Author: Staff Writer
Vodacom Business has partnered with the Strategic Water Partners Network (SWPN) to tackle Gauteng’s worsening water security challenges. The collaboration will leverage digital solutions to improve water management and ensure sustainable supply in the region. A central feature of this initiative is the Digital Water Tower, an innovative platform developed with Mezzanine to support water suppliers, municipalities, and consumers. By integrating geospatial consumption data, network topology maps, and demand reports, the solution aims to cut water losses and optimise supply efficiency. “Our commitment to digital transformation extends beyond connectivity – we believe in using our technology capabilities to drive sustainable impact,” says Videsha…
South Africa’s job market is transforming—fast. With unemployment high and the gig economy rising, workers are racing to future-proof their careers through digital upskilling. Leading this charge is TelkomLearn, where registrations have skyrocketed as thousands embrace free, accredited courses to stay competitive. Why TelkomLearn? What makes TelkomLearn stand out? Powerhouse collaborations with Google, IBM, HP, Alibaba Cloud, and Duke Corporate Education. These alliances deliver nearly 100 NQF and globally accredited courses, many completely free, democratising access to world-class digital education. “The courses equip learners with in-demand skills while sparking creative and critical thinking. We’re thrilled by the uptake and completion rates,” says Dr. Mmaki Jantjies, Telkom’s Group Executive…
Volvo’s flagship all-electric SUV, the EX90, has been shortlisted for the 2025 World Luxury Car of the Year award, ahead of its South African launch in Q2. The seven-seater luxury EV is one of three finalists vying for the prestigious title, having also been nominated in the 2025 World Electric Vehicle category. To qualify, vehicles must be priced as luxury models in key markets, available on at least two continents between January 2024 and March 2025, and exceed 5,000 annual productions. “As we prepare to launch the EX90 in South Africa, we are thrilled to see our most advanced vehicle yet named a finalist,” said Felipe Yagi, Head…
“We’ve always believed that South Africa deserves world-class retail experiences,” says Anthony Thunström, TFG’s Group CEO. “The opportunity to build Bash has been about more than just launching a successful platform. It’s about proving that innovation at scale is possible, that we can lead in technology, and service, while creating meaningful impact in the economy.” This bold vision sparked the birth of Bash, TFG’s digitally native business designed to reimagine how South Africans shop. Led by seasoned e-commerce entrepreneurs Luke Jedeikin and Claude Hanan, Bash has grown from an ambitious idea into South Africa’s largest omnichannel fashion and lifestyle platform…
Robert Gordon University (RGU) is spearheading a research initiative to promote gender equality in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and entrepreneurship through an inclusive program for women in South Africa. Her-AI-Path: Innovating Women through AI-preneurship aims to help women overcome key barriers in accessing vital business resources, including technical knowledge and skills, which often deter them from STEM fields. With nearly £25,000 in funding from The British Council, the project seeks to empower women from diverse backgrounds to launch successful businesses. The initiative is a collaboration with the Gordon Institute of Business and Science at the University of Pretoria, Mobile Applications Laboratory, and…
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) plans to invest $331 million in key strategic sectors in Lesotho as part of its proposed Country Strategy Paper for 2025-2030 to boost economic growth and industrial competitiveness. During an official visit to Lesotho — the first by an African Development Bank President — Dr. Akinwumi Adesina met with His Majesty King Letsie III to discuss strengthening development partnerships and expanding the Bank’s investments in the country. His Majesty expressed delight at the Bank President’s visit, viewing the mission as a reflection of the Bank and Adesina’s appreciation for Lesotho’s progress in improving people’s…
Huawei Digital Power Sub-Saharan Africa FusionSolar gathered industry partners and key stakeholders from across Sub-Saharan Africa’s Commercial & Industrial (C&I) energy sector as they released an innovative product for the market, LUNA2000-215 Series, the World’s First hybrid air & liquid cooling C&I energy storage solution (ESS). In his keynote address, Mr Xia Hesheng, President of Huawei Digital Power Sub-Saharan Africa Region, delivered a keynote focusing on the theme of “Growing and Thriving Together in the New Era of C&I”. He told delegates that this new era requires a mindset shift in how they assess the quality of the original equipment…
The rise of digital transformation, cloud adoption, and remote work has made employee cybersecurity awareness a critical priority. However, 70% of South African businesses lack even basic cybersecurity awareness, leaving them exposed to growing threats, according to Fortinet’s 2024 Security Awareness and Training Global Research Report. Doros Hadjizenonos, Regional Director at Fortinet, emphasises that awareness must go beyond simply recognizing the existence of cyber threats. “Almost everyone knows, to some degree, that cyberthreats have become pervasive. However, we need to move from a position of vague awareness to making more material gains that can help businesses,” he warns. “Cybersecurity awareness…
Trade Shield, a tech-based credit risk management solutions provider, has secured R15 million in funding from FNB’s Vumela Enterprise Development Fund, in partnership with Edge Growth. The funding will unlock growth opportunities in South Africa and globally. Since its 2023 launch, Trade Shield has shown impressive growth, strong market demand, and scalability as a SaaS-based business. Trade Shield helps businesses manage trade credit risk through automated data collection, predictive modeling, and AI-driven analytics. Its subscription-based platform provides real-time insights, enabling businesses to extend credit responsibly, boost revenue, and maintain stable debt ratios. Originally developed by Inoxico – a Vumela-backed company…
Volvo Cars is leveraging AI-generated life-like virtual worlds to advance the development of its safety software, including driver assistance systems (ADAS), with the goal of creating safer vehicles. By synthesizing incident data from advanced sensors in its cars, such as emergency braking, sharp steering, or manual interventions, Volvo can now reconstruct and explore these scenarios in new ways to better understand how to prevent accidents. This breakthrough is made possible by Gaussian splatting, an advanced computational technique that creates realistic, high-fidelity 3D scenes from real-world visuals. The virtual environment can be manipulated by adding or removing road users, altering traffic…
A user’s messaging app account might be of interest not only to jealous spouses and nosy coworkers, but also to cybercriminals. Stolen WhatsApp accounts are used for various types of criminal activity, ranging from spam distribution to sophisticated scam schemes. Cybercriminals constantly look for WhatsApp accounts and use various methods to gain access to them. There are two ways cybercriminals can gain control of a WhatsApp account: they can add another device to an existing account using the “Linked devices” feature, or they can re-register the account on their own device as if the user had bought a new phone.…
Today, Google Cloud officially celebrated the opening of its first African cloud region in Johannesburg, a significant milestone in Google’s $1 billion investment pledge to help accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. Operational since January 2024, the Johannesburg cloud region directly supports African businesses and multinational corporations operating on the African continent by providing access to cutting-edge technologies: innovative AI and machine learning, powerful data analytics, and comprehensive security solutions. This enables organizations to improve operational efficiency, build groundbreaking tools, and ultimately unlock new opportunities for growth. Google Cloud’s region builds on wider infrastructure investments into the continent. In May 2024, Google Cloud announced a…
A man experiences a medical emergency, activates his car’s autopilot, and it navigates him safely to a hospital. A woman’s smartwatch detects an irregular heartbeat, sends her an alert urging her to seek medical attention, diagnosing her with a life-threatening arrhythmia that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. An elderly man lost in the wilderness is found by a drone after three days of futile searching. Two hikers stranded on Table Mountain are saved thanks to location-sharing technology and an EMS helicopter. These aren’t movie scenes; they’re real-life examples of how technology is no longer just an enhancement—it’s a lifeline. Yet,…
Fleet management is transforming rapidly thanks to the introduction of technologies like predictive maintenance, sophisticated GPS monitoring, and even automation. The advent of these systems (and many more) has brought myriad benefits to the logistics industry, allowing for reduced operational costs, improved fuel efficiency, and—an increasingly important aspect these days—reduced environmental impact. While all these innovations have modernised fleet management, the industry will receive a push into the future, thanks to the introduction of data-driven technology, advanced telematics, and Internet of Things (IoT) equipment. According to British-Dutch oil company Shell, it is estimated that in 2028, more than 35 million trucks…
Despite a severe financial crisis, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) continues to waste money on Telkom lines instead of adopting cost-saving Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. This was revealed in an audit by the Gauteng Department of e-Government. VoIP, which converts voice into digital data transmitted over the internet, could save the province R33.9 million annually, a 91% reduction in costs. However, key departments remain resistant to the switch. The biggest offenders include: Health: R29.1 million Education: R3.2 million Social Development: R916,918 Michael Waters, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for e-Government, criticised the GPG’s reluctance, stating, “Given the financial crisis caused…
Walter Isaacson makes interesting observations about innovation in his book The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution. “But the main lesson to draw from the birth of computers is that innovation is usually a group effort, involving collaboration between visionaries and engineers and that creativity comes from drawing on many sources,” writes Isaacson. He adds: “Only in storybooks do inventions come like a thunderbolt, or a lightbulb popping out of the head of a lone individual in a basement or garret or garage.” Why invoke Isaacson’s words? Simply because South Africa’s recent celebration of…
The single most powerful way to empower tens of millions of South Africans quickly is to drive down the cost of smart devices and get cheap, reliable broadband into their hands. The ability to participate in e-commerce, remote work, online education and digital financial services creates a world of opportunity currently closed to the poor and unemployed, writes Solly Malatsi. Malatsi, minister of communications & digital technologies, writing in the Sunday Times stated that it was his mission to change that by opening wide a path to a digital future for every South African, from the most remote rural area…
A Vereeniging-based metal castings producer, Yellow Star Manufacturing (YSM), allegedly paid R14 million a year in bribes to Emfuleni municipal employees to secure an illegal electricity connection and tamper with meter readings, according to explosive claims by its former CEO, Andries Mar Sunday Times reports that the illicit arrangement reportedly saved YSM, a supplier to major mining and steel firms, millions of rand monthly, slashing its power bill by half. The scheme was so audacious that a transformer was allegedly stolen from an Eskom depot in the Free State and installed on YSM’s premises. Sunday Times reported that this alleged…
As South Africa faces a persistently high unemployment rate, with 35% of women unemployed in the last quarter of 2024, global mobility leader inDrive is stepping up to drive meaningful change. With a mission to impact 1 billion people globally by challenging injustice, inDrive is committed to increasing female representation in South Africa’s e-hailing industry and creating economic opportunities for women. This International Women’s Month, inDrive is taking a bold step toward inclusivity by setting a target to onboard over 400 female drivers in Cape Town. This initiative aims to create more earning opportunities for women while addressing the growing…
South African young scientists are set to showcase their innovative research on the global stage, competing in the environmental science and computer science categories at this year’s International Festival of Engineering, Science and Technology in Tunisia (I-FEST²). Eskom Expo International Science Fair 2024 Gold medal recipients, Hamzah Ismail and Vibhav Ramdas, both Grade 12 learners at St Dominics Newcastle School in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, earned their opportunities to showcase their research projects at the I-FEST² from 21 to 27 March 2025 following a nomination by a panel of academics and professionals at the Eskom Expo. The learners will be accompanied on the trip by Eskom Expo’s Dr Kenneth Kaunda…
Many consumers are unaware of the differences between a conventional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, commonly called a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). In short, PHEVs provide the best of a traditional combustion-engined vehicle and a fully electric car. Equipped with an electric motor and sizeable battery pack, they can travel reasonable distances on electric power alone and even be charged like an EV. However, when charging isn’t possible, they can rely on the combustion engine for longer-distance travel. That sounds great, but what are the actual benefits? PHEVs offer significantly lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions, benefiting your budget…
Eskom has announced the suspension of loadshedding effective today at 10:00, following the recovery of over 3,000MW of generation capacity and the replenishment of sufficient emergency reserves over the past 44 hours. In a statement, Eskom confirmed that coal operations at Kusile Power Station have reached optimal levels, with all units that were offline as of Friday now back in service. Additionally, progress on the recovery of Koeberg Unit 2 is well underway, with Eskom reassuring the public that the unit remains safe. The utility emphasized that planned maintenance outages, aimed at preparing for winter and meeting regulatory and environmental…
Eskom has announced that Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from today at 14:00 until Monday, 10 March 2025 at 05:00. This decision comes after a loss of 2700MW in the past 14 hours. This includes Koeberg Unit 2, which was taken offline after being brought back on Wednesday, and two Kusile Units whose coal operations went sub-optimal following adverse weather in the area. Higher levels of planned maintenance outages, aimed at winter preparation and meeting regulatory and environmental licensing requirements are still underway. The constrained capacity resulted in the increased reliance on emergency reserves during this week, which makes…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has lodged a formal complaint with the Public Protector, demanding an urgent investigation into the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) questionable payment of over R1.8 billion to the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG). The DA’s call for action follows revelations uncovered in a response from Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, which detailed that the GDE paid a staggering R1,868,760,369.50 to MGSLG between 2019 and 2024. These funds were allegedly allocated for “cutting-edge” capacity-building programmes for school management and leadership, as well as teacher development initiatives. Shockingly, these payments continued even during…
South African startup Sensor Networks has secured a strategic partnership with Ariston, the world’s largest geyser manufacturer based in Italy. This collaboration will bring cutting-edge smart water heating solutions to South African households in 2025, marking a significant milestone for homegrown technology on the global stage. The partnership follows months of rigorous product development, refinement, and certification, culminating in the rollout of Ariston geysers integrated with Sensor Networks’ smart geyser devices across leading plumbing retailers in South Africa. This marks the first time that a locally developed smart-geyser technology has been adopted at such a scale by a global heating…