analytics group Lightstone released a study showing that there were 375 electric vehicles that had been sold in South Africa as of January 2018. The minister of transport, Blade Nzimande, updated that information in March 2019 and said that there are a total of 867 EVs registered in the country. The sudden rise in the number of electrically powered vehicles in South Africa can be the result of several trends that are currently taking place –and may keep the number of EVs growing. Gauteng accounts for half of this total with 390 of the 867 registered vehicles, while in…

Meet the brand new BMW M850i. As you can see, it is a four-door sports car. It is derived directly from a two-door sports car. Developed alongside the BMW 8 Series Coupe and the BMW M8 GTE endurance racing car. Distinctive proportions, wheelbase 201 millimetres longer than on the BMW 8 Series Coupe. Abundant spaciousness in the rear. It has more legroom than ever in a BMW coupe. Large door apertures make getting in and out easier. Considerable increase in shoulder room in the rear, more headroom in all seats than in the two-door members of the new BMW 8 Series…