Author: Staff Writer
Standard Chartered, in partnership with WomHub, announced the launch of the second Women in Tech (WiT) Incubator Programme in South Africa. Building on the success of the inaugural 2023 programme, this initiative aims to empower more women entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, and investment opportunities. Originally launched in the Americas in 2014 by Standard Chartered, the WiT Incubator Programme has significantly expanded over the past decade, uplifting female entrepreneurs across Africa and supporting women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing). The programme’s core mission is to advance gender equality and foster innovation through mentorship, education, networking, funding, and community support.…
“Huawei is excited to celebrate Women’s Month by offering this rewarding opportunity for women to use newly gained tech skills as a springboard for their participation in the digital economy,” said Vanashree Govender, Huawei South Africa’s senior Media and Communications Manager. Speaking to a crowd of business and government leaders, as well as media professionals, Govender kicked off Huawei’s first in person Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme for 2024. Women in tech “will not only bridge the gap in the digital landscape but promote gender equity and give women a competitive edge in their industries and the broader…
As technology skills become more democratised, and the ICT sector sees greater gender transformation, a new breed of tech engineer is emerging: a skilled, highly intelligent woman determined to use technology for the good of humanity. As the UN Women agency states, “Innovation and technology provide unprecedented opportunities to break trends and reach those who are the most likely to be left behind”. Telkom executive for research and innovation Dr Maletsabisa (Tsabi) Molapo has made it her life’s work to put human needs at the centre of technology development. She has done it in the field of natural language processing (NLP),…
July was a positive month for the automotive sector in South Africa, with new car passenger sales increasing by 6.8% year on year. It was also an upbeat month for the used sector – while sales were down -1.2% year on year, they increased by a substantial 14% month on month. According to AutoTrader, 31,707 used cars were sold in July 2024 – a marginal decline of 383 over the 32,090 vehicles sold in July 2023. According to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council, 29,934 new passenger cars were sold during July 2024 – an increase of 1,894 cars compared…
Taboola, a global leader in powering recommendations for the open web, today announced an expansion of its operations to serve advertisers and publishers in Africa. Partnering with Aleph Holdings, Taboola’s advanced AI-powered technologies and consumer reach will now be accessible to advertisers and publishers in countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Ghana. Advertisers in Africa can now leverage Taboola’s immense reach to find quality consumers at scale, using Taboola’s advanced AI-powered offerings. Aleph is giving these advertisers exclusive access to work with Taboola in Africa, allowing them to tap into exclusive, brand-safe environments on trusted editorial destinations and grow…
Standard Bank today introduced Reach, a digital platform set to transform syndicated loan management. The banking group said Reach offers unmatched simplicity, transparency, and convenience for managing syndicated loans. Developed by Standard Bank Investment Banking, Reach automates numerous tasks, enhances communication, and provides step-by-step guidance throughout the syndicated loan process. This cloud-based platform delivers a comprehensive 360-degree view of loan information, including portfolio summaries, loan types, commitments, drawdown history, facility details, interest rates, and more. “With Reach, we are setting a new standard in the syndicated loan market,” said Kelly-Ann Myles, Head of Agency at Standard Bank. “Our platform’s ability…
Huawei welcomed instructors from some of South Africa’s top tertiary institutions, leaders from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), as well as its own executives to the company’s Johannesburg campus for the Huawei ICT Academy Instructors’ Summit 2024. The Summit is hosted annually to bring together instructors to share their experiences, knowledge, and successes as they navigate a rapidly developing industry, which is being reshaped by modern technologies. Will Meng, CEO of Huawei South Africa delivered the welcoming address for the day, and highlighted the significant role ICT instructors play as the company continues to invest in initiatives…
The SABC has secured the rights to broadcast 33 live matches from the 2024/2025 English Premier League (EPL) season, bringing top-tier soccer action to South African screens. The public broadcaster announced this major acquisition on Friday, confirming that fans will be able to watch the matches for free. Through this partnership, the SABC will air one live Premier League match every Saturday at 15:00. The 2024/2025 Premier League season kicks off today, and the SABC will begin its coverage on 17 August 2024 with the Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers match. A total of 33 live matches will be broadcast across…
Tech-savvy women entrepreneurs are invited to apply for Huawei’s Women in Tech, Digital Skills Training Programme. The 2024 edition of this annual event offers women free training in the rapidly developing fields of Cloud Computing, 5G, AI as well as Leadership Development. The programme not only seeks to upskill attendees but encourages them to build networks that will advance their careers in the ICT sector. “This year we are taking Women in Tech to new heights by partnering with the prestigious Henley Business School Africa to develop a dynamic leadership programme,” says Vanashree Govender, Media Relations and Communications Manager at…
Today, Cell C ushered in a new era with the unveiling of a bold brand identity, marking a significant evolution in the South African telco’s connection with its customers. The launch event, held at Cell C’s headquarters in Buccleuch, Johannesburg, was a vibrant celebration of this transformation. The rebrand emphasises Cell C’s unwavering commitment to overcoming challenges and driving forward with an unstoppable spirit, all while remaining dedicated to its purpose of being an ally to its customers and communities. The company emphasised that this brand refresh goes beyond a mere visual update; it is a reaffirmation of their mission…
Nasdaq-listed Mattel, AirConsole, and BMW Group announced today that Mattel’s classic card game UNO™ will debut next week for in-car gaming at gamescom 2024 in Cologne, Germany, the world’s largest video game event. Visitors to the AirConsole booth will be the first to experience UNO Car Party! in the new BMW X3, specially adapted for in-car gaming. The game will be available via the AirConsole platform in over 500,000 BMW and MINI vehicles starting August 21st through an over-the-air update. “We continue to increase the value of the overall digital experience for our customers,” said Stephan Durach, Senior Vice President…
Capitec’s 12 million app users can now purchase Showmax streaming vouchers for as little as R22 per month—less than R1 per day—exclusively through the Capitec banking app. Showmax, which is aiming to become Africa’s leading streaming service, and Capitec, the biggest digital bank in South Africa, have joined forces to make entertainment and sport more affordable. 50% discount on Showmax streaming vouchers for 12 million Capitec app users Showmax Entertainment Mobile priced at R22, Showmax Entertainment all devices at R49 and Showmax Premier League mobile at R34 per month Less than R1 a day for entertainment on mobile Capitec clients can…
African payment solution provider Peach Payments has appointed Uways Kureeman as its new country head and director for Mauritius. He reports to outgoing country head and director Sandeep Chagger, who took up the role of Group Chief Operating Officer in February. Chagger says: “We are committed to driving growth and innovation in the digital payments ecosystem of Mauritius. I am confident that Uways, with his substantial experience in technology implementations, strong business network, and passion for digitisation, will accelerate Peach Payments’ growth and innovation in Mauritius and the region. His successful leadership tenure as the General Manager of ICL in…
Cape Town-based startup Open Access Energy (OAE) has secured R13.6 million in funding from investment firm Factor E Ventures. This funding represents the first tranche of a $1.5 million seed round, supporting OAE’s mission to develop software solutions that address South Africa’s energy crisis. OAE has successfully created two software solutions that optimize transactions between Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Energy Traders, and consumers, including large offtakers like factories. The startup aims to revolutionize South Africa’s energy sector by enabling wheeling, enhancing grid reliability, reducing emissions, and generating new revenue streams for IPPs. “Open Access Energy has quickly become a major…
Vodacom is investing over R800 million this financial year to build new network sites, upgrade mobile networks, expand full fibre broadband, and launch energy projects, all aimed at enhancing broadband connectivity and delivering exceptional service. Importantly, to bridge the digital divide, new sites will be deployed in remote areas of KwaZulu-Natal that have never had connectivity before. “We are making a significant investment in the network in KwaZulu-Natal in order to achieve our goal of building an inclusive digital society,” Imran Khan, Managing Executive, Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal region, said. “Our goal is to give our customers an excellent network experience by…
McDonald’s South Africa (MSA) is collaborating with the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) to train 1,400 unemployed youth through a Hospitality Learnership Programme. This initiative aligns with CATHSSETA’s recently adopted High Impact Programme, which aims to empower unemployed individuals with skills that could lead to employment within McDonald’s and the broader hospitality sector. This initiative comes at a critical time, as continuous skills development is essential in countries with high youth unemployment rates. CATHSSETA is one of the 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) established under the Skills Development Act (No. 97…
According to a recent report, 1,514 incidents of attempted murder involving female victims were recorded between July and September 2023. Furthermore, females were victims in 14,401 grievous bodily harm (GBH) incidents reported to the police during the same period. In response to alarming statistics like these, the University of Johannesburg hosted an event focusing on the nightlife economy as a means to tackle critical issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment, human trafficking, and drink spiking. “The University of Johannesburg’s new project on the role of the nightlife economy in addressing gender-based violence brings together nightlife establishments, regulatory bodies,…
Eastgate in Johannesburg is set to become the home of Africa’s largest officially registered rooftop solar installation, according to an announcement made by the shopping centre’s owner on Monday. The ambitious solar project, which began with its first panel installation in 2020, is approaching its final stages and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Investing in solar power was a strategic decision taken by Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), as it provides a cost-effective, efficient and environmentally friendly means of generating electricity. L2D’s sustainability strategy includes the reduction of its reliance on the grid, which has improved operating…
A new study by the IBM Institute for Business Value found that surveyed CEOs are facing workforce, culture and regulation challenges as they act quickly to implement and scale generative AI across their organisations. The annual global study of 3,000 CEOs from over 30 countries and 26 industries, including South Africa, found that 64% of those surveyed say succeeding with generative AI will depend more on people’s adoption than the technology itself. However, 57% of local respondents say they are pushing their organisation adopt generative AI more quickly than some people are comfortable with. The findings also revealed that nearly two-thirds (65%)…
The threat of malicious Wi-Fi hotspots that intercept user data is nothing new, but fake Wi-Fi incidents have recently reached new heights. In a case from Australia, for example, a passenger was arrested for setting up fake Wi-Fi hotspots at the airport and on board the plane during the flight. There’s a good reason these days why passengers are more likely to use in-flight Wi-Fi: airlines are increasingly offering entertainment streamed directly to passengers’ devices rather than on the seatback screens. Once being connected to the airline’s media portal, they can not only have access to movies, music, games and…
AI is impacting nearly every sector including fraud. Generative AI technology has also spawned increasingly sophisticated methods of deception, with deep fake technology emerging as a significant threat in South Africa. Criminals are creating more advanced versions of impersonation fraud using AI-generated video and voice. These are so convincing that businesses have been duped into transferring millions to scammers, like an employee at the Hong Kong office of a multinational company who transferred $26 million after unwittingly attending a video call with deep fakes of co-workers, including the company’s chief financial officer. A Luno staff member was recently targeted using…
Founders Factory Africa, an early-stage venture capital firm, has rebranded as 54 Collective, with a focus on supporting African start-ups using a R3 billion investment fund. 54 Collective, builds on its track record of investing in and scaling early-stage ventures in Africa. The new name, 54 Collective, reflects the firm’s ambitious pan-African vision, aspiring to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses to serve all 54 African countries. “Our catalytic capital and value-add support to founders, through our Venture Success Platform, signifies our evolution and ongoing mission to support entrepreneurs across Africa and enable them to build without boundaries to drive commercial…
Huawei Cloud successfully hosted the Database Innovation Forum 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. The theme of the forum was “GaussDB: A Better Way to Database”. In collaboration with local customers and partners, Huawei introduced its GaussDB solutions to enable various public and private industries in the country to access distributed database technologies and accelerate digitalisation. GaussDB is a trustworthy data foundation for mission-critical workloads because it ensures high availability, performance, security, scalability, and intelligence. At this forum Huawei Cloud also launched its GaussDB Pioneer Programme to promote innovation and further adoption of database technologies in the country. Huawei Cloud…
Aleph is announcing a sales partnership that will expand Pinterest’s digital advertising solutions to 11 new markets across LATAM, Asia, the Middle East and Africa: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Israel, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa and Turkey. “South Africa’s social media landscape is one of most vibrant and diverse on the continent with the estimated 26 million users gravitating to an average of eight platforms per person. The growing popularity of Pinterest among local users – nearly half of social media users turn to the platform for inspiration each month – presents a unique opportunity for brands.…
During major sporting events, concerns about safety and crowd management reach new heights. In this context, effective video surveillance, including effective smart video storage and analytics, becomes an essential tool to guarantee the safety of participants, public and infrastructure. The challenges : capacity and endurance Modern smart video surveillance faces several challenges, primarily the fact that cameras must be able to operate 24/7 to ensure uninterrupted coverage. Storage solutions must therefore offer high capacity and exceptional endurance to handle high-resolution video streams. Western Digital’s WD Purple Pro hard drives, for example, are specifically designed for these requirements, supporting capacities of…