Author: Staff Writer

Teraco, Africa’s largest vendor-neutral data centre and interconnection services provider, has completed the JB3 data centre facility, located within the Isando Campus in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. This multi-billion-rand facility represents a strategic addition to Platform Teraco, offering enterprises a scalable platform for IT infrastructure deployment while sustaining performance, reliability, security, and the widest network choice. JB3 comprises 45000sqm of building structure, 12000sqm of data hall space, and 29MW of critical power load. When combined with the existing Isando Campus facilities, the critical power load totals 40MW across the campus data centre footprint with room for further growth.…

The Shoprite Group has launched its new ground-breaking digital business hub, ShopriteX which is piloting Checkers Rush, an automated, cashless “no queues, no checkout, no waiting” concept store, where employees can grab products and walk out. Incubated over the past year, ShopriteX is combining data science and technology create more personalised shopping experiences for customers. ShopriteX already delivered two industry-leading innnovations – Xtra Savings, South Africa’s fastest-growing rewards programme with 20 million members to date, and Checkers Sixty60 the first on-demand 60-minute supermarket grocery delivery service in South Africa. “We are serious about being Africa’s most customer-centric retailer, and the launch of ShopriteX represents our investment in fit-for-the-future precision retail, which is increasingly digital and data-led,” said Pieter Engelbrecht, Shoprite Group CEO. The launch is part of Shoprite’s…

South Africa has to date administered 9 557 542 jabs with 158 103 of those being administered on Monday. The total number of Pfizer administered in the last 24 hours was 122 056 and a total of 36 047 Johnson and Johnson were administered. Meanwhile, South Africa recorded 7 983 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 613 569. This increase represents a 21.1% positivity rate. “As per the National Department of Health, a further 299 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 77 440 to date,” the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said. The majority…

Shoprite is once again stepping up to enable entrepreneurs to grow their businesses with the 2021 Shoprite Hustle competition. The annual competition boosts small business development and will celebrate established and promising small business owners who stand to win a share of more than R1 million in prizes. The 20 winners will each receive R50 000 in cash, a laptop, digital and social media support and access to Startup Circles’ Ignition programme. Shoprite recognises the critical role the more than 2 million SMME’s (Small Medium and Micro Enterprises) in South Africa, many of which are in the informal sector, play in growing the country’s economic future. Established small business owners, aged 18 or over and a citizen or permanent resident of South Africa, are eligible to apply. Entries must be submitted online by 19 September 2021, and winners will be announced between 27 September and 31…

Affordable residential and student housing specialist, Quorum Holdings, is the first in South Africa to accept rental deposits in cryptocurrency, and to allow tenants to potentially benefit from an increase in value. While rental deposits are standard practice in South Africa, tenants do not usually benefit from the money being held by their landlords. And deposits can be held for several years, depending on the lease. With a growing portfolio expected to reach around 3,000 residential units in Johannesburg over the medium term and another 5,000 beds in student accommodation through a subsidiary Urban Circle, the business owns and manages…

Africa’s largest content platform as a service (CPaaS) provider, SMSPortal, has seen the COVID-19 pandemic intensify the demand for Content-as-a-Service, with some 1.3 million businesses using app-to-peer (A2P) SMS in 2020, according to their data. “The CaaS market is growing massively, both globally and here in SA,” says James Pearce, co-founder of SMSPortal. “Today, the total number of businesses now using this channel, globally, is just under eight million, which is an increase of 20% on the number using A2P SMS prior to the pandemic.” Given the impact of the pandemic and of course, the dispersed working environment most find…

TymeBank, one of South Africa’s leading digital banks, will export its business concept and experience to its international sister company Tyme’s newly established banking operations, GOtyme, in the Philippines. GOtyme, which has had its digital banking licence application approved by the Philippines Central Bank, will benefit from TymeBank’s high-touch high-tech banking model, world-class technology, unique kiosks and digital banking expertise to bring banking simplicity and financial empowerment to the lives of Filipino consumers. The approval of the licence application, which is the first of a three-step Philippines Central Bank application process, comes shortly after TymeBank secured international investors in February…

BrainQ, an Israeli stroke therapy technology startup, today announced it has raised a $40 million or R592 million to support a multicenter pivotal trial for its groundbreaking technology for ischemic stroke survivors in selected US hospitals.  The funding round is led by Hanaco Ventures, along with Dexcel Pharma, and Peregrine Ventures, bringing the total raised by the company to over $50 million or R739 million. This year, BrainQ received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation allowing the company to work closely with the FDA to expedite development plans and premarket clearance, with access to the new Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology pathway. “We’ve seen…

MALII FinTech platform, founded by Oratile Seabela, aims to solve the cash payment system, lack of public transport integration, financial exclusion, and inefficiencies in the minibus taxi industry. MALII is an app that enables taxi commuters to make payments without using cash. Commuters upload funds for the month in the MALII wallet, using their bank card or top up at the nearest spaza shop. They then find a QR code sticker positioned on the taxi window and can scan the QR code with their smartphone. The idea for MALII came to Oratile in 2017 while she was taking a taxi.…

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has expressed its dismay at reports that some healthcare workers, including doctors, have discouraged patients from getting COVID-19 vaccinations, based on doubts about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. SAMA Chairperson, Dr Angelique Coetzee, said the organisation wholly rejects any doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine. “There is high confidence among the scientific and medical community about the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines being rolled-out in South Africa, and they have also undergone safety and efficacy tests by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. “These are overwhelming endorsements of the vaccines, and there should…