Author: Staff Writer
IBM today released its annual Cost of a Data Breach Report revealing the average cost of a data breach in South Africa reached R53.10 million in 2024, as breaches grow more disruptive and further expand demands on cyber teams. Globally, 70% of breached organizations reported that the breach caused significant or very significant disruption. Lost business and post-breach customer and third-party response costs drove the year-over-year cost spike worldwide, as the collateral damage from data breaches has only intensified. The disruptive effects data breaches are having on businesses are not only driving up costs but are also extending the after-effect…
Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), a 100% black-owned broad-based investment holding company, announced a partnership with Grindstone, a global growth-engineer, respected for the pivotal role it plays in creating impact through engineering growth for startups. With a total of sixteen cohorts completed to date, Grindstone continues to expand its impact footprint and is excited about this next cohort in collaboration with MIC. This strategic collaboration marks the initiation of a new chapter of GrindstoneX, a specialised accelerator programme that fosters the growth of high-growth, innovation-driven, woman-owned startups. From the first cohort to the sixteenth, Grindstone’s alumni companies have raised over R2.2…
Shoprite Group’s Checkers Sixty60 on-demand delivery service has maintained its leading position in the South African market, showcasing an impressive 58.1% growth in the 2024 financial year, as reported on Tuesday. Checkers and Checkers Hyper reported sales growth of 12.3% with online sales from our Checkers Sixty60 on-demand platform increasing by 58.1%.. Shoprite and Usave reported sales growth of 10.7% and LiquorShop sales increased by 20%. Shoprite also reported that supermarkets RSA opened a net 201 stores versus 301 stores in 2023 including the stores acquired from Massmart) during the year to total 2 322 stores. Of these net new…
Residential estates with high-end fibre connectivity are valued by owners and tenants alike. This is especially true of estates with open access fibre infrastructure that provides a neutral platform for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to compete with each other. “First prize should be competition at the fibre infrastructure level that allows for non-exclusive fibre connectivity,” says Sasha Booth-Beharilal, chair of ISPA, South Africa’s official internet Industry Representative Body (IRB). “More than one fibre provider is ideal. At the very least, homeowners’ associations, body corporates and property developers should reject any potential fibre installation that does not allow for multiple Internet…
Cape Town will host an important gathering on digital identity initiatives and innovation in the SADC region at the end of September. Local digital identity start-up, DIDx is proud to announce that they, together with the renowned Internet Identity Workshop (IIW), will host DID:UNCONF AFRICA, a groundbreaking event set to revolutionise the digital identity landscape in the SADC region. This two-day open space ‘unconference’ will take place on 25 to 26 September at the Hasso Plattner Design School at UCT, following in the footsteps of its inspiration, the Internet Identity Workshop (IIW), held twice a year in Silicon Valley since…
Volvo Car South Africa is pleased to announce the arrival of a limited number of new XC60 Black Edition units, each boasting an eye-catching all-black design. With just 23 examples set aside for South Africa, the distinctive new Black Edition versions of Volvo’s popular luxury midsize SUV will reward their lucky owners with not just a fresh take on the brand’s understated Scandinavian design but also an extremely high level of exclusivity. The Black Edition treatment combines a stealthy Onyx Black exterior paint finish – a deep metallic hue with a brilliant sparkle in strong daylight and a solid darkness…
Growthpoint Properties has commenced construction on a green office refurbishment of its 36 Hans Strijdom Building, the Cape Town headquarters of Ninety One, in a move that reinforces both companies’ commitment to the Cape Town CBD and to sustainability. Ninety One, a global investment manager with South African roots, has been based at the Growthpoint-owned building in the Cape Town Foreshore for over two decades. Ninety One evaluated a number of options for its offices, including new construction, as its co-tenant in the building prepared to move to new premises. Its decision to remain at 36 Hans Strijdom was strongly…
HONOR has disrupted the South African smartphone industry once more with the official launch of its latest addition to the Number Series – the HONOR 200 Series, comprising the HONOR 200 Lite, HONOR 200, and HONOR 200 Pro. This is an accessible mid-range lineup that delivers flagship-level performance and an unrivalled studio-level portrait photography experience. HONOR hosted an exclusive launch event unveiling the devices to a host of media, stakeholders, and friends of the brand. During the launch event, the brand made landmark announcements of partnerships and collaborations it has pursued for the HONOR 200 Series campaign with much loved…
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) advises the public to act with caution if they intend to conduct financial services business with Durban Forex Group. The FSCA has received information that may indicate that the Durban Forex Group is possibly providing financial services to members of the public without being authorised to do so. Without making or communicating any finding in this regard, the FSCA points out that Durban Forex Group is not authorised in terms of any financial sector law to provide financial products or render financial services. The FSCA endeavoured to contact the Durban Forex Group, but it…
SEACOM, Africa’s leading telecommunications and managed services provider, today celebrated its 15th corporate anniversary by spotlighting the group’s impact on the continent’s ICT and connectivity journey. “15 years ago today, Africa’s trajectory was forever changed with the introduction of fibre connectivity. In that time, the SEACOM group has evolved to become not just a leading connectivity provider, but an industry leader in the provision of IT and enterprise managed services. We owe these achievements to the hard work and commitment of all our SEACOM colleagues, and the ongoing loyalty and support of our clients, partners, and stakeholders,” said Alpheus Mangale,…
June 2024 was a challenging month for South Africa’s automotive sector, with declines in both new and used car sales. According to AutoTrader, the used vehicle market – at 27,750 units – contracted by -6.4% versus the same month last year. The accumulated value of used car sales also declined in June 2024 – by -6% – to R11.312 billion. The accumulated value of the used car market in June 2023 was R12.029 billion. According to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council, the June 2024 new passenger car market – at 26,928 units – declined by -9.0% versus June 2023.…
The South African startup ecosystem ended 2023 on a high note. Demonstrating the resilience that has become a hallmark of the industry, the venture capital (VC) sector’s performance defied the downward trend in annual deals observed since 2020. The local information and communication technology (ICT) sector once again captured investor interest, underscoring its leading role in economic development and innovation. These insights were highlighted in this year’s SAVCA VC Survey Launch 2024, an annual research initiative by the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA). The survey was unveiled last week at an event held at the Westin…
Plentify, a pioneering climate tech company, has closed a 50% oversubscribed funding round from top African and North American venture investors to fuel its growth in South Africa and commence its international expansion. “Whether you’re trying to fix a weak grid like South Africa’s or make the transition to clean energy like every country in the world, the fundamental problem is the same—a mismatch between the timing of energy demand and clean energy supply. Plentify’s residential load management platform addresses this problem for 75% less than the cost of batteries,” says Jon Kornik, Co-Founder and CEO of Plentify. Plentify’s suite…
Digital payments service provider Peach Payments has acquired customer software development firm Operativa. The acquisition was the first by Peach Payments since closing a $30 million funding round, led by the Apis Growth Fund II, last year. The acquisition sees the full Operativa team integrated into Peach Payments, with Operativa co-founders Dayne Olivier and Ben Janecke taking on Principal Engineer positions. Olivier and Janecke have worked with Peach Payments since 2022, building and maintaining a number of the company’s payments systems and solutions. The pair and their team have been instrumental in building the technical architecture that has paved the…
If there’s one thing that moves South Africans deeply, it’s the power that sports holds to unite and ignite a collective spirit of passion and glory. South Africans embody greatness, each person carrying a spark of potential, whether they’re athletes or not. This is a nation where sports are more than games, matches, and lifting trophies—they are a source of inspiration and unity that resonates deeply within every heart, celebrating not only star athletes but also the unsung heroes who excel in their craft, often away from the spotlight, yet always giving their best to ensure every victory is a…
Whether you’re an athlete on the field or a fan amidst the roaring seats of a full stadium, you know the feeling – a racing pulse, mind, and body in focus with eyes on the goal and a confidence that can’t be extinguished. That fierce energy finally has an outlet with the arrival of Under Armour’s latest Unstoppable Collection, where the worlds of high-performance sport and street gear collide. Whether you’re a footballer, athlete, or fan – the Under Armour Unstoppable Collection goes beyond performance and allows you to FEEL your best to PERFORM at your best. “The confidence we…
Lula, an enterprise ride sharing platform which was launched eight years ago, has announced its acquisition of Zeelo’s operations in South Africa, a move that will see this local scale up grow significantly. The operations will transition to Lula’s tech-enabled ride-sharing solution, which enables people to be collected from their homes and taken to work and back again safely and reliably. Co-Founder and Executive Director, Xabiso Nodada, says that he – alongside CEO Velani Mboweni- started the business to connect people in emerging cities to economic opportunities, one shared ride at a time. “Without access to transport, you cannot access…
Novus Holdings has announced a R55 million investment in Bytefuse, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) company, to enhance its capabilities to deliver enterprise scale AI solutions. Having observed Bytefuse’s success in enhancing Maskew Miller Learning’s (MML) educational services through advanced AI solutions, Novus decided to acquire a strategic shareholding in Bytefuse. “AI is at the forefront of significant change in our society, and our work with MML demonstrates its potential to create significant value in education,” said Greg Newman, Chief Executive Officer at Bytefuse. “This investment from Novus Holdings will enable us to scale our solutions and bring AI-driven innovation…
The 2024 Pan-African Data Centres Exhibition and Conference opened at the Sandton Convention Centre today. At this gathering nearly 3,000 global data centre energy customers, as well as 120 integrators, consulting firms, and industry associations shared advanced technologies, industry insights, and highlighted innovation cases. As a key participant in the exhibition and conference, Huawei experts offered their latest insights and solutions for data centre (DC) construction as Africa enters the intelligent era. Huawei’s input in the conference agenda covered topics like data centre investment, planning, construction, servicing, and solutions. Huawei engaged with experts from well-known consulting companies and industry associations…
A recent survey has unveiled significant insights into the online shopping habits of South Africans, revealing a growing trend towards digital retail. Over 56% of South Africans shop online multiple times per month, with a notable 20% of these consumers making weekly purchases. This shift towards frequent online shopping highlights the increasing reliance on e-commerce platforms for everyday needs. Clothing and fashion dominate the online shopping scene, with 69.9% of respondents indicating that they regularly purchase apparel and accessories online. This category’s popularity can be attributed to the convenience of browsing a wide range of styles and brands from the…
Eskom announced today that the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has granted a license to continue operating Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1, which provides 930MW to the grid, for another 20 years until July 21, 2044. With this extension, Koeberg Unit 1 will join around 120 reactors worldwide that have safely operated beyond their initial 40-year lifespan. Eskom has safely operated Koeberg Nuclear Power Station for 40 years, investing in safety improvements and extensive maintenance to ensure its continued safe operation into the future. “Together with our business partners, we are proud of the achievement that ensures that Africa’s first…
Two top South African students, Thembelihle Khumalo and Thagisa Percy, have reaped the benefits of Huawei’s LEAP skills development programme, which included a trip to China. They plan on using the skills they acquired to ensure that South Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is as inclusive and equitable as possible. Standing for Leadership, Employability, Advancement and Possibilities, LEAP aims to advance young people’s ICT skills and employability in the region. At the recent LEAP Summit 2024: ICT Talent and Sustainable Development for Sub-Saharan Africa, held in Shanghai, China, a new target of training 150,000 students was announced, marking a significant…
The solution to address youth unemployment and the skills crisis lies in how we upskill and empower youth with relevant digital skills of the future before they enter the workplace. ICT certifications are not enough to meet the rate of change needed in the workplace and secure sustainable job creation. As a result, South African companies that hire and create jobs for young people with real life practical skills that meet the current and future skills demands of business will succeed. World Youth Skills Day, observed on July 15th, recognises the importance of empowering young people with skills for employment,…
Liquid C2, a subsidiary of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a pan-African technology group, proudly announces the expansion of its Cloudmania business into the Egyptian channel partner ecosystem. Cloudmania is Liquid C2’ award-winning distribution business unit for cloud and cyber security solutions with operations in 35 countries across the Middle East and Africa. Cloudmania’s strategic partnership with Microsoft has allowed it to equip numerous partners with cloud and cyber security services and solutions, including Microsoft 365 and Azure solutions, within a fully supported ecosystem. “Extending Cloudmania’s reach to Egypt reflects our confidence in the Egyptian economy following the launch of Liquid C2…
TurnStay, a South African travel-focused fintech, has secured $300,000 (over R5.4 million) from Silicon Valley and New York investors DFS Lab and DCG. The company plans to use the funding to expand into Africa and build on its significant traction. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs Alon Stern, co-founder of Slide Financial, and James Hedley, co-founder of Quicket, TurnStay reduces payment costs for African merchants and platforms in travel and tourism by leveraging strategies used by the world’s biggest booking companies. Stephen Deng, General Partner at DFS Lab explains: “TurnStay is building a much-needed offering for the African travel and tourism industry,…