Author: Staff Writer

Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a pan-African technology group, announces a distribution partner agreement (DPA) with Eutelsat Group that will see enterprise-grade Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services being made available in Africa. Eutelsat Group is the world’s first satellite operator with an integrated GEO-LEO infrastructure. “Liquid has always been committed to technological innovation in Africa,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies. “Our collaboration with Eutelsat signifies a milestone in bringing cutting-edge LEO services to our customers across multiple countries in Africa, empowering them with high-speed solutions and unlocking new possibilities for connectivity.” The strategic integration of the OneWeb…

It was good news all round for the South African motor industry in April this year, with both new and used car sales showing growth. According to used car sales data released by AutoTrader, used car sales rose by 7% year-on-year last month, while month-on-month growth was 5%. The accumulated value of used cars sold last month – at R11.7 billion – increased by 4.01% month-on-month and 9.8% year-on-year. A total of 28,725 used cars (average price R407,849, average mileage 75,015km and average age of 6 years-old) were sold last month. This compares to 26,751 sales in April 2023 and…

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) and the Gift of the Givers Foundation have joined forces to restore and enhance Gqala Primary School in Tsholomnqa, Eastern Cape. The school, home to over 150 learners, faced displacement and educational disruptions following the aftermath of gale-force winds in 2023. The collaboration, valued at R2.5 million saw the reconstruction and refurbishment of the school premises, alongside the provision of essential learning materials and uniforms for the students. “We are honoured to have been a part of this project and see it come to life beyond a concept. For Mercedes-Benz, it is about more than building…

On a seemingly ordinary Thursday, actress KB Motsilanyane sparked intrigue and speculation as she proudly showcased her academic achievements from Regenesys Business School. Motsilanye proudly attained her Bachelor of Business Administration from Regenesys Business School, igniting a flurry of skepticism among netizens. Doubts emerged regarding the legitimacy of the institution she graduated from, prompting a closer examination of its credibility. Known for her excellent work on the former eTV show Backstage, she shared on her Instagram page that she has bagged a degree in Business Administration from Regenesys Business School. Briefly reported that the controversial blogger and gossipmonger Musa Khwula…

Paratus Group, a leading pan-African telecommunications provider, has signed with BSO – the global pioneering infrastructure and connectivity provider serving the world’s largest financial institutions – as its first customer for the recently launched Paratus Express Route. This ground-breaking fiber route provides the fastest connectivity between Johannesburg and Europe, with an impressive latency of just 123 milliseconds. BSO, known for its low-latency connectivity solutions for businesses operating in time-sensitive industries, is now able to enhance its service offering by using Paratus Express Route. Michael Ourabah, CEO at BSO, said: “We are excited – not only to be the first customer…

RMB takes a $100 million or R1.8 billion bet on Powerfleet, a global telematics business listed on the Nasdaq, with a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The entity was created from a merger between Powerfleet and Mix Telematics (Mix). The combined business aims to become a top-tier global provider of Internet of Things (IoT) and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions that optimise the performance of mobile assets. The debt facility from RMB was tailored to cater for significant complexity in this multi-jurisdictional business. It will enable the merged Powerfleet entity to leverage the strengths of each…

South African entrepreneurs Eldrid Jordaan and Goitse Konopi have successfully listed their new technology venture, Suppple, on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The company has a market capitalisation of £200 million (about R4.6 billion) and its shares are priced at £2 each. This strategic move aims to bolster Suppple’s financial stability and enhance its attractiveness to investors, which is expected to support the company’s plans for expansion into new markets and sectors. The founders, Prof. Eldrid Jordaan and Goitse Konopi, coupled with their visionary leadership in GovChat laid the groundwork for Suppple. Under their stewardship, GovChat launched as South Africa’s official…

Based on recent research, here are the top 10 cheapest wireless fibre providers in South Africa, including their pricing, speeds, and an evaluation of their reliability. This table can help you compare the options and make an informed decision: Provider Speed Price/Month (ZAR) Reliability Reasons for Top 10 Zoom Fibre 15 Mbps R345 High Affordable, reliable, good entry-level options​ ​ Openserve 20 Mbps R299 High Very affordable, wide coverage​ ​ Vox Telecom 10 Mbps (Frogfoot Air) R289 High Low price, good for light usage​ ​ Clear Access 8 Mbps R325 Medium Low-cost, moderate reliability​ ​ ITNT 25 Mbps R425 High…

As the digital landscape in South Africa evolves, online scams have become increasingly sophisticated, posing significant risks to individuals and businesses alike. Here are ten prevalent scams to watch out for in 2024: Deepfake Impersonation Scams: Scammers use AI to create realistic fake videos or audio clips, often impersonating CEOs or family members to trick victims into transferring money. Investment Scams: Fraudulent investment schemes promise high returns. Always verify the legitimacy of the investment platform. Charity Scams: Fake charities solicit donations, especially during crises. Verify charities through reputable databases. Coronavirus Scams: Scammers exploit COVID-19 fears with fake testing kits, vaccines,…

First Battery, a long-standing name synonymous with automotive batteries, has announced the appointment of Shane Petersen as the company’s Director of Sales and Marketing. With an illustrious 93-year history deeply rooted in automotive batteries, First Battery has been a trusted provider of powering vehicles across South Africa’s varied terrain. Petersen brings to First Battery a wealth of experience from his extensive career spanning mobility, energy, and multinational enterprises. With a profound understanding of market dynamics and a track record of strategic foresight, he is poised to lead First Battery into a future where energy liberation is not just a mission…

Sungrow, the global PV inverter and energy storage system provider, has solidified its presence in South Africa’s renewable energy sector with two significant agreements recently inked. The company has forged partnerships with Herholdt’s and ARB, both prestigious distributors in South Africa. The signing ceremony marked the commencement of an official distribution agreement, whereby Sungrow is committed to providing a comprehensive range of products and services to these esteemed partners. This diverse offering comprises inverter and storage solutions tailored for residential and commercial & industrial applications. Additionally, Sungrow will offer extended support and comprehensive after-sales services to ensure smooth operations and…

ESMT Berlin and the BMW Group are partnering for the third time to offer BMW Group Change Maker Fellowships. The 10 full-tuition fellowships for the ESMT Global Online MBA will support ambitious young mathematics or technology professionals to accelerate positive and meaningful change from selected markets including South Africa. The BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship builds on the long-term partnership between ESMT and the BMW Group. After supporting displaced women from Ukraine and young professionals from Central and Eastern Europe, the 2024 edition will focus on digitalization to cultivate tech-savvy future leaders in key countries. “We at the BMW Group…

As the South African on-demand delivery industry flourishes, the concept of motorbike advertising, pioneered by MotionAds, has seen over R10 million paid to drivers who embraced the concept of advertising on their delivery boxes in the past five years. Founded in 2019 by two young local entrepreneurs who identified an opportunity to brand the thousands of delivery bikes on the road, MotionAds integrates brand exposure while empowering drivers to earn additional income by carrying third-party advertising on the top box of their bikes. This shared-value model approach has seen drivers cumulatively earning over R10 million since 2019, up from just…

Audi South Africa has added Urban Editions to the Q3 SUV and Q3 Sportback lines. These editions come with standard features. They sit between Advanced and S line options. Black Editions are still the highest tier. “Following an overwhelmingly positive response from customers and the media alike to our recently launched Q3 Black Edition models, we’ve chosen to expand the Q3 special edition offering to include this new Urban Edition trim line. Supported by our Audi Assured guaranteed future value financial offers, the new Q3 Urban Edition options emphasise outstanding value, considered design additions and carefully chosen convenience items,” says…

A group of six outstanding young South African scientists are set to showcase their scientific brilliance at the world’s largest pre-college Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition in Los Angeles, California in the USA. These exceptional individuals got the opportunity to represent the country at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) from 11 – 17 May 2024, following their successful entries in the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF), held in October last year. More than 1 600 young scientists from around the world will compete at this year’s ISEF at the Los Angeles Convention Center, standing…

HUAWEI Consumer Business Group today announced last night at the launch held in Dubai the HUAWEI WATCH FIT 3, the latest edition of the brand’s WATCH FIT Series. Since its inception, maintaining a fashionable, trendy and slim profile has been the guiding design principle of the HUAWEI WATCH FIT series of square watches. Following four years of being in the market and three generations, the all-new HUAWEI FIT 3 is a refreshed version of its predecessors in both design and technology. It features a comprehensive upgrade in square design, material craftsmanship, and interactive design – cohesively innovating the smartwatch’s design…

As South Africa anticipates the upcoming 2024 National Elections, Telkom proudly reaffirms its pivotal role in facilitating the seamless execution of this cornerstone of our democracy. Serving as the trusted ICT partner to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Telkom stands poised to enable yet another milestone in South Africa’s democratic journey. Since our nation’s inaugural democratic elections in 1994, Telkom has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the IEC, facilitating six national elections and five municipal polls. As Mzansi commemorates 30 years since the first democratic elections, the proudly South African Telco’s commitment to excellence shines brighter than ever. “This partnership with the…

Volvo Car South Africa today announced that the first Moss Yellow examples of the new EX30 have made local landfall, bringing an expressive new hue to this game-changing fully electric car’s colour palette. While yellow is not a shade typically associated with modern-era Volvo models, it is a hue that has featured throughout the Swedish firm’s storied history, having been applied in various forms to iconic vehicles such as the P1900, the 1800ES and, perhaps most famously of all, the limited-run 850 T-5R. This new iteration, dubbed Moss Yellow, was conceived specifically for the EX30, which serves as the cornerstone…

Western Digital has expanded its SanDisk portfolio with the new 8TB* SanDisk® Desk Drive, its highest capacity yet on an external desktop solid state drive (SSD). Featuring the speed and reliability of an SSD, this new class of drives gives content creators and business professionals an easy way to back up and access their high-resolution photos, videos and files quickly in a single, convenient location. From photo and video pros to tech enthusiasts, there are a growing number of digital creators generating massive amounts of content who need flexible high-capacity storage solutions to do more, faster. “As digital content creation…

The SPAR Group (SPAR) has been approved for a secondary listing on A2X Markets (A2X) and its shares will become available for trade on A2X from 15 May 2024. SPAR has wholesale warehousing and distribution operations in Southern Africa and parts of Europe that support over 4 500 stores through 14 distribution centres. It operates in 11 countries and reported revenue of R149 billion in 2023. In Southern Africa, SPAR has over 1000 grocery stores, almost 900 TOPS at SPAR liquor stores, 400 Build it stores and 125 pharmacies. TOPS at SPAR and Build it are South Africa’s largest liquor and…

Audi South Africa today announced the return of the Audi driving experience, set to take place in Gauteng at the famed Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. Following the resounding success of 2023’s relaunch, which ignited widespread enthusiasm among Audi fans, this year’s event promises to elevate the adrenaline even further. The Audi driving experience is not just a track day; it’s a premium, performance-based, advanced, full-day driving programme meticulously designed to unleash the potential of Audi driving technology. From July to November, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of high-performance driving with three events: Event 1:…

The surge in AI technology deployment and demand for more efficient cloud storage drives the growth of data centres globally, with the north and east of Johannesburg in South Africa a preferred location for big data centre operators, underscoring the country’s relevance in the global data centre landscape. Areas including Midrand and Samrand in the north and Isando and along the R21 highway in the east already have a high concentration of data centres with the likes of Africa Data Centres, BCX, NTT, Vantage and Teraco. Suitable available land attracts big data centre operators, however, the availability of electricity is…

Amazon, the US-based e-commerce behemoth, has discreetly unveiled its online marketplace dedicated to South Africa, now live at amazon.co.za. Amazon announced the launch of Amazon.co.za, providing customers in South Africa with a new online shopping experience. Available by either downloading the Amazon Shopping App or visiting www.amazon.co.za on desktop or mobile browsers, customers can now discover and shop from a selection of local and international brands across 20 different product categories, take advantage of great prices, and enjoy same-day and next-day delivery. For products fulfilled by Amazon, customers will enjoy free delivery on their first order, followed by free delivery for subsequent…

JSE-listed Attacq today announced that Attacq Waterfall Investment Company (AWIC) will buy 20% undivided share of the leasehold rights and rental enterprises of the Mall of Africa from Att MOA 20 Proprietary Limited. Post the transaction, AWIC will own 100% of the Mall of Africa. AWIC is 70% held subsidiary of Attacq. Att MOA 20 Proprietary Limited is beneficially held by Atterbury Property Holdings. The purchase consideration for the Undivided Share is more than R1 billion, which equates to an initial forward yield of c.8.0% (based on estimated net operating income for the 12 months ending 30 June 2025, inclusive…

Stack Overflow, a Prosus company, and OpenAI today announced a new API partnership that will empower developers with the collective strengths of the world’s leading knowledge platform for highly technical content with the world’s most popular LLM models for AI development. “Stack Overflow is the world’s largest developer community, with more than 59 million questions and answers. Through this industry-leading partnership with OpenAI, we strive to redefine the developer experience, fostering efficiency and collaboration through the power of community, best-in-class data, and AI experiences,” said Prashanth Chandrasekar, CEO of Stack Overflow. “Our goal with OverflowAPI, and our work to advance…