Author: Staff Writer

Secha Capital today announced a first close of its second fund, with R300 million in investments from blue-chip investors. RMB Ventures, 27four Investment Managers, The SA SME Fund and Caleo Capital.  Founders of Sechaba Capital are Nombuso Nkambule, Brendan Mullen and Rushil Vallabh who started Secha Capital in 2017. This first close of the R650 million fund enables the team to deploy its unique Operator-Investor model. The fund invests in traditional companies across sectors in Southern Africa that are making the tech-enabled transition into the green economy. “We invest in companies at an inflection point in their growth trajectory. Most…

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Pan-African telco and network services provider, Paratus Group today announced that it has entered an agreement as a distributor for Starlink’s high-speed services across the African continent. This agreement will allow Paratus to provide Starlink to its customers across Africa, as operating licenses are awarded to Starlink in those countries. Initially, and with immediate effect, Starlink will be available from Paratus in Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda & Nigeria before being rolled out to more countries. Starlink recognises Paratus Group as a key African distributor. Starlink provides high speed, broadband internet using a simple, scalable hardware platform that can be easily distributed…

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Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal is investing over R1 billion this financial year into the region’s network to increase capacity and resilience and accelerate access to connectivity throughout the province, particularly in deep rural areas. “In pursuing our aim of creating an inclusive digital society, we are making a significant investment into the region’s network. By expanding access to reliable, quality connectivity through the deployment of more sites and network upgrades, we aim to provide an exceptional network experience to our customers. With this effort, we hope to bring the benefits of digitalisation to all communities we serve,” says Imran Khan, Managing Executive,…

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The number of used cars sold in August grew by a sizeable 12% month-on-month to 34,725 from 30,978 in July. And the cumulative value of used cars sold to date has now reached over R14 billion reflecting a year-on-year growth of 10.5%, reports AutoTrader. “While new car sales dipped in August, in the used car sphere the opposite happened. This could be attributed to the value benefit pre-owned cars offer buyers, which makes pre-owned cars an attractive option,” says George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. During the month of August, on average consumers paid R403,203 for models with a 2018 average…

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Vodacom Financial and Digital Lifestyle Services has partnered with Bidvest Bank to power the VodaPay Wallet. This partnership enables millions of South African consumers to seamlessly transact within VodaPay, which offers customers a platform by which money can be transferred into their digital wallets.  The VodaPay Wallet gives consumers full control of their lifestyle directly from their smartphones. It is like carrying a digital wallet around in a digital mall, allowing customers to deposit money for free, send money, shop at their favourite retailers, order food, and even pay bills and traffic fines at no extra charge all from one…

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Truecaller today announced a corporate rebranding and launch of a brand new app icon that will be instantly recognisable on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The timing of the new brand identity aligns with a significant transformation taking place in the digital space. At the heart of this rebranding is Truecaller’s renewed sense of purpose, energy and enthusiasm.  “We are excited to unveil our new brand identity and logo. It signifies our continued commitment to our users and our focus to constantly evolve and improve, every day,” Alan Mamedi, Co-founder and CEO, Truecaller said. “Our mission, to…

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The future of technology belongs to thought leaders, trailblazers and trendsetters. If that’s your world, don’t miss this year’s Dell Technologies Forum on 9 November. It’s the best opportunity to immerse yourself in the latest technology products and solutions, connect with industry pioneers and experts and explore technical sessions customised just for you. The hot topics at this year’s event include Generative AI (GenAI), multicloud and As-a-Service, modern data infrastructure and edge, security and the Future of Work. Attendees will learn more about AI readiness and digital fluency; the future of ethics and economies and what to expect from machine…

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Panda Health believes that individuals should invest proactively in their mental health just as they do with their physical health. To encourage this, Panda Health has launched a rewards programme that offers users discounts on a wide range of products. Through the Panda mobile app, users can now earn points and rewards by engaging with various features. “When we launched Panda, we identified three barriers hindering access to mental health care in South Africa: stigma, cost, and lack of triage. What wasn’t immediately obvious to us was the potential lack of motivation among individuals to prioritise their mental well-being. This…

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The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) announced its Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The diploma aims for graduates and third-year students in engineering, science, and health sciences to become catalysts for business ownership and job creation. Apply for the PG Dip in Innovation and Entrepreneurship before 30 November 2023. Professor Christo Doherty, the course coordinator says: “We particularly encourage candidates who are contemplating pursuing a Master’s or PhD in any of these fields, so they can embark on advanced degrees armed with the knowledge of how to commercialise their research. Graduates of this programme will have a wealth of…

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Vodacom today announced “Enhance” a first-in-the-market, allowing customers the ability to add their personal touch and augment their contracts – giving them the choice and control to build their world of connectivity, entertainment, and gaming, all in one.  The simplified value proposition brings convenience for customers and is designed to transform the way they experience their mobile contracts. Enhance is more than a traditional contract– it affords customers the ability to personalise their package to reflect their lifestyle, whether they are a gamer or a fitness enthusiast. “We are cognisant of the fact that in today’s fast-paced world, consumers seek…

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