Author: Staff Writer

The Molecular Sciences Institute (MSI) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, in partnership with the Cirrus Initiative, today announced plans for a new artificial intelligence (AI) research operation in Africa. The AI initiative was announced at the 2019 AI Expo Africa in Cape Town. Hosted by the MSI in the Wits School of Chemistry, the newly formed Cirrus Initiative will focus on the analysis of research data in chemistry, with a view to collaborate with physics, technology and engineering projects using machine learning. Advances in AI and its application in addressing the challenges facing Africa…

As MTN we strongly condemn prejudice and xenophobia and we reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of any and all violence, Africa’s biggest mobile phone operator said in a statement on Tuesday. “As a leading pan-African telecommunications company with operations in 21 countries, MTN believes in the potential of an Africa whose nations pursue deeper trade, integration and cooperation,” MTN said. “We actively encourage the dialogue necessary to maintain peace and sustain strong relationships and urge all our customers and stakeholders to support and defend the principles of human rights, diversity and inclusion and an integrated collaborative Africa.” South African police on…

JSE-listed tech firm Datatec has acquired 70% of Cilnet, a Portugal-based Cisco systems integrator and managed services business. Datatec announced its subsidiary, Logicalis has bought 70% stake in Cilnet. The company, which is valued at more than R billion, said the transaction will increase Logicalis’ Cisco technical expertise for the Iberian region. It also complements the existing Spanish operation with a data centre, collaboration, networking, infrastructure and managed services capabilities. Cilnet was founded in 2000 and has over 90 employees, including 8 Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts (CCIEs). The company designs and integrates networking, data centre and contact centre solutions, complemented…

They have changed the way we live our lives, have simplified everyday tasks and made us more productive, and once again it is time for the biggest celebration of app development on the continent. The MTN Business App of the Year Awards is taking place on 24 October and event founder and organiser Creative Space Media is urging any local champions of app development talent in South Africa to enter. The Awards categories include best consumer solution, best enterprise solution, best incubated solution, most innovative solution, best health solution, best gaming solution, best agricultural solution, best educational solution, best financial…

Sun Exchange, a global solar micro-leasing marketplace, has kickstarted a R7 million ($460,000) Uprise.Africa equity crowdfunding campaign, for about 5.2% equity stake in the company. Following a two-week private sale period, the Uprise.Africa campaign is now open to the public. Sun Exchange is renowned as a technology and renewable energy leader across Africa. Since launching in 2015, the company has built a community of more than 8,000 Sun Exchange members across approximately 140 countries and brought solar power to 13 South African schools, businesses and organisations, offsetting 1,500 tonnes of carbon per year, and growing. It has received extensive accolades for its unique approach…

AlphaCode, Rand Merchant Investment Holdings (RMI)’s incubation, acceleration and investment vehicle has awarded R23 million supplier development loans to three FinTech startups, Zande Africa, Bright On Capital and Livestock Wealth. All businesses have exciting growth stories. Zande Africa started in 2016 with just two founders, Siya Ntutela and Mdu Thabethe. The business provides trade and merchant finance to spaza shops to enable stock purchases. It now has a turnover of R17 million with 71 staff and it is about to open a third depot in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, after growing its operations in Nelspruit and Ermelo. Bright On…

Vodacom Tanzania and Flickswitch today announced the availability of SIM Manager, a mobile connectivity management platform for companies looking to provide Mobility and Internet of Things (IoT) services. The new Vodacom service creates an innovative mobile eco-system that gives businesses in Tanzania with large scale communication needs access to self-help online SIM management tools. Customers can now self-provision mobile numbers and build their own monthly packages by setting up smart Top-Up rules. “We firmly believe that the launch of this service will stimulate innovation and support for both SME’s and large corporates alike with the necessary business tools to address…

The Telkom September Big Deal has been revealed. The operator is offering a FreeMe 20GB SIM Only Promotional Deal at R499 a month. This promotional deal is a month-to-month SIM Only promotion for the next 24-months with no device included in the deal. The FreeMe 20GB SIM Only Promotion will expire on the 30 September 2019. The deal provides more than 80GB of data. The deal also includes: 1500 free minutes on all networks 3000 Telkom-to-Telkom free minutes 2GB for WhatsApp calls and messages 10GB for music streaming 50GB for video streaming

The Presidential e-toll task team created by President Ramaphosa proposes that motorists pay R100 a month or 10 cents to pass under each gantry. According to City Press, the task team believes this will provide a 70% discount of the current fees for Gauteng’s e-tolls. The newspaper added that another proposal calls for the scarpping of Gauteng e-tolls. The Department of Transport, Sanral, the Gauteng provincial government and Treasury has until the end of last month to come up with a solution. The decision on the future of e-tolls is still awaited. The Austrian-owned ETC collects tolls on behalf of Sanral.…

Toyota South Africa has teamed up with Altron and Vodacom Business, to roll-out connectivity features and in-car Wi-Fi on all new Toyota and Lexus models. Known as Toyota Connect, the new connectivity hub will be housed within the MyToyota App which was launched in 2014. The technology allows Toyota owners access to a myriad of convenience, connectivity and safety benefits. “As of 01 September 2019, all-new Toyota and Lexus models sold in South Africa will come standard with in-car Wi-Fi including 15GB free data (which you can top up) as well as a host of connectivity features and benefits…