Author: Staff Writer

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…

As part of efforts to contribute to the development of an inclusive society and to bring women in underserved rural communities into the mainstream economy, Telkom is collaborating with the Embassy of Ireland and JP Morgan. The collaboration, through TelkomFutureMakers initiative, supports   students from universities and colleges in underserved areas with resources and mentorship that enable them to turn their ideas into real business solutions. The I’M IN Women Pre-Accelerated Programme recognises the importance of inclusivity in the economy. A diversity of voices and skills in dealing with real world challenges ultimately builds resilience. “With wealth and income inequality still drawn across…

A new chapter in South Africa’s tech space has been written with the imminent launch of Skhokho 2.0, an all-in-one business management platform designed by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. The brainchild of Bertha Kgokong, a chemical engineer turned self-taught software developer, the platform aims to formalise and scale South African small businesses. The platform’s name, “Skhokho”, a powerful slang term for “a boss” or “a top dog”, is a deliberate choice by Kgokong, a black woman who has navigated and overcome significant barriers in the tech industry. “I wanted an authentic South African name that would be instantly recognisable but also…

Yellow Card, a leading stablecoin payments infrastructure provider, has announced its major global expansion into key markets including Argentina, Brazil, Bangladesh, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and Colombia. The move is supported by the release of the company’s latest report, “Stablecoin Adoption In Emerging Markets.” Yellow Card is the largest licensed stablecoin-based infrastructure provider operating in 20 African countries and the emerging markets. Since launching our first product in Nigeria in 2019, we have generated volumes of almost $6 billion, 99% of which is attributable to stablecoins. The company employs over 200 individuals from 24 countries and has completed $85 million in equity…

Following impressive H1 2025 sales figures, OMODA & JAECOO South Africa are celebrating yet another month of record-breaking performance, with the Brand O&J lineup achieving its best-ever sales results since the Chinese premium marques entered the South African market. In July 2025, the marques recorded combined sales of 1,069 cars — 60 more units than the previous month — highlighting steady growth and rising demand for OMODA & JAECOO’s expanding and diverse lineup. The C5 remains the top seller, with 813 units delivered last month, followed by the JAECOO J7 with 170 units. The popular J7 range expanded in June with the introduction of…

As part of Eskom’s strategic objective to facilitate a competitive future energy industry, the company is transitioning its generation mix from predominantly coal to a blended portfolio with an increasing proportion of clean energy sources as we approach 2040. In line with this strategy, Eskom has launched its first Renewable Energy Offtake Programme by issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP), inviting large power users to procure 291MW of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) capacity through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) from Eskom-owned renewable energy sites. “This is the next step in the focused execution of our strategy to integrate additional renewable energy into the grid, in…

In a country marked by stark economic disparities, South African women face unique challenges in achieving financial independence and security. The financial landscape, shaped by historical inequalities and ongoing societal barriers, often presents a complex maze for women to navigate.  Despite progress, a significant gap in financial inclusion persists, hindering women’s ability to save, invest, and build wealth. The intricacies surrounding women’s financial empowerment in South Africa is complex, but solutions are within reach. This Women’s Month presents an opportunity to look critically at the challenges, but also to highlight remedies and simply to ensure a dynamic dialogue persists as…

McDonald’s South Africa hosted a powerful and inspiring panel discussion titled “Women in Conversation: The Power of Mentorship” at Hamburger University, the company’s leadership and training centre in Johannesburg. The event formed part of the McDonald’s Women in Leadership Network’s Women’s Month activities and coincided with the company’s 30-year presence in South Africa. It brought together leading voices from business and industry, alongside McDonald’s internal leaders, to explore how mentorship empowers women and shapes leadership journeys. Max Oliva, Chief Executive Office at McDonald’s South Africa, highlighted that 61% of McDonald’s total employees are women, 64% of restaurant managers are women,…