Author: Staff Writer

As Daybreak Farms faced a catastrophic week with starving chickens and unpaid staff, chairperson Bojane Segooa secured a R625,000 payout before resigning abruptly, reports the Sunday Times. The taxpayer-funded poultry producer, already reliant on billions in state support, had recently been denied a R1.5bn bailout by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). A Board in Chaos Segooa demanded immediate payment of R1.2 million in board fees before stepping down CFO Aubrey Dali resigned after Segooa stripped his payment authority Three other board members refused their fees “out of good conscience” PIC released R74m emergency funds for salaries and bird feed “Have…

Fintech company Lesaka (formerly Net1 UEPS) reported adding 89,000 new EasyPay Everywhere (EPE) users in Q3 2025, increasing its market share among social grant recipients to 13%. The company now serves 1.7 million grant beneficiaries and aims for 20% market penetration within 3-5 years. Post Bank Challenges Drive Growth CEO Lincoln Mali credits Lesaka’s growth to competitors’ struggles, particularly Post Bank’s Sassa card expiration issues. “Operational challenges at Post Bank, particularly around expiring Sassa [South African Social Security Agency] cards, led many of their customers to seek alternative banking providers,” Mali told the Sunday Times. “Our strong brand and extensive…

Gauteng’s public hospitals are in chaos as doctors go unpaid and food shortages leave patients hungry. A doctor at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital was told to prove she wasn’t a “ghost worker” after her April salary was withheld, according to the Sunday Times report. The newspaper reported that many medics haven’t been paid for three months, with some also at risk of missing May salaries. Salary Crisis Deepens The Gauteng health department blamed “administrative and financial challenges” for the delays. Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba admitted and told the Sunday Times that some doctors may not receive May salaries due to…

On 8 May2025, Disney+ — in collaboration with Quiz Nights SA — hosted an unforgettable Quiz Night Challenge at Prison Break Market. Hosted by the always-hilarious Mpho Popps, the night welcomed a star-studded guest list, including familiar faces like Lasizwe Dambuza, Bheki Ndamase, Zamani Mbatha and Mo Setumo. The evening saw fierce but fun competition as guests battled it out to prove who really knew it best — putting their Disney+ knowledge to the test across trivia rounds inspired by the platform’s incredible range of entertainment. From laugh-out-loud moments to surprise twists, it was a celebration of fandom, nostalgia, and…

AI can be transformative for Africa, but the continent must move quickly to empower its youth to optimise the technology’s potential. This is according to Prof. Abejide Ade-Abjola, Professor of AI and Applications at the Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg and founder and chairman of GRIT Lab Africa, who was addressing the Huawei Cloud Tech Wave DeepSeek workshop in Johannesburg this week. Prof. Abejide Ade-Abjola, Professor of AI and Applications at the Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg and founder and chairman of GRIT Lab Africa Prof. Ade-Abjola said: “In the African context, AI offers…

McDonald’s South Africa is expanding its chicken offering with the nationwide launch of the McCrispy, a new crispy chicken burger that aims to elevate the brand’s presence in the competitive chicken market. Made with 100% South African-raised chicken breast, the McCrispy features a seasoned, crispy fillet served on a soft potato bun with shredded lettuce and a creamy lemon and pepper sauce. The burger is positioned as a premium menu item and is now available at McDonald’s locations across the country. Daniel Padiachy, Chief Marketing Officer at McDonald’s South Africa, said the McCrispy is a response to growing demand for…

Windows 10 is reaching the end of its support lifecycle, and businesses still relying on it must make a crucial decision. They can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro if their devices are compatible, invest in new hardware if they’re not, or risk running an unsupported system, leaving themselves vulnerable to security threats and operational inefficiencies. For businesses investing in new PCs, the difference is immediate – faster speeds, greater responsiveness, and a smoother, more seamless performance experience.  Even for those with compatible hardware, Windows 11 Pro brings AI-driven enhancements that make the system feel faster, more intuitive, and more secure. This transition…

IBM is changing enterprise AI with new hybrid technologies designed to break down barriers to scaling, enabling businesses to deploy AI agents with their proprietary data. Announced at the annual Think event, these innovations promise to accelerate AI adoption while driving measurable ROI. The Urgent Need for Scalable AI Solutions With over one billion apps expected by 2028, enterprises face mounting pressure to integrate AI across fragmented environments. A recent IBM CEO study reveals that: Business leaders anticipate AI investment growth to more than double in the next two years. Most are actively adopting AI agents, but only 25% have achieved expected ROI due to disconnected tech stacks. IBM’s…

NASDAQ and JSE-listed Lesaka Technologies subsidiaries Kazang and Connect were recognised as fintech innovators in South Africa’s bustling fintech universe at the recent Absa Commercial Payments Awards 2025. Cash Connect won the ‘Most Progressive Device Cash Solutions Provider’ category, with Kazang winning the ‘Most Disruptive Fintech Shaping Financial Inclusion Vision.’ Steven Heilbron, Head of M&A and Corporate Development at Lesaka, said, “We have always seen ourselves as innovators and disruptors with our holistic merchant solutions in both cash and digital, and to be recognised as such in both formal and informal market offerings is extremely encouraging.” Lesaka offers Southern Africa’s…

Growing numbers of South Africans are discovering that saving money in groups can work better than trying to do it alone, this is according to FNB recent stokvel data. Himal Parbhoo, CEO of FNB Retail Cash Investments says, “more people are joining stokvels to make savings, easier and safer. The bank has the data to support this assertion, with total inflows in its FNB Stokvel Accounts growing to R13.3 billion by December 2024, up 66% from the R8 billion that flowed into these accounts in December 2023.” The data further revealed that more people are also joining stokvels through FNB, with…