Author: Staff Writer
A syndicate of criminals posing as employees of vehicle-tracking companies is targeting these companies’ customers in a car-theft scam. The criminals claim that customers’ tracking devices need repairing, then set up appointments, where they attempt to steal vehicles. The syndicate is targeting high-value vehicles from all major tracking providers. Vehicle-tracking and fleet-management organisation Netstar has launched a multi-pronged strategy to combat the threat. Alerts have been sent to customers, staff and fitment centres, and investigations are underway. “We are conducting an inquiry to ensure customer information remains protected and to help apprehend suspects so that justice is served.” said Netstar’s…
IT services company Gijima, owned by Robert Gumede, has bought one of its main rivals T-Systems South Africa for an undisclosed amount. The transaction is pending Competition Commission approval. T-Systems South Africa, owned by T-Systems International, the IT services arm of German-based Deutsche Telekom, has been providing ICT networks, applications and systems to South African companies for over 20 years. This transaction is the result of T-Systems International’s strategic review of its global portfolio and its decision to refocus on its core markets in Europe and the Americas. The transaction will enable Gijima to have access to international IP, expertise…
Payment and merchant solutions provider, Dashpay, has partnered with South Africa’s biggest financial marketplace, Fincheck, to offer an array of on-demand personal finance facilities via hundreds of thousands of Newland point of sale smart terminals, in stores across South Africa. Dashpay’s Newland devices operate on the Android platform, which means that they are able to run a variety of applications, alongside the processing of traditional credit card purchases. The Fincheck app, which merchants can register for and download directly to the terminal, offers customers the opportunity to compare and apply for personal finance via the in-store terminal. Fincheck compares offers…
Aki Anastasiou, one of South Africa’s leading radio and TV personalities and avid tech lover, joins eNCA as the host of a brand-new technology and gaming show, TecHub. TecHub airs every week on Sundays from 1 November 2020 at 17:30. Anastasiou is a renowned technophile and is highly ranked among Tech speakers in the country. He plans to simplify and expose viewers to the exciting world of technology and gaming. Technology is a part of our daily lives and in the time of Covid-19, gaming and tech has outstripped the movie industry from an interest perspective. In terms of revenue,…
CDC, the UK’s development finance institution, has today announced a $40 million (R652 million) equity investment in Liquid Telecom, Africa’s largest independent fibre, data centre and cloud technology provider. This marks CDC’s second investment in the company, following a $180 million equity investment in 2018. CDC’s additional investment is made as part of Liquid Telecom’s wider fundraise where the company attracted $307 million through a rights issue to shareholders. CDC’s investment will enable Liquid Telecom to further expand its pan-African data centre operation business, Africa Data Centres, and consolidate its position as the leading data centre operator on the continent.…
Telkom has launched FreeMe Share Plans, a shared data plan that allows multiple SIMs to share a single data plan. The company said in a statement the new plans are a response to changes in work and education arrangements amid the COVID-19 pandemic increase in internet data usage for families and small businesses. The FreeMe Share data plan comes as 24-month post-paid contracts and include SIM-only or multiple-device combo options. According to Telkom, up to 10 SIM cards can share data, voice minutes, and SMS bundles with these contracts. The plans are available in 3 options, namely: FreeMe Share 36GB,…
DearSA attorneys Hurter Spies this week sent a letter [view below] to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma asking her to provide reasons why she extended the lockdown earlier this month and to give an undertaking no further extensions will be given. She has also been asked to support her reasons with documents and expert evidence. The minister has been given until 30 October 2020 to reply, failing which DearSA says it will approach the High Court for relief. DearSA has run several public participation campaigns showing an overwhelming majority are against any further lockdowns. The letter to the minister…
In acknowledging Cybersecurity Awareness Month during October this year, leading peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency marketplace, Paxful, is highlighting the importance of security awareness amongst users when trading in digital currency. A recent report says illicit cryptocurrency activity accounted for just 2% of Africa’s roughly $16 billion trading volume from July 2019 to June 2020. The cryptocurrency sphere is not immune to opportunists with illicit intent, “In our experience, the majority of cryptocurrency transactions are safe. Despite this, risk management is top-of-mind for us to protect our customers and we have a dedicated team that focuses on risk assessment and security to…
South Africa’s most prestigious fintech R10 million startup initiative, AlphaCode Incubate, shares how to improve chances of accessing its support and unpacks the trends in the fintech incubation ecosystem. AlphaCode Incubate has disbursed R30 million in funding to 31 black-owned financial services businesses over the past five years and is currently accepting applications for its next programme which offers packages valued at R1,5 million for successful applicants. “We’re primarily seeing applicants aged 19 plus, those who are in their final year of tertiary education, as well as corporate refugees who have experience in financial services or tech. We have seen…
Navigating banking systems is almost always stressful and tediously litigious, and particularly true when it comes to applying for a home loan. Despite all their efforts, new home buyers are still not successful when applying for a bond independently. While bond originators take the hassle out of applying for a home loan and reduce the time it takes to be approved, they also give prospective buyers a way to ensure that they are offered the most favourable loan package and interest rate. Using a bond originator saves you time and paperwork and often means that the banks’ turnaround time is reduced, ensuring…