Author: Staff Writer

Handheld sniffer devices that detect trace amounts of explosives are growing in popularity in South Africa as the country grapples with a vulnerable commercial explosives supply chain. “Explosives detection at access points such as mine entrances, transport depots and border crossings is becoming a critical layer of defence against the fallout from illegal mining,” says Phil Smerkovitz, Managing Director of GoThermal, a South African-based, authorised distributor of FLIR Systems thermal imaging, night vision, and infrared camera systems, and a division of TeleEye SA. Companies like GoThermal that supply explosives detection technologies say demand for handheld trace detectors has increased as…

As South Africans continue to face rising living costs, unexpected expenses remain a major financial strain for many households. With funeral costs often reaching tens of thousands of rands, Vodacom is offering a practical solution, a free funeral cover that only requires a regular monthly mobile recharge. Through Vodacom’s new free funeral cover campaign, prepaid customers who recharge a total of R120 or more per month can qualify for R10,000 funeral cover at no additional cost. The offering represents extraordinary value at a time when financial protection is increasingly critical for South African families. Funeral cover can come with various…

With Easter and the school holidays just around the corner, FlySafair is encouraging passengers to pack smart so they can breeze through the airport and enjoy a smoother journey, especially when travelling with everyday tech like phones, tablets, laptops, cameras and power banks. A little preparation before heading to the airport goes a long way, particularly during peak travel periods when airports are at their busiest. “Most travel snags are avoidable with a little preparation,” says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair. “If you keep your essentials with you, have your devices easy to scan, and understand a few…

Happy Pay, one of Africa’s fastest-growing Buy Now Pay Later platforms, has secured a $5 million seed round led by global technology investor Partech. The round also included participation from Futuregrowth Asset Management, 4Di Capital, E4E Africa, Equitable Ventures, Summit Deals, the University Technology Fund and Felix Strategic Investments. The Cape Town-based startup, with more than 600 000 registered users, is building what it calls an ad-subsidised payments network, a model that removes interest and fees from consumer finance entirely, shifting the cost of instalments to the merchants and brands that actually benefit from the resulting sales. “Our mission is…

A new homegrown digital platform is looking to transform how South Africans discover and participate in local events, while opening up economic opportunities in townships that have historically been overlooked. Born out of a personal challenge to access information about local events after relocating to Durban, the Kasi2Kasi App was developed to solve a widespread gap – the lack of a central, accessible platform for community, business, and lifestyle events. Unlike traditional social media platforms, where event visibility is limited by algorithms and networks, the app enables users to search and filter events by location – down to suburb level,…

Disney+ and Hulu dropped the official trailer for the highly anticipated “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.” “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special” will be released on Disney+ and Hulu on Tuesday, 24 March — 20 years to the day that the original series debuted on Disney Channel. “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special” is a love letter to fans, filled with heartfelt nostalgia. Miley Cyrus revisits her most memorable moments in an exclusive, in-depth interview hosted by Alex Cooper. Viewers will also enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Miley’s archival collection, familiar faces and surprise guests, and a special musical performance by Miley Cyrus. The…

The stories that defined Showmax are not disappearing. Instead, they are finding a new home on DStv Stream, where a dedicated Showmax section inside the app brings together many of Showmax’s most acclaimed originals and fan favourites alongside the full live streaming experience available on DStv’s standalone streaming service. Showmax Originals and more will be available on DStv Compact and DStv Premium packages exclusively on DStv Stream. The move ensures that the award-winning African series remain widely available after the current Showmax service closes on 30 April, now within the broader DStv streaming experience. “Showmax helped unlock a wave of world-class African storytelling,” says Nomsa Philiso, Director Content, General Entertainment English and…

Small business teams are under pressure to move fast — often while wearing multiple hats and juggling customer conversations across sales, service, and marketing. You already have data about your customers, but turning that information into clear next steps — searching for context, clicking through tabs, and piecing together details — takes time you don’t have. Now, Salesforce is bringing artificial intelligence (AI) directly into Salesforce Suites — the CRM designed for small businesses and startups — so growing teams can turn context and customer data into action, faster. Teams can quickly understand what’s happening with customers, follow up faster,…

McDonald’s South Africa has announced its partnership with the Forbes Leading Women Summit 2026, reinforcing the company’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership and creating pathways for growth across the business landscape in Africa. As part of the summit, senior women leaders from McDonald’s South Africa participated in two panel discussions, contributing perspectives on leadership, entrepreneurship and the evolving role of women in shaping Africa’s economic future. Their participation reflects the organisation’s broader focus on developing women leaders across operational, management and ownership levels. Hosted by Forbes Africa, the summit brings together influential leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and change-makers from across the…

A major milestone in South Africa’s digital transformation was reached today with the official launch of the Maharishi NextUp Institute of Technology (MNIT). This “moonshot” initiative is housed in a dedicated 10-storey,   10,065 m2 campus at 56 Main Street, Marshalltown, which has been donated to the Institute by renowned South African tech pioneers and philanthropists, David and Tracey Frankel. The launch marks a critical expansion of the Maharishi Invincibility Institute’s (MII) “Education Town” vision—an urban renewal project aimed at revitalising the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) by transforming it into a vibrant, safe world-class hub for learning that leads directly into quality jobs. A World-Class Institute of Technology for…