Author: Staff Writer
South African innovation catalyst and investment platform, Innovation Edge, has launched a call for bold solutions to increase positive involvement by South African fathers and father figures in the early years of their children’s lives. Selected applicants will be supported to pitch their solutions to the Innovation Edge Investment Committee. Successful ventures will receive up to R1.3 million each in grant funding, strategic coaching, customised operational support and connections to social capital. The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2021. Research[1] shows that when a child has an active and positive father or father figure in their lives, they benefit in…
Telkom’s ongoing innovation focus has seen the organisation training and hiring dozens of data scientists across its operations, applying the power of data to solve organisational and societal problems – revolutionising efficiencies at the telco, and boosting the services it can offer clients. Women data scientists are at the vanguard of this drive, bringing their skills to bear on the diversified company’s innovative, digital-first focus. The data science revolution has also been an opportunity to drive Telkom’s Female Leadership Development Programme (FLDP), creating opportunities for dozens of women across the organisation with wide experience across adjacent sectors. Ops specialist: data…
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has suspended the exchange licence of ZAR X effective from 16:00 on Friday, 20 August 2021. “We don’t take this regulatory action lightly, given its impact. Our view however, is that this is a necessary step to safeguard market integrity and the interest of issuers and the broader investing public,” FSCA Commissioner, Unathi Kamlana says. “This is the cornerstone of our mandate as the FSCA” ZAR X is allowed to operate as an exchange to give effect to transactions in progress or otherwise not finalised at the date of suspension, but may not allow…
MTN Group today announced the appointment of Burak Akinci as CEO of Simfy (Ayoba), reporting to MTN Group Chief Digital and Fintech Officer Serigne Dioum and responsible for the super app Ayoba. Effective 1 September 2021, Burak joins Africa’s leading mobile operator from Turkcell, where he was CEO of BiP, an instant messaging platform with millions of users across 192 countries. “We are thrilled that an executive of Burak’s calibre is joining us. His appointment accelerates our work to build the largest and most valuable platforms as we target greater digital and financial inclusion across the continent,” said Dioum. Burak,…
Shoprite is the first South African retailer to launch an instant electronic funds transfer (EFT) service. The EFT service enables customers to instantly send vouchers to another person in just three simple steps. Senders only need to enter the recipient’s mobile number and the amount they wish to pay. There is no need to download an app in order to transfer funds. Shoprite, in partnership with Ozow, developed this new service in record time in response to the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng – a safe and reliable way for customers to instantly send vouchers to others. To access…
South African rapper, songwriter and actor Big Zulu is set to release 10 tracks from his forthcoming album exclusively on the newly-launched streaming music app, Telkom Music powered by JOOX. This new body of work entitled ‘Ichwane Lenyoka’ by the isiZulu-speaking lyricist is expected to drop on Friday, 27 August 2021 and for some time, will only be available for download or streaming on the all-new, exciting music app hailed for data-saving. Big Zulu, whose real name is Siyabonga Nene, explained: “I’m thrilled! For me the synergy is clear: I want to make simple but good music that people can relate…
Enrolments for the 2021-2022 academic year are now open worldwide, including South Africa, for University of the People – the first non-profit, tuition-free, American-accredited online university. Open to all qualified applicants, the university offers affordable, accessible, quality higher education opportunities, helping the ‘missing middle student demographic’ overcome financial, geographic, political and personal constraints keeping them from tertiary education studies and, ultimately, from better employment opportunities. In South Africa, approximately 1.4 million individuals have completed secondary education but have been unable to enrol in a bachelor’s degree programme due to limited seats or financial constraints. These missing middle students are those…
With the high mortality rate of owls and, as one of the most common wildlife casualties brought into veterinary practices, MTN is launching a conservation partnership with the Owl Rescue Centre to provide safe homes for owls nesting in MTN towers. Today’s launch of the #OwlNetwork project is aimed at securing urban homes for Barn Owls and will see 100 boxes installed in network towers. MTN Barn Owl boxes are being made from recycled materials and the little houses will be installed in high-density areas across Johannesburg North and West, with the other provinces to follow. “MTN has a responsibility…
South Africa recently witnessed civil unrest that led to the destruction of infrastructure, looting, and violence that severely impacted many small and medium businesses and informal traders in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Telkom has heeded the call to help clean up, rebuild, and grow SA by launching the SME Relief Project. The Telkom SME Relief fund, currently valued at R10 million, is aimed at providing aid to small business owners to rebuild their businesses and to urge South Africans and the private sector to rally behind SMEs. Small enterprises are crucial to SA’s economic growth and employ between 50%…
More than 100 women entrepreneurs have attended the first segment of Huawei South Africa’s Women4Tech digital skills training programme. By the end of the programme, Huawei aims to help women headed SMMEs advance their skills and help them use new technologies to grow, improve, and digitise their businesses. The cloud segment of the training kicked off with an introduction to cloud computing by Michael Langeveld, vice president Huawei Cloud Southern Africa. “Cloud computing is simply a big company taking care of servers in one location and providing capacity as people need them,” he said. He also explained the different types…