Author: Staff Writer

Dwyka Mining Services today launched Boston Dynamics’ Spot Enterprise robot to the South African market as an authorised reseller of the technology. Spot is an agile mobile robot designed to navigate all types of terrain, allowing for organisations to automate routine inspection tasks, capture data securely and safely, and allow for streamlined operations in complex and dangerous environments. In collaboration with Dwyka Mining Services and Deep Tech Solutions, Spot is available for purchase as of November 2021 in South Africa. “Spot is designed to ensure safer, more efficient and more predictable operations across different environments and requirements. We are excited…

Open-source intelligence company VoxCroft Analytics raised close to $2 million or R31.3 million in Series-A funding from Knife Capital. This investment will expedite the already rapid expansion of U.S. and international initiatives in open-source intelligence and analytics. VoxCroft Analytics is a global leader in open-source intelligence and risk analytics that leverages cutting edge technology and machine learning in tandem with a global network of analysts, linguists, cultural experts, security professionals, and policy experts to discover unique data points and critical patterns and to deliver reliable information and analysis at unmatched speed and scale.  “VoxCroft Analytics is excited to work with…

Available now, the all-new MyMTN Sky Bronze, MyMTN Sky Silver, MyMTN Sky Gold and MyMTN Sky Platinum packages offers customers unlimited MTN-to-MTN calling on selected price plans, All-net minutes, Anytime premium data, International calling, Hello World Roaming bundles and 400 SMSs per day along with bespoke lifestyle benefits and signature experiences. “Our new MyMTN Sky packages are for our customers who spend a lot of time on their phones and are looking for innovative solutions that offer premium lifestyle benefits. It’s about going above and beyond what customers have come to expect from their mobile service providers and offering maximum…

Wits University is leading efforts to develop low-cost, long-range free-space optics that can connect informal settlement communities to high-speed internet. Imagine beaming light from a fibre-connected suburban home to a 3D-printed wireless communication system to a school in an informal settlement across the road, providing learners with instant high-speed, reliable internet access. This is how the new Optical Communications Laboratory (OC Lab) in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg plans to bridge the peri-urban digital divide in South Africa. A two-year project is underway to demonstrate the use of wireless optical technologies to provide flexible and rapidly deployable…

Bongi Ngoma, national head of audit (and previously CFO) of the Auditor-General of South Africa, has been named South Africa’s CFO of the Year at the 2021 CFO Awards. The CFO of the Year was announced on Wednesday 17 November at the conclusion of the annual gala event for finance executives, held at the spectacular Polo Room at the Inanda Club in Sandton, Johannesburg. Bongi was the big winner during the “Oscars for finance executives”, which celebrated its eighth edition this year. She walked away with three out of ten prizes, including the CFO of the Year, the Public Sector…

To enable digital transformation powered by Africans for Africa, Microsoft is doubling down on its investment in the continent with the establishment of the Africa Transformation Office (ATO), led by managing director Wael Elkabbany. Under Elkabbany’s leadership, the ATO will partner with public and private organisations to empower millions of Africans and foster economic prosperity. Elkabbany moves from leading enterprise sales for the company across the Middle East and Africa, and previously held roles at British Telecom and other leading businesses in the region. Hailing from Egypt, he holds a B.Sc. in communication engineering, and postgraduate studies in corporate governance,…

Cryptocurrency as a form of legal tender could be coming to the African country of Zimbabwe in the near future, with reports claiming that the country has started to look into how digital currency can be used as a legal payment service. The claims are said to have come from a senior official, with the country said to be considering utilizing Bitcoin (BTC) as a legal payment option to help meet the growing demand that is being felt by the country’s wider population. According to retired Brigadier Colonel Charles Wekwete, who is the permanent secretary and head of the office…

South African payments company Ozow has attracted Tencent, a world-leading internet and technology company, in its $48 million or R747 million Series B funding round. The investment round also includes Endeavor Catalyst and Endeavor Harvest Fund. Notably, Endeavor Catalyst’s investment committee approval was chaired by partner of Greylock, and co-founder and former executive chairman of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman. The latest fundraising will support Ozow’s efforts to transform the banking ecosystem and create greater financial access for the underbanked. It will also assist Ozow in cementing its position as one of the leading payment providers on the continent. Ozow has become…

MTN SA announced today it has finalised a passive tower infrastructure transaction with IHS Towers. MTN Group said the agreement with IHS Towers has been reached following a lengthy competitive process. The IHS Towers transaction will entail the sale and leaseback of 5 709 of MTN SA’s towers – comprising approximately 4 000 greenfield and 1 700 rooftop sites. The deal will also include the outsourcing of power and related services (power as a service, or PaaS) across the entire MTN SA site footprint of approximately 12 800 – thus incorporating an additional 7 100 third-party sites. The offer value…

Huawei and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) has kicked off the 2021 edition of their Seeds for the Future course, aimed at preparing ICT students for the future of work. Now in its sixth year, the course aims to inspire local talent, enhance knowledge sharing, promote a greater understanding of and interest in the ICT sector, and encourage participation in the digital community. In addition to courses on latest technologies of 5G, Cloud, AI and IoT, students are also introduced to Chinese culture and language, which aims to foster a cross cultural understanding. In this year’s curriculum,…