Author: Staff Writer
Honoris United Universities, the first and largest pan-African network of private higher education institutions which has Durban-based MANCOSA and Regent Business School as affiliates, has joined forces with the world #1 coding bootcamp, Le Wagon, to provide a free online web development course as the network integrates coding as a skill into its employability ecosystem. The short but intensive online course will introduce students to the relevant coding skills required to become a beginner software developer and provide an opportunity for them to collaborate with developers, designers and other digital professionals. The objective of the course is to enable a…
Vodacom announced on Wednesday that it will use Google’s high-flying balloons to provide Internet service to un-served and under-served parts of Mozambique. The Vodafone-owned company said it had entered into a partnership with Alphabet, the parent of Google, to bring network access to previously uncovered populations via stratospheric internet balloons. Alphabet’s Loon will help Vodacom Mozambique provide service to un-served and under-served parts of the country with a network of floating cell phone towers that operate 20 kilometres above Earth. Mobile network access will be expanded to Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces of Mozambique. The Loon solution will provide a…
MTN Business has donated 5 000 smartphones, each preloaded with 3GB of data, to the Limpopo Provincial Department of Health to be distributed to field workers for the conducting of tests, screening of citizens and tracing of people who may have come into contact with patients that have been found to have coronavirus. In addition to smartphones, MTN has also pledged to conduct free after-sales services such as repair device replacement, on-site device support, service and account management. As of 11 May 2020, 54 confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported in Limpopo, with 3 deaths and 28 recoveries, according to…
South Africa recorded 698 new COVID-19 cases, with a total of 11 350 cases and 206 deaths. There were no new deaths recorded overnight. “A total of 369 697 tests have been conducted to date with 13 630 done in the past hours,” Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said on Tuesday. The Western Cape recorded 484 new cases and has a total of 6 105 cases; Gauteng recorded 43 new cases and has a total of 2 014 cases. The Eastern Cape recorded 148 new cases and has a total of 1 504 cases; KwaZulu-Natal has 22 new cases and…
With the rise of the soundbar as a preferred sound solution in homes, there are many to choose from, however, not all soundbars are created equally. There are some very distinguishable differences that you should be aware of to help you navigate these choices. Below is an easy guide on what to take into consideration when buying a soundbar. Cheaper is cheaper for a reason: as many manufacturers chase to go cheaper and cheaper in the search of making their products more attractive to the consumer, it’s important to know that this comes with a consequence. Cheaper products typically mean…
The chairperson of the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) Dr Clarence Mini has passed away from COVID-19 complications, the council body confirmed on Tuesday. “Today, we wake up to the sad news of the passing on of Dr Clarence Mazwangwandile Mini, the Chairperson of Council for Medical Schemes (CMS),” said Grace Khoza, general manager for stakeholder relations at the CMS. “This indeed is a sad day for the CMS and the medical schemes industry as a whole. Dr Mini contracted coronavirus (COVID-19) and was hospitalised for more than a month, and all of us were hoping that he would pull…
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will this week announce the department’s preparations with regards to the reopening of schools. At Thursday’s media briefing, the Minister is expected to provide details that include the final dates and detailed plans, for the phased approach to the possible reopening of schools. The scheduled briefing follows a series of meetings the minister held with stakeholders in the basic education sector on Monday. The purpose of the meetings was to consider the state of readiness for the reopening of schools. “These consultative sessions happened ahead of the Minister’s return to the National Coronavirus Command Council…
The Hashtag #DStvMustFall is trending again on Twitter as South Africans call for the pay-TV operator to reduce its prices in South Africa. DStv has been accused of playing repeat shows. A petition with as many as 217 000 signatures has been circulating on social media, urging DStv to give customers a subscription reprieve. The petition was launched on the 29th of April 2020. Some viewers are calling for a DStv package that will allow them to select their own channels. #DstvMustFall @DStv we need your prices to decrease, allow users to choose whatever package at no extra cost…
Many South Africans have expressed valid concerns about the potential for abuse of personal information collected by the government as part of tracking and tracing those exposed to COVID-19 infection. The approach taken, however, appears to be well-balanced, even though the Protection of Personal Information Act of 2013 (POPI) is not yet properly in force. Electronic communication service providers (ECSPs) like ISPs can only provide personal information required to combat COVID-19 to the Director-General of the Department of Health for inclusion in a database which is subject to several restrictions. That’s the word from the Internet Service Providers’ Association of…
GovChat, the South African civic engagement technology platform, announces a partnership with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to support the digitisation of the COVID-19 social relief grant application process. The partnership with GovChat enables millions of unemployed citizens to access electronically, including via mobile device, the largest social security programme on the African continent. GovChat’s platform, accessed through WhatsApp, FaceBook Messenger, SMS and USSD channels provides a secure application portal for pre-qualifying citizens, automating filling, verification and applicant assessment. GovChat’s technology platform supports the seamless transfer and verification of data securely and in real-time in a way that…