Author: Staff Writer
29 November 2024, this festive season, McDonald’s South Africa is creating joyful memories with exciting initiatives designed for families to celebrate together. From the much-anticipated return of birthday parties to unique festive installations and delicious family meals, McDonald’s is making the holidays unforgettable. Birthday Parties Are Back. McDonald’s South Africa is thrilled to reintroduce its beloved birthday party celebrations at selected restaurants. These parties promise: Happy Meals your little ones adore Fun-filled games and activities Magical decorations to create unforgettable McDonald’s themed moments. “For years, McDonald’s birthday parties have been at the heart of our family experience, and we are…
If you’ve ever been tempted to sneak a nap in your car at lunchtime and you need a fun excuse to catch some shut-eye, the answer might lie in a brand-new bot. Globally, an estimated 32.8% of adults don’t get enough sleep, and South Africans are among the world’s most sleep-deprived populations, consistently going to bed later and waking up earlier than any other nation. The gruelling long hours we spend at work don’t help either and workplace burnout keeps rising. Now, there’s a bot to help! In a creative response to this growing sleep deprivation crisis, South Africa’s first…
South Africans are preparing for the most exciting Black Friday weekend yet, but this year, it’s less about flashy impulse buys and more about smart, thoughtful shopping. Drawing from its considerable client base of over 23 million South Africans, Capitec predicts a trend of more deliberate spending, exemplified by clients spending R4 billion at the top grocery retailers last year. Francois Viviers, Executive of Marketing and Communications at Capitec says, “Gone are the days of impulse splurges. Black Friday has transformed from a one-day electronics and luxury shopping frenzy into a strategic, multi-day hunt for essential items, with grocery retailers now dominating…
In 1976, when the first South African homes lit up with television broadcasts, Hisense was a budding radio and TV company in China. Today, as South Africa’s leading proudly South African consumer electronics brand, Hisense SA is proud to announce a new milestone: the launch of the country’s first TV museum, located in the heart of Cape Town. In partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, as well as the SA Sendinggestig Museum, Hisense SA will open the interactive Tevolution Museum this November on Long Street. From the nostalgic wooden box TVs with “bunny ear” antennas…
Khoi Tech, an innovative technology company based in Soweto, is thrilled to reveal its latest product, Khoi Afripods1 True Wireless Earphones. The company said this wearable technology is set to redefine the way we interact with our devices, placing African heritage, language and aesthetics at the forefront of innovation. This is Khoi Tech’s second consumer electronics product after the success of its first offering, the Khoi Afriwatch1 health and fitness smartwatch. I n a bold move towards inclusivity, Khoi Tech has introduced the Khoi Afripods1 to reflect the heritage of South Africa. Khoi Afripods1 features all South African languages for…
The Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and Google have partnered to establish the Digital News Transformation Fund (the DNT Fund), a first-of-its-kind initiative to support the sustainability and digital transformation of small, local, and independent news publishers in South Africa through targeted project-based funding. The DNT Fund seeks to recognise the importance of local and independent news publishers in maintaining a vibrant, trusted, and diverse public interest news ecosystem, and to address the resource challenges that have impacted the ability of these publishers to plan for and embark on digital transformation initiatives. With a commitment of R114-million over three years (R38-million a year), the…
Huawei successfully launched its All-Optical Intelligent home showcase on the sidelines of the Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town. Powered by Huawei’s latest Fibre to the Room Solution (FTTR F50), it exemplifies how easily modern homes with complex layouts can achieve consistent coverage with innovative customer-friendly adhesive fibre cables. Set in the picturesque and history-rich Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, the intelligent showhouse is kitted out with a range of fibre broadband applications within a sleek contemporary South African home. More than 100 IoT devices in the home – from smart lights, speakers, kettles, cameras and sweeping robots – showcase how the FTTR…
The growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) will increase the number of EV charging stations, making it essential not to underestimate the importance of cybersecurity. William Petherbridge, systems engineering manager for Southern Africa at Fortinet, emphasises that EVs and their charging infrastructure are just as susceptible to cyberattacks as any other internet-connected technology. Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel’s Electric Vehicles White Paper presents a thorough EV roadmap for South Africa, covering aspects like local manufacturing capacity. However, there has been minimal attention given to cybersecurity concerning EVs and the necessary charging stations, according to Petherbridge. The National Association of Automobile…
Ndivhu Nepfumbada joins MAZIV as its new Group Chief Human Resources Officer (Group CHRO). She brings more than three decades of experience in human resources and a proven track record of leading transformative initiatives at prominent organisations locally and globally. “This year has been remarkable for MAZIV, and I am delighted to welcome Ndivhu to our team,” says Dietlof Mare, CEO of MAZIV. “Our mission is to unlock potential, starting within our team, and I believe Ndivhu, with her extensive experience and prominence in the industry, will help us bring our vision and new ideas to life in the coming…
The Wits MIND Institute seeks to lead Africa in pushing the frontiers of fundamental AI research and the scientific understanding of intelligence in its many forms, while developing cutting-edge technologies tailored to Africa’s unique challenges, through robust interdisciplinary collaboration. The Wits MIND Institute also explores how AI interfaces with society from an ethical and policy perspective, shaping governance and ensuring that AI development is safe, inclusive, and beneficial to all. In addition, the Wits MIND Institute will collaborate with industry partners to develop high-value, innovative technologies, including large-scale AI models with applications in drug discovery, education, business, engineering, mining, material science…
Tech plays a major role in reducing losses, particularly on high-value, high-risk loads, in South Africa, says Kamal Patel, Managing Director for South Africa at GoMetro. Trade across the African continent encompasses a broad range of primary and manufactured goods. Among these are high-value commodities, such as mineral fuels, machinery, vehicles as well as iron ore, copper and steel, that must make it safely from one destination to the next. Afreximbank’s 2024 African Trade Report shows that intra-African trade remains strong. In fact, South Africa maintained its rank as the foremost trading nation in the region, recording a total intra-African trade value…
In a first for South Africa’s property industry, buyers can now purchase real estate using cryptocurrency through secure and fully compliant transactions. This innovative solution, created by Broll Auctions and Sales, Schindlers Attorneys, and Schindlers Digital Assets, combines property, legal, and financial services into a single, streamlined offering. It allows cryptocurrency holders to convert digital assets into property ownership while ensuring compliance with the country’s financial regulations. South Africa is emerging as a leader in adopting cryptocurrency as a viable alternative to traditional payment methods, from grocery purchases to utility payments. “At Broll Auctions and Sales, we are excited to…
GirlCode, the leading South African organisation focused on empowering women through technology, is thrilled to announce a one-day summit to celebrate a decade of making a difference. The GirlCode Summit will take place on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 22 On Sloane in Bryanston, Sandton. “We are incredibly proud of the impact GirlCode has made over the past ten years,” said Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO of GirlCode. “This summit is a chance to celebrate the incredible women we’ve worked with, gain valuable industry insights, and build a network that can continue to empower women in…
Maziv chair Pieter Uys has criticised the Competition Tribunal’s decision to reject Vodacom’s proposed acquisition, describing it as a case of “justice delayed and justice denied.” In a bold statement, Uys expressed disappointment with the ruling, emphasising its implications for business growth and market competition in South Africa. The decision has sparked widespread debate, with stakeholders weighing in on its potential impact on the telecoms sector. Speaking to Business Times, Uys said the decision undermines government assurances to investors that South Africa is “open for business.” “This is not the message we want to send out to the world.…
On 11 November, during AfricaCom 2024, the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) and the South African Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) hosted a ministerial-level forum focused on building a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Africa through the development of ICT technologies. The ministers and high-level representatives of communications and digital technologies from Uganda, South Africa and Kenya, together with the ATU, have signed a joint communiqué to reaffirm their commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. They have also agreed that such action will start with ICT technologies, including the development of national cloud infrastructures to meet…
Cape Town, AfricaTech Festival -The Africa Broadband Forum 2024 (BBAF 2024) was successfully held in Cape Town, South Africa under the theme F5.5G Accelerating All-Optical Connectivity in Africa. The Forum focused on advancing fibre broadband development across Africa by fostering discussions on policy frameworks, F5.5G, technological innovation and industry best practices. Over 150 experts and industry leaders from international organisations, government agencies, and telecom operators gathered to explore strategies for expanding fibre infrastructure and enhancing connectivity on the continent. Kim Jin, Vice President of Huawei’s Optical Business Product Line, delivered an opening speech, emphasising how Huawei will work with fibre…
Summer is here and to ensure this season is one to remember, Vodacom is turning up the heat by giving away R500 million in prizes and rewards as part of its latest V-Up Summer Promotion. Customers can V-Up their summer with free Daily plays to unbox exciting rewards and prizes. There’s also the chance to unbox more by completing personalised behavioural V-Up Achiever goals exclusive to VodaPay to receive Mystery Rewards, earn VodaBucks and be in the running for the grand prizes. This year, customers can win cars, cash prizes, fuel and shopping vouchers, home appliances and so much more…
Cell C is launching its VoLTE services using ng-voice’s fully cloud-native IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and ePDG (AAA) and has now successfully completed its first VoLTE call on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This strategic deployment will enable the delivery of Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Voice over New Radio (VoNR) and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services, enhancing voice communications for all customers in South Africa and future-proofing Cell C’s network. VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is a service that allows users to make voice calls over a 4G or LTE network instead of the older 2G and 3G networks. VoLTE offers several benefits, including: Improved…
The need for actionable steps to grow South Africa’s digital economy took centre stage during a panel discussion at the inaugural Huawei Cloud Summit in Johannesburg on 24 October. Commenting on Huawei’s role in unlocking digital growth Jacquline Shi, President of Huawei Cloud Global Marketing and Sales Service, stressed that without tech-savvy talent at the core of a digital ecosystem, “there are no real skills to understand and develop digital platforms.” Shi stressed the importance of talent pipelines and why they are central to Huawei Cloud’s approach to supporting digital transformation in South Africa which does not just focus on…
Vodacom’s Black Friday is back with month-long deals back by popular demand. With up to 70% off deals, Vodacom customers can expect unbeatable deals ranging from SIM-only deals, super-fast fibre packages, prepaid and postpaid offers, incredible reductions on the latest devices, gadgets and wearables, and so much more. Essentially, there’s something for everyone. “In understanding the tough economic times that customers are facing, we have relaunched a month-long series of Black Friday specials to ease some of the financial pressures and to show appreciation for our customers’ loyalty. Our goal is to provide great value and to make connectivity products…
When life throws unexpected expenses your way – whether it’s home renovations, a new car, or emergency costs – having access to reliable financial options becomes crucial. South African consumers are increasingly turning to smart, AI-powered platforms to navigate their financial needs efficiently and securely. The financial landscape is evolving rapidly, with technology making it easier than ever to find and compare loan options. Leading this transformation is YourLoan24, which uses advanced AI systems to help South Africans find the most suitable financial options for their unique situations. Smart Loan Comparison: The New Standard Loan comparison platforms have revolutionized how…
Vodacom South Africa has partnered with Circular Energy, a non-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), to divert e-waste from landfills into recycling and recovery programmes. This collaboration aligns with Vodacom’s commitment to a circular economy by reducing environmental impact and supporting green economy jobs. “E-waste is our business’s second most material environmental issue, and encouraging circularity is key to our purpose, which includes empowering people while protecting the planet. Our joint initiative with Circular Energy will ensure a robust system to collect, recycle, and reuse waste responsibly across our operations, and play our part in building a sustainable future for generations…
Curate, a global fund manager launched in August 2024, is expanding its offerings with three new global equity funds, designed to help South African investors diversify their portfolios internationally. For the first time in South Africa, Curate provides exclusive access to distinguished investment managers Jennison Associates, Lyrical Asset Management, and Evenlode Investment Management, each recognised for their successful and unique approaches. The launch embodies Curate’s mission to deliver high-caliber investment solutions through partnerships with leading equity managers worldwide. “Our focus is on providing the best of global investing to our clients. This launch goes beyond just adding new funds to…
For 35 years, Sparrow Schools has provided affordable, quality education to children and youth facing barriers to learning or coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. During this time, they’ve received prestigious awards, including recognition from South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, and have equipped thousands of young South Africans with the tools to build better futures. Now, in a move set to empower students who may have never had access before, Sparrow Schools and Vuma are coming together to ensure the power of connectivity reaches more lives than ever before. Renata Noble, CSI Manager at Sparrow Schools, shares, “I am…
Federal Express (FedEx), a global leader in express transportation, has introduced the FedEx Import Tool (FiT), an advanced solution tailored to address the growing complexities and rising volume of imports in South Africa. This launch comes at a pivotal time, as South Africa is set to expand its market share and manage more imports than previous years. Recent data reveals an 8.5% increase in South Africa’s import volumes in 2023 over 2022, totaling $110 billion. This shift has heightened the demand for more efficient solutions to navigate the complexities of the import sector. FiT, with its advanced technology and user-centered…