Author: Staff Writer

Telkom has embraced artificial intelligence (AI) as a cornerstone of its digital transformation strategy, driving operational efficiency, enhancing customer experiences, and opening up new growth opportunities, the company announced today. In the 2025 financial year, Telkom invested R46 million in research and innovation, aligning its AI initiatives with business strategy. The company’s commitment to innovation is reshaping its business model while positioning it as a leader in South Africa’s AI ecosystem. “AI enables us to optimise operations, personalise customer interactions, and foster talent development,” says Dr Mmaki Jantjies, Group Executive: Innovation and Transformation. “Our investments are strategic, ensuring long-term value…

The South African used car industry is growing from strength to strength, with the latest July 2025 numbers showing year-on-year (YoY) and month-on-month growth (MoM), reflecting the continued trend of renewed consumer confidence and a resilient used vehicle market. The top five best-selling used vehicles remain unchallenged by new contenders. However, the bottom half of the top 10 has shown several minor shifts, indicating a change in the mindset of South African used car buyers. Based on the latest sales data from AutoTrader, 33,919 used vehicles were sold in July 2025, representing YoY and MoM increases of +7% and +9.4%, respectively.…

Park Village Auctions has realised approximately R34,500,000 for all three Saxonwold properties and their contents. That’s the word from PVA’s Clive Lazarus, who today announced that the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRP) have accepted and confirmed an offer. All three properties, namely numbers 3, 5, and 7 Saxonwold Drive, Sandton, Gauteng, and their contents (comprising furniture and appliances), fetched an estimated total of R34,500,000, inclusive of buyer’s commission and VAT. Incidentally, the buyer also purchased number 7A Saxonwold Drive for R6,500,00.00, including buyer’s commission and VAT separately. As all necessary securities have been received in good order, the assets formally belonging…

Ahead of the 2025 National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) Show, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has called on the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, to urgently reduce the excessive tax duties on importing electric vehicles (EVs), into South Africa – a critical step to developing and strengthening a viable EV market. In a formal letter sent to Minister Tau this week, CHARGE stressed that South Africa’s automotive industry cannot afford to ignore the global movement towards EVs. Currently, imported electric vehicles are subject to a 25% import duty, plus an ad valorem tax that…

MicroFinance South Africa (MFSA) is calling on regulators to act swiftly on the unchecked and rapid rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) credit services. A stark warning that this current unregulated structure is exposing millions of consumers to unsustainable debt, hidden costs, and financial exploitation.  “Without urgent intervention, this growing shadow credit system could lead to devastating consequences,” says Leonie van Pletzen, Chief Executive Officer of MFSA. “This is especially concerning for low-income workers and young consumers, and an already over-indebted population.”  “BNPL is presented as a modern, interest-free payment solution, however in reality it functions as credit,” she states. “Unfortunately…

As the continent enters a new era of mineral opportunity, infrastructure remains a challenge. Only when the continent’s countries, resources, markets and people are fully connected, can Africa reach its potential.  A new report offers hope on how to finance these infrastructure needs. A confluence of dynamic developments in society and the global economy gives the African mining sector a number of exciting opportunities. However, a significant bottleneck remains in the continent’s infrastructure gap. Key players are working to unlock this brake on growth, finding ways to better connect Africa through its road, rail, energy and digital corridors, so that…

Truecaller, the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communications, reached a significant milestone in August as the number of monthly active users (including both Android and iOS) crossed 100 million in the MEA-region, representing a 19% growth y-o-y. “With the Middle East and Africa experiencing significant growth in smartphone adoption and mobile data adoption, we’re really happy that we’re able to solve communication problems for individuals and businesses in that region,” said Rishit Jhunjhunwala, CEO, Truecaller. “MEA, like India and many other markets, are mobile first markets with your mobile number being the primary identifier and Truecaller has…

Almost 70% of all homeowners in South Africa are women – either buying property on their own or jointly with men – with more opting to do so alone than ever before. Furthermore, among those women applying for home loans, it is buyers under the age of 40 who are leading the charge, says Bradd Bendall, BetterBond’s National Head of Sales. “BetterBond’s data shows that the percentage of home loan applications submitted by women has climbed from 36% in 2016 to nearly 42% a decade later,” says Bendall. “What’s particularly noteworthy is that younger women lead the way when it…

e-Qwip, an innovative new equipment solution, is set to revolutionise the mining and construction sector, offering rebuilt Caterpillar 777 trucks at a fraction of the new price, with a 24-month CAT warranty. The new market player forms part of Barloworld and offers OEM-aligned lifecycle solutions aimed at Caterpillar fleet owners who are looking for value, reliability and peace-of-mind, with proven Caterpillar performance. The e-Qwip offering fills an enormous need in the construction-equipment market, initially focused on the iconic CAT 777 dump trucks. The company’s rebuild process involves the complete teardown of the pre-owned machine to its frame, followed by a…

The first-generation S60 debuted in 2000, introducing Volvo’s new design language, sportier driving dynamics, and cutting-edge safety features. With nearly 600,000 units produced, it became a global success, challenging perceptions of what a Volvo could be. The S60 R set a new benchmark for Volvo performance, a spirit that continues today in the T8 Recharge plug-in hybrids. 2025 is a significant year for the 60 series of the Volvo lineup, with the original S60 sedan celebrating its 25th anniversary. Unveiled in 2000, the svelte, Peter Horbury-designed executive sedan combined Volvo’s signature safety with a more driver-focused appeal, taking the fight…

High-potential tech startups supported by Telkom FutureMakers and Aions Creative Technology   are gaining the operational support, strategic insight and hands-on mentoring needed to move beyond survival mode and into scalable, investable growth. “This partnership is about cultivating a new generation of scalable, investable tech businesses,” says Tshepo Phetla, Head of Business Development at Telkom. “We’re seeing first-hand how the right interventions can fuel success, especially for young, black and women-led enterprises.” Unlike traditional investors, Aions embeds itself in the businesses it supports. From refining go-to-market strategies to strengthening back-end infrastructure, its approach is focused on long-term value creation, not quick…

Jacaranda FM is proud to announce the return of its award-winning women’s empowerment campaign, Her Perfect Pitch, for its fourth consecutive year. With a powerful new theme, Unlock the Next Level, this initiative continues to spotlight inspiring, women-led businesses across South Africa, offering them the exposure, mentorship, and support to achieve real business growth. Launched to coincide with Women’s Month, Her Perfect Pitch 2025 invites female entrepreneurs to enter for a chance to win R500 000 worth of advertising on Jacaranda FM, a comprehensive package that includes the conceptualisation, professional production, and creation of a dedicated radio advert, alongside extensive digital amplification across Jacaranda FM’s platforms.…

Huawei South Africa has opened applications for the highly anticipated 2025 edition of the Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme, set to take place from 27 to 29 August in Johannesburg. Now in its fourth year, this flagship programme is designed for women entrepreneurs and professionals who are building businesses and actively looking for ways to grow, adapt and lead in a digital world. As artificial intelligence and digital technology reshape industries, this three-day experience offers women the tools, insights and networks to stay competitive, and scale with confidence. This year’s theme, TechHERpreneur: Where Innovation Meets Ambition, highlights the…

South Africa’s new Digital News Transformation Fund has announced the appointment of its inaugural Board, comprised of a diverse group of respected media leaders. The Board is tasked with steering South Africa’s new R114 million initiative to strengthen the country’s qualifying independent publishers, including community and local-language outlets. The Fund is a partnership between Google and the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP), independently administered by Tshikululu Social Investments. The inaugural Board will provide strategic direction, ensure transparent governance, and uphold the Fund’s public interest mandate as it prepares to launch its first call for proposals in August. The appointment of…

This year marks a major milestone for iStore, South Africa’s dedicated Apple Premium Partner, as it celebrates two decades of retail excellence. Since opening its doors in 2005, iStore has had a deep passion for bringing the very best of Apple to all South Africans in a way that Apple intended – the best possible customer experience and a “best in world” Apple environment. Customer experience is the DNA of Apple, and from Day 1, iStore has passionately endeavored to extend that Apple experience into our customers’ hands. As much as Apple products ensure customers can get the most out…

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the availability of its latest foldable smartphones, Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7 and Galaxy Z Flip7 FE (Galaxy Z7 series), and its new Galaxy Watch8 series. Galaxy Z Fold7 brings Galaxy advancements together and broadens their scope, delivering the Ultra experience in the thinnest, lightest and most advanced foldable yet. It offers immersive, high-octane performance on an expansive screen, empowering you to game, stream, connect and create all at once. Galaxy’s true AI companion experience has also been optimised for the foldable format, enabling fluid interactions across more apps and the larger screen. And…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has uncovered that board members at the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (merSETA) were paid a staggering R6.29 million in the 2023/24 financial year, with the chairperson alone earning R924,000, making it one of the most expensive boards in the SETA system. Matlhodi Maseko MP, DA Spokesperson on Higher Education, stated: “This is a blatant misuse of public funds. While students struggle with NSFAS delays and unemployment, politically connected individuals are enriching themselves through inflated SETA salaries.” The DA can confirm that Gwede Mantashe’s son was set to be deployed to this board before the party intervened to expose the ANC’s cadre…

DFA is nearing the completion of the first phase of its national network upgrade and future-proofing project and has begun installing new services and migrating existing customer services onto this upgraded infrastructure from July 2025. This upgrade, which started in 2023 and has cost in excess of R800 million to date, comes at a time when South Africa is seeing a rapid evolution in technology adoption. This evolution is driving demand for faster, more robust and scalable fibre networks. “While we’ve experienced challenges as a result of increased service interruptions and some infrastructure fatigue in recent years, this ongoing investment…

Children today are surrounded by digital devices from birth, and many can’t imagine life without them. Kaspersky research* findings show that 40% of children surveyed from South Africa would like to become bloggers in the future. The seriousness of their intentions is evidenced by the fact that 23% of them are already developing their own blog or working on content for the future.  A dream of becoming popular is appealing for young people – 38% of children surveyed locally named it when explaining their wish to become a blogger. 46% of young respondents said that they simply enjoy creating video…

For Sasha Maharajh, Project Architect at BPAS, architecture was not a childhood dream but a discovery – one she made after a detour through studying a BA in psychology. She quickly discovered that it was not for her and embarked on a draughting course instead. “I started working in a small practice where I began to love the profession,” she says. The experience gave her new insight into how people engage and respond to spaces. Today, she’s driven by a deep belief that buildings should do more than meet a brief. They should evoke emotion, invite reflection, and serve the people…

In an era marked by growing public scrutiny of institutions and an urgent call for ethical and accountable governance, the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) continues to distinguish itself as a benchmark for excellence within the public sector. CHIETA is pleased to announce that it has attained a clean audit outcome and a 100% performance rating for the third consecutive year, an exceptional achievement that underscores its steadfast commitment to integrity, operational excellence, and the advancement of South Africa’s national development agenda. This milestone, validated by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), reflects CHIETA’s unwavering commitment to clean…

Flood, a category-defining SuperApp-as-a-Service platform, has raised as further $2.5 million in seed funding to expand its operations. The funds, backed by CRE.vc and leading angel investors, follow a successful $1 million round in July 2024, and will be used to accelerate market entry and expand Flood’s partnerships with telcos and challenger banks while supporting the rapid onboarding of thousands of offline merchants. Founded by serial entrepreneur André de Wet, Flood has rapidly gained traction in essential markets that include South Africa, India, and the Maldives, and is set to officially launch across a range of markets later this year.…

Universal healthcare is a goal no South African would dispute, but how we achieve it is fast becoming one of the country’s most urgent and polarised policy challenges. At a recent Business Day TV roundtable hosted by Profmed, healthcare, finance, and policy leaders came together to debate the economic and structural realities of the NHI Act, which has been signed into law. For Craig Comrie, CEO of Profmed, the conversation must start with the health consumer. “We saw 75% of respondents in our 2025 State of Health Report believe the NHI will worsen healthcare access. And 90% have little or…

South African travel-focused fintech TurnStay has raised $2 million (over R34 million) in a seed round led by First Circle Capital, with participation from leading US and African VCs including  TLCom Capital, Enza Capital, Incisive Ventures, CVVC, and Equitable Ventures.  The round will fuel TurnStay’s rapid expansion across African markets and enhance its fintech infrastructure for travel and tourism operators. Founded by fintech tech veterans Alon Stern (ex-Prodigy Finance) and James Hedley (co-founder of Quicket, acquired by Ticketmaster), TurnStay is tackling the systemic inefficiencies in Africa’s travel space.  TurnStay addresses a structural challenge in African tourism: high transaction costs, failed international payments, and delays in settlement that impact…

In an ambitious effort to scale access to software engineering education for underserved communities, WeThinkCode_ has partnered with South Cape TVET College to support a cohort of 30 students at the Hessequa Campus in Riversdale. This initiative, backed by the DG Murray Trust and the Caterpillar Foundation, marks a critical step in WeThinkCode_’s broader strategy to replicate its innovative training model across South Africa. “WeThinkCode_ has long been committed to making software engineering education accessible to all, and partnering with South Cape TVET College allows us to refine how we support students in rural settings,” says Ruvimbo Gwatirisa, Director of Public…