Author: Staff Writer
Today the Telkom Foundation celebrated the successful completion by 115 Mpumalanga learners of its Coding & Robotics Programme at an event at the Ermelo Inn. Introduced into two Mpumalanga schools in 2022, the three-year programme is part of the Telkom Foundation’s commitment to equip young people with digital literacy skills and the necessary tools to be economically active and to find employment in the new digital environment. It is fitting that the graduation event takes place at the end of Youth Month, whose theme was ‘Skills for a changing world – Empowering youth for meaningful economic participation’. Certified by IBM…
Disney+ debut the official trailer and key art for the Original limited series “Washington Black,” based on the bestselling novel of the same name and starring Sterling K. Brown, who also serves as an executive producer. The series will premiere with all eight episodes on Wednesday, 23 July on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. “Washington Black” follows the 19th-century odyssey of George Washington “Wash” Black, an eleven-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, whose prodigious scientific mind sets him on a path of unexpected destiny. When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that…
TransUnion today announced a minority investment and broader strategic partnership with Omnisient, a South Africa-founded FinTech operating internationally that offers a privacy-preserving data collaboration and advanced analytics platform. The Omnisient platform empowers businesses to safely access high-value consumer data ecosystems and rapidly integrate alternative data sets to drive intelligent decision-making. As part of the investment, a TransUnion representative will join Omnisient’s board of directors. “The Omnisient platform allows multiple clients to use built-in advanced analytical tools to simultaneously evaluate the utility of diverse data sets, identifying those that deliver measurable value. Through this collaboration, TransUnion expects to gain access to…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the decisive reforms introduced by Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber to modernise the department’s identity verification service, calling it a critical step toward a more efficient and reliable system. A System in Crisis For years, the Home Affairs identity verification system operated at a meager fee of 15 cents per transaction, far below the actual cost of maintenance. This underfunding led to severe inefficiencies, including a 50% failure rate and a staggering 41,691 hours of system downtime over the past five years. To put this into perspective, the downtime was four times worse than the hours lost…
Themed Thrive with Digital, Accelerating Electric Power Intelligence, Huawei Electric Power Summit 2025 was held in South Africa’s port city of Cape Town. More than 100 customers, partners, and opinion leaders from the electric power industry in Africa attended the summit, who explored how to leverage digital technologies to promote the intelligent and sustainable development of the power industry. Africa’s economy is booming, with rapid population growth and urbanization driving a massive demand for electricity. However, power shortages and outdated power grids have become significant obstacles to the continent’s economic progress. Embracing new energy sources can boost power supply capabilities.…
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) recently hosted a hybrid media briefing to highlight the groundbreaking work of young South African researchers in science, technology, and innovation (STI). Their projects address critical challenges in food waste, child health, and agriculture, reinforcing CSIR’s 80-year legacy in fostering youth development in STEM fields. Affordable Probiotic for Child Health Early childhood is crucial for developing a healthy gut microbiome, which influences digestion, immunity, and long-term disease prevention. To support this, the CSIR has developed an innovative project: “Production of Biotherapeutic Limosilactobacillus reuteri for Use as a Probiotic Additive in Paediatric Gummy Supplements.”…
Proudly South African, in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), unveiled ground-breaking and pioneering e-commerce solutions that will bolster public and commercial support for locally manufactured goods and services in line with the drive to ramp up localisation of the economy. These e-commerce solutions comprise of a business-to-consumer online store aptly named Shop Proudly SA, and a business-to-business (B2B) online platform which will be known as the Market Access Platform (MAP). MAP will provide corporate buyers who wish to meet their localisation targets with access to a database of over 2 000 enterprises spanning diverse industries…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is appalled by Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau’s failure to provide clear answers in Parliament regarding alleged conflicts of interest in the appointment of the new National Lottery operator, Sizekhaya Holdings. Toby Chance MP, DA Spokesperson on Trade, Industry, and Competition, stated: “Minister Tau’s lack of awareness regarding potential links between Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s family and shareholders in Bellamont Gaming is unacceptable. His duty was to ensure a fair, transparent process free from conflicts of interest.” The Minister’s evasive responses during the committee hearing raise serious concerns about the legitimacy of the adjudication process.…
South Africans have spent over R20 million through Luno Pay since its launch in November 2024. The leading crypto app* now processes approximately R2 million in transactions monthly, signalling adoption across diverse merchant categories. The data reveals purchases ranging from as little as R1 at Pick n Pay to high-value transactions of tens of thousands of rands, showcasing crypto’s versatility across different spending patterns. Christo de Wit, South Africa country manager at Luno, says, “Appetite for digital currency transactions in everyday commerce is growing. The wide transaction spectrum indicates that cryptocurrency payments are becoming more common for both everyday purchases and…
New legal filings reveal details about OpenAI and Jony Ive’s io team collaborating on a consumer AI device, according to a report by The Verge. According to court documents, the first product – slated for release no earlier than 2026 – will not be an “in-ear device” or a wearable. “The prototype Sam Altman referenced in the video is at least a year away from being offered for sale,” said Tang Tan, io’s chief hardware officer and a former Apple design leader, in a June 16th declaration. “Its design is not yet finalized, but it is not an in-ear device, nor a wearable device.”…