Author: Staff Writer

DNI, a privately owned South African investment company, has announced investments exceeding R2.1 billion across connectivity, digital services, and fintech, expanding access to the tools and services that empower meaningful participation in the digital economy and drive greater financial inclusion for millions of people. The investments span Frogfoot, Vox and Hypa, Mission Mobile, and KnowRoaming, bringing complementary capabilities in fibre infrastructure, affordable device access, and eSIM services into one connected strategy. Together, these businesses expand on DNI’s investment strategy backing founder-led companies with deep sector expertise, to support their growth and create opportunities for collaboration and long-term value within the…

Sanlam is the highest-ranked South African company in the TIME World’s Best Companies 2026, published on 9 September 2026, climbing 321 places since 2025. A total of 1,000 companies from around the world are recognised and ranked by TIME each year for their performance and contribution to shaping the future of business. Compiled in partnership with Statista, companies are evaluated across three equally weighted dimensions: employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability performance (ESG). Sanlam’s global ranking of 388th is up from 709th in 2025. CEO Paul Hanratty says: “At Sanlam, our purpose is to empower generations to be financially confident, secure…

Airnergize Capital, the clean technology investment platform of New GX Capital, has confirmed the final close of Fund I at R3.89 billion, with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) committing R240 million as lead development finance institution. Airnergize Capital invests institutional and development capital into energy, water and gas infrastructure businesses across Southern and broader Africa. The platform is black-owned and controlled, and invests for measurable environmental and social outcomes alongside commercial returns. The Fund I investor group comprises New GX Capital, RMB Ventures, Standard Bank, Nedbank and the DBSA — a register that places South Africa’s major commercial…

Most of us work towards next week, next month or, at a stretch, next year’s targets. Pieter de Bod has to think about 2046. Every time a barrel of fresh distillate is laid down at KWV, a series of decisions begins that may only be fully judged when the liquid reaches a consumer 10, 15 or 20 years later. By then, the market will have changed, drinking habits may have shifted and some of the people responsible for making that brandy may no longer be working in the cellar. For de Bod, KWV’s Brandy Master, thinking that far ahead is…

The headline data has been uneven. But in currency, tourism and property, the forward indicators are pointing the same way, and the businesses that plan for it now are the ones likely to bank it. South Africa enters the final quarter of 2026 on data that refuses to tell a single story. The economy contracted by 0.2% in the second quarter, ending six consecutive quarters of growth. Brent crude is near $100 a barrel, container backlogs at Durban have pushed offshore waiting times into double digits, and the repo rate has sat at 7% since May. Yet in three sectors…

Digital Parks Africa (DPA), the data centre business in association with the Master Power Technologies Group, is expanding into West Africa with the development of a new carrier-neutral data centre in Lagos, Nigeria. This move strengthens DPA’s investment in the digital infrastructure needed to support Africa’s growing connected economy. Nigeria Data Centre 1 (NDC1) is part of the DPA portfolio and is developed for a market where businesses, Financial Institutions, Banking sector, Cloud providers, and Connectivity providers require infrastructure that is ultra reliable, resilient, flexible and geographically close to the markets they service. The investment provides businesses with a stronger…

The Takealot Group, in partnership with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), has launched the 2026 Takealot TIA Local Innovation Challenge, publicly known as ‘Made Local’, a 10-week hybrid accelerator programme designed to help existing Takealot sellers who manufacture locally unlock their growth potential through specialised e-commerce training, mentoring and practical experience. The initiative connects 20 shortlisted entrepreneurs with expert-led training, high-level mentorship, and an opportunity to grow their businesses, increase their sales and reach millions of shoppers across South Africa through the Takealot Marketplace. South Africa has a wealth of innovative, locally manufactured products, with many entrepreneurs already building businesses…

More than half of South African small businesses are now using AI tools daily or weekly, but many are still struggling to understand where the technology fits into their operations. Xero’s 2026 State of South African Small Business report found that 52% are using AI tools daily or weekly, while 56% want more support understanding how AI fits their specific operations. A further 34% say they feel overwhelmed by the amount of information about AI. The findings suggest that the next stage of AI adoption may be less about convincing businesses to use the technology and more about helping them…

Disney+ announced that it has introduced a new Disney+ app in South Africa, offering new features and updates for customers. The new app brings more personalised recommendations, an enhanced viewing experience and new parental controls, while continuing to offer the same great content customers already enjoy. What customers can expect  Disney+ customers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in using their existing account credentials. On-screen prompts will guide them through account confirmation and profile setup. Customers will continue to enjoy the same great content they know and love on Disney+, including stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel,…

As South Africa’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market continues its rapid growth, the next challenge may no longer be affordability, but consumer confidence in the long-term economics of ownership, according to Investec Sustainable Solutions. South Africa’s NEV market has evolved from a niche category into a growing part of the automotive landscape. According to Naamsa, NEV sales in 2026 to date reached 16,289 units, an 88% increase compared with the corresponding period in 2025. This is already equivalent to 97.5% of total NEV sales recorded during all of 2025. “When South Africans talk about electric vehicles, the conversation tends to…

Vodafone Business has joined forces with Cassava Technologies to announce a strategic partnership that will launch Egypt’s first national Artificial Intelligence (AI) factory. This sovereign AI infrastructure is designed to operate diverse AI applications and use cases locally, marking a monumental leap toward establishing Egypt as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and advanced digital technology. By leveraging NVIDIA accelerated computing technologies through Vodafone’s collaboration with Cassava—the first NVIDIA cloud partner in Africa—the initiative significantly enhances the country’s ability to host and process data internally, ensuring that critical digital assets remain under local governance. Commenting on the collaboration, Mahmoud El-Khatib, Vice…

South African companies distributed approximately R110 billion in dividends during Q2 2026 according to the latest DivInsight Report from Computershare. The global financial services company said that total dividend payments during Q2 2026 were 31.4% lower than during Q2 2025. However, the company also underlined that Q2 2025 payments (R160 billion) were exceptionally high. Dividend payments during the first half of 2026 were the strongest recorded during the last 10 years. Bennie van der Westhuizen, Chief Executive Officer Computershare South Africa, said: “South African dividend payments remained high in Q2 2026. “This is even more significant given the exceptional quarter…

The University of Johannesburg (UJ), in partnership with Barloworld, has unveiled a new Science Centre in one of Limpopo’s remotest and under-resourced schools, giving hope to underprivileged learners. The state-of-the-art Science Centre was officially opened at Hanyani Secondary School, a feeder school serving several villages in the Tshipise district and surrounding areas between Thohoyandou and Musina on Monday, 7 September 2026. Transformative Societal Impact This marks another milestone in the University’s transformative Societal Impact project by addressing critical infrastructure needs for communities. The project, which started in 2014, spans several villages that includes Gwakwani, Matatani and Mbodi. Residents which have…

The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has announced a major executive leadership shake-up, appointing three seasoned professionals to its Executive Committee as part of a drive to stabilise the organisation and overhaul its operational capability. Effective 01 September 2026, the appointments mark a significant step in SITA’s ongoing programme of organisational renewal. The new executives bring substantial expertise in technical leadership, commercial strategy, governance, and stakeholder management to the public-sector ICT giant. The newly appointed executives are Phumzile Njoko (Executive: Supply Chain Management), Gabaiphiwe Tabane (Executive: Client Engagement), and Bongumusa Kumalo (Executive: Network, Cloud and Platforms). Their arrival is part of deliberate efforts…

AS the southern hemisphere starts the growing season, there is also a spring into action with electric vehicles, as evidenced by the large showcase at the Festival of Motoring. A total of 19 battery-electric vehicle (EV) models from 12 different brands were showcased at the event. The result was the widest range of EV models ever assembled at a single local motor show. “The showdown of current and future models is a reality check,” says Hiten Parmar, Executive Director of The Electric Mission. “It is both an indication of the growth of the EV industry, and also shows the growing…

iOCO today announced a collaboration with Cato Networks that expands its managed security portfolio with Cato’s unified, cloud-native SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) platform. This service addresses the needs of enterprises in South Africa facing rising cyber risk, growing AI adoption, and increasingly complex hybrid and cloud environments. The collaboration builds on iOCO’s existing Zero Trust and managed cybersecurity operations for enterprise customers. Through the offering, iOCO will support them with advisory and architectureservices, through migration and integration to security operations and optimisation, so they do not have to build and staff the capability in-house. Cato brings networking and security…

Huawei South Africa completed the sixth edition of the Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme, giving a cohort of 50 women three days of practical exposure in AI, cloud computing, 5G-Advanced, and emerging technologies. Held under the theme “HERabytes: Small Business. Big Intelligence,” this year’s group included women business owners and government leaders from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL), and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD). The programme focused on helping participants understand Artificial Intelligence and how it can be deployed to solve business challenges,…

Range Rover, the original luxury SUV, is now available with electric propulsion, heralding a new era of enhanced refinement and capability. Built in Solihull – the home of Range Rover since 1970 – the first ever electric Range Rover marks a major milestone for the brand. Quieter, more effortless, more responsive, and with more torque than any Range Rover to date, Range Rover Electric combines peerless design with exceptional refinement and breathtaking modernity. Electric propulsion enhances Range Rover’s inherent characteristics of effortless performance, timeless luxury and uncompromising capability, with a reduction in cabin noise. Seamlessly integrating electric propulsion into a…

The South African fibre landscape is currently dominated by noise, from the arrival of LEO satellites to infrastructure operators launching their own retail ISPs. Trevor van Zyl, CEO of Octotel, says the focus must shift from simply laying cable to solving complex, modern connectivity problems. “The industry is entering a fundamentally different phase,” says van Zyl. “The first ten years were about building a network that didn’t exist. The next ten must be about building products, solutions, and systems that don’t exist yet.” Finding more value in existing networks Van Zyl believes there is still significant growth to be extracted…

WIOCC Group, Africa’s leading carrier-neutral digital infrastructure platform, today announced the signing of a Shareholder Subscription Agreement (SSA) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Vision International Investment Company (Vision Invest), through which the two investors will make a combined US $300 million investment in the company. Signed at the LEAP 2026 Global Technology exhibition in Riyadh, the agreement represents a significant milestone in WIOCC Group’s growth journey, supporting its mission to build and operate open-access, critical infrastructure across Africa and to strengthen the digital ecosystems that underpin Africa’s economic transformation. ‘The Africa we build must be connected, competitive and equipped to…

Capitec is intensifying its fraud prevention efforts, by deploying advanced intelligent systems to outpace emerging threats. Its latest wave of innovations includes an intelligent payment screening system that protected 113,410 clients from losing more than R699 million to fraud between July 2025 and June 2026. Across personal and business banking, Capitec protects 26 million clients by using a broad set of tools – with more on the way. In the past year, Capitec has identified and blocked over 131 000 suspicious beneficiary accounts, including 64 000 mule accounts and warned clients against more than 394 000 scam payments. Before an…

South Africa’s new vehicle market sustained strong momentum in August 2026, with aggregate sales increasing by 11.4% year-on-year to 57,898 units. This growth was driven by robust demand in the passenger car and light commercial vehicle segments, signaling resilient consumer confidence despite a complex macroeconomic environment. However, the positive domestic picture was contrasted by a decline in exports. Vehicle exports dropped by 11.9% to 35,091 units in August, reinforcing the urgent need to strengthen industrial competitiveness and translate improving domestic demand into local production, investment, and employment. NEV Adoption Accelerates with Diverse Technology Pathways The adoption of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs)…

Capitec Limited previously known as Capitec Bank Holdings Limited (market cap: R540 billion), has received approval for a secondary listing on A2X Markets. Capitec ordinary shares will be available for trade on A2X from Monday, 7 September 2026. The secondary listing on A2X is expected to broaden investor access to Capitec’s ordinary shares by providing an additional regulated trading venue, thereby enhancing shareholder choice and supporting liquidity in the Company’s ordinary shares. Capitec will retain its primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and its issued share capital will remain unchanged. Grant Hardy, Chief Financial Officer of Capitec, said, “Our…

Growthpoint Properties has completed phase one of its R75 million redevelopment of Walmer Park Shopping Centre in Gqeberha, welcoming several new and distinctive brands to the centre. The full redevelopment of the landmark Eastern Cape shopping centre remains on track for completion in November 2026, ahead of the busy festive trading period. The milestone marks a significant step in Growthpoint’s reinvestment in this high-performing South African retail asset and underscores Walmer Park’s continued evolution as Gqeberha’s leading retail destination. Gavin Jones, Head of Retail Asset Management at Growthpoint Properties, says: “Walmer Park has consistently demonstrated the trading resilience and tenant…

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City has concluded its first power purchase agreements as it buys up to a total of 200MW from independent producers at cheaper rates than Eskom. Cape Town is the first South African city to reduce Eskom reliance by buying power on the open market as the metro works to secure more affordable power sources for Capetonians. The City today marked the conclusion of two power purchase agreements worth 70MW, with more to follow in the coming months under a competitive tendering process for up to 200MW. The 20-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are…