Author: Staff Writer

Locally, digital solutions play a pivotal role particularly for underserved populations. As the digital landscape evolves and expands, many startups across South Africa are emerging as powerful catalysts for change, driving innovation in both urban and township economies. Among these pioneering ventures, there are certain companies that are making significant strides in addressing the unique challenges faced by South African consumers and small businesses. Here are some standout examples of small businesses that are leading the pack in their respective industries. Cloudy Deliveries Cloudy Deliveries was founded by Colin Mkosi in 2020. A delivery service similar to Uber Eats, this…

Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) today confirmed the attendance of  Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies, highlighting the conference’s pivotal role in shaping telecommunications across the region. Also, the speaker lineup, will be joined by keynote speaker Professor Benjamin Rosman, a pioneer in artificial intelligence. As a Director of the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand and Chief Science Officer at Lelapa AI, Professor Rosman’s work has significantly advanced AI and machine learning, with a strong focus on African innovation. His expertise in reinforcement learning and decision-making in…

Today the Shoprite Group opened its 100th Petshop Science store, with the opening of its newest location in Glen Marais, Kempton Park. It became the first local retailer to launch standalone pet shops in April 2021 in response to the country’s booming pet economy. With over 22 million pets in South Africa, consumers spend an estimated R8 billion on pet food and accessories annually, a number which is expected to increase by 2.5% by 2026. “Petshop Science’s rapid expansion accentuates the increased demand for specialised pet care, complemented by expert advice from knowledgeable employees,” comments Willem Hunlun, Chief Operating Officer…

Airtel, a leading telecommunications provider, is celebrating Customer Service Week with a renewed commitment to delivering exceptional customer experience. The weeklong annual celebration highlights Airtel’s dedication to recognizing and appreciating its customers, who are at the heart of the company’s operations. Speaking at the launch of Customer Service Week, during a groupwide Employee Townhall, Airtel Africa CEO, Sunil Taldar, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to providing superior experience and enhancing the customer journey across all touchpoints. “At Airtel, our customers are at the heart of everything we do; they are the reason we exist. Our commitment to delivering excellence in customer…

Comic Con Africa 2024 wrapped up on a high note, and  AXE, South Africa’s leading male fragrance brand, delivered a show-stopping experience that left fans buzzing with excitement. The AXE activation, which ran from Thursday, 26 September to Sunday, 29 September at the Joburg Expo Centre (NASREC), proved to be a highlight of the convention. Attendees were captivated by a blend of live performances, immersive VR zones, and a star appearance by AXE’s ambassador, Robot Boii (Mzwakhe Mbuli Jr.). Feedback from the activation has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees expressing their enjoyment of the dynamic, multi-sensory “Axe-pierance.” Robot Boii’s live…

StarSat, operated by OnDigital Media (ODM), confirms that earlier today, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), accompanied by the South African Police Service (SAPS), entered its Midrand offices and disconnected services. During this process, not only were ODM’s services impacted but also those of StarTimes Media’s pan-African broadcast. As the service provider to ODM and a subsidiary of the larger StarTimes Group, StarTimes Media holds a valid individual electronics communication network service (ECNS) licence for transmissions across Africa. “While we acknowledge ICASA’s mandate to shut down ODM’s South African services, we are appalled by the manner in which…

Last-mile delivery services depend on reliable vehicles to deliver precious cargo all across South Africa. These vehicles must traverse bustling urban environments as well as challenging rural roads. The Trusted Trio 3 main vehicles are favoured for last-mile delivery, two of which are from the Japanese brand, Nissan. The brand makes up 37.6% of Fastway Couriers’ delivery fleet, with the NP200 ranking first on the list of top 3 vehicles used for last-mile delivery. A 19.5% slice of the pie belongs to this workhorse while its stablemate, the NP300 gets 14.8%, followed by the Toyota Hilux in third place with…

South Africa’s first electric minibus taxi model, eKamva, was launched by a consortium led by GoMetro, alongside an integrated new electric vehicle (EV) business model and charging infrastructure product called flx EV at the Smarter Mobility Africa summit. eKamva was launched by a partnership of companies and research institutions, led by GoMetro, a transport technology platform. The partnership kicked off in 2023 to investigate and advance the feasibility of an electric minibus taxi in South African conditions by testing production vehicles in South Africa. The project team, consisting of GoMetro, Powerfleet (formerly MiX Telematics), HSW, ACDC Dynamics, and various entities…

OPPO recently released the newest member of its A series smartphones, the OPPO A60, in South Africa. Housed in a premium and functional design, the OPPO A60 features a 950-nit Ultra-Bright Display and Dual Stereo Speakers for next-level audio-visual experiences in every daily scenario. With more extensive storage and memory, a longer-lasting 5,000mAh battery with 45W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charge, and more, the OPPO A60 offers smooth and stable performance with exceptional efficiency, making it the ultimate summer accessory to get into the #KeDecember spirit! Trendy, Practical, and Durable Design In keeping with the iconic thin and lightweight design of the…

The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, has formally endorsed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. The Framework Convention is the first ever international legally binding treaty for the governance of artificial intelligence (AI). The Convention aims to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of AI systems are fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama, President of the IBA, commented: ‘The Council of Europe’s AI Convention establishes a necessary foundation to protect human rights,…