Author: Staff Writer
South Africa is ranked 56th out of 79 countries in the latest Huawei Global Connectivity Index 2020 report. Despite an all-round challenging year, the country improved in the development of the AI and IOT technology enablers. Broadband and Cloud, however, showed no movement in the overall scoring. In Huawei’s seventh annual GCI report, the publication for the first time proposed five key stages of industry digital transformation. A key finding of GCI 2020 is that the digital transformation of industries helps countries boost productivity, spur economic recovery, and enhances competitiveness. The GCI research suggests that economies that go digital with…
VerPay, a South African FinTech company, launches a payment solution that enables ‘verbal commerce’. The novel Coronavirus has necessitated the need for a sharp step change across nearly every facet of daily life; which has, in turn, rendered the payments landscape ripe for innovation. “The pandemic has forced us all to do business in new ways, and not all companies have the means – or inclination – to go completely online”, says Dana Buys, CEO of VerPay Pty Ltd, a Cape FinTech company that specialises in cloud-based payment. “Many consumers still prefer dealing with a person, as opposed to…
Primedia Broadcasting today announced that Muhammad Cajee will be joining the group as Chief Digital Officer. His appointment is effective on 1 March 2021. Primedia Broadcasting has already put in place a long-term strategy to drive growth by transforming and expanding audience engagement through a range of digital channels. The role of Chief Digital Officer will see Muhammad take over as custodian of further development of the digital strategy for Primedia Broadcasting’s future, one that not only drives the acquisition and leveraging of new technologies and content, but that also serves to embed a digital-first approach in the business. “Muhammad’s…
Openserve, South Africa’s largest telecommunications infrastructure provider, announced it will double the speed of its fibre lines for existing customers. The Telkom-owned company said from 1 March 2021 it will introduce further speed upgrades and price changes on Openserve Fibre Connect and Openserve Copper Connect product offerings The company added that speed upgrade will come at no extra cost to internet service providers (ISPs). Openserve added that it was offering ISP partners incentives to enable them to easily upgrade their customers. Openserve, a division of Telkom, currently covers more than 2.4 million households in South Africa. The fibre network operator…
Jaguar and Land Rover will become an electric-only brand from 2030 onwards, as part of a bold new ‘Reimagine’ strategy announced today by the company’s boss. The company promises to reimagine the future of modern luxury by design through its two distinct, British brands. At the heart of its Reimagine plan will be the electrification of both Land Rover and Jaguar brands on separate architectures with two clear, unique personalities. The company said this marks the start of the company’s journey to become a net-zero carbon business across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039. “We are harnessing those…
Commvault, a global enterprise software leader in the management of data across cloud and on-premises environments, announced the appointment of Kate Mollett as its Regional Director for a newly expanded Commvault Africa organisation. Mollett will oversee Commvault’s Africa region with a focus on extending the company’s market share and leveraging Commvault’s expanding portfolio, including its market-leading BaaS Metallic offering, into new markets across the continent. A priority focus will be leveraging Commvault’s well-established partner network across the region while looking for new partnerships to realise the huge market opportunity in many African markets for SaaS-based solutions and utility pricing options.…
Phuthuma Nathi is looking for 22 000 shareholders who owned shares and did not receive dividends between 2006 and 2020. There is R207 million in unclaimed dividends, waiting for their rightful owners. “This money belongs to our shareholders. We’re calling on them to contact us to get their money. In these tough economic times we want to do everything in our power to give them what is rightfully theirs,” say Mandla Langa, chairman of Phuthuma Nathi. The MultiChoice BBBEE share scheme, Phuthuma Nathi, is one of the most successful schemes in South Africa. It is truly broad-based with more than…
Investec, as mandated lead arranger, has provided Vox, a market-leading end-to-end integrated ICT and infrastructure provider, with access to debt facilities to fund their fibre rollout plans. Investec was the mandated lead arranger on the Vox deal who structured the debt package, managed the entire process and brought in Rand Merchant Bank and Standard Bank as fellow lenders. “The roll-out of fibre via our subsidiary Frogfoot, is key to helping revolutionise the lives of local families and businesses, by providing a fast, affordable and reliable platform for communication. However, the fibre telecommunications game is a competitive one and the right…
AURA, South Africa’s security and medical response platform, has launched WhatsApp security chatbot in partnership with Tracker, one of the country’s most trusted names in stolen vehicle recovery. Powered by Aura, Tracker’s unique Tracker CareGuard service offers rapid mobile emergency response anywhere, anytime within South Africa. The new cutting-edge solution enables subscribers to request immediate mobile armed response assistance wherever they are by sharing a location pin in WhatsApp. Warren Myers, Founder and CEO of Aura says the new WhatsApp service illustrates the power of technology in preventing and combating crime and the role it plays in enabling South African…
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday extended the Special 350 COVID-19 Grant, by a further three months. SASSA has processed in excess of 9.6 million applications each month from May 2020 to January 2021 and has paid more than 6.5 million grants per month. The total amount spent on this grant to date has exceeded R16 billion. The following should be noted about this grant: There is no need to go to a SASSA office; all SRD processes are done online. Any amendments on your application can be made at https://srd.sassa.gov.za Those persons already who have received this grant and are…