Author: Staff Writer
Dar es Salaam, April 2nd, 2026: Vodacom Tanzania today announced the successful transformation of its M-Pesa platform following a $28 million strategic investment, marking one of the most significant fintech infrastructure upgrades in the country’s history. The move transitions M-Pesa from its legacy G2 system to a next-generation financial technology platform built for scale, resilience, and innovation, positioning Vodacom to meet the accelerating demand for secure and seamless digital financial services across Tanzania. “This investment is about futureproofing one of Tanzania’s most important financial platforms. We are strengthening the foundation of M-Pesa to ensure it remains secure, reliable, and ready…
Maziv, South Africa’s leading open-access fibre infrastructure provider, has announced a landmark R9 billion investment pledge at the sixth South Africa Investment Conference. This significant capital commitment, spanning the next five years, is set to accelerate the country’s high-speed digital rollout and includes a dedicated pledge to create 10,000 direct and indirect job opportunities over 7 years, reinforcing Maziv’s role as a primary driver of South Africa’s digital economy and infrastructure development. The pledge follows the approval of Vodacom’s acquisition of a 30% stake in Maziv by the Competition Commission and ICASA and marks a transformative chapter for Maziv and…
A study by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the National Planning Commission (NPC) has laid bare the scale of investment required to connect every South African household to high-speed broadband by 2035. The newly completed South Africa’s Digital Connectivity Investment Roadmap to 2035 provides a comprehensive assessment of the country’s progress toward universal broadband access. It identifies critical investment gaps, priority actions, and partnership opportunities needed to expand reliable high-speed infrastructure and accelerate the shift toward an inclusive digital economy. The research translates national digital policy ambitions into a rigorous, costed, and fiscally aligned investment roadmap for Digital Connectivity…
After just two years at the helm, Harry Kellan is stepping down as CEO of FNB, with Lytania Johnson appointed as his successor as part of a sweeping restructuring across FirstRand’s banking operations. Kellan, who took over as FNB CEO in April 2024 after serving a decade as FirstRand group CFO, will retire early at the end of 2026—bringing a 22-year career with the group to a close. Johnson brings 25 years of experience at FNB to her new role, having led the personal banking segment for the past three years. She will now serve as FNB CEO while also…
Healthbridge, South Africa’s leading health technology company, has acquired Nora, an ambient AI medical scribe that converts doctor–patient conversations into structured clinical notes, reducing administrative burden and saving doctors up to three hours a day, allowing more time for patient care. The deal marks a significant AI acquisition in South African healthtech. Developed by Nora AI, a London-based healthtech start-up, the transaction concludes an 18-month incubation partnership in which Healthbridge held a minority shareholding and signals the company’s commitment to embedding AI capabilities directly into the core of its Healthbridge Clinical platform. The numbers behind the deal are hard to…
Huawei South Africa showcased its Xinghe portfolio of AI-driven networking solutions at its IP Club 2026 event. AI-driven networking is moving from theory to deployment, and Huawei South Africa is leaning into that future. A key part of that is its Xinghe portfolio – a suite of AI-driven solutions designed to secure and optimise enterprise networks – showcased at IP Club 2026. The event drew more than 450 customers, partners and industry stakeholders. This shift is driven by growing pressure from increasingly sophisticated, AI-driven cyber threats. As these threats evolve, traditional security models are falling short. Companies now need systems…
Cannes, France- Global crypto derivatives exchange Zoomex has announced that it will attend the Hack Seasons Conference on April 1 in Cannes, France. The event, hosted by Metaverse Post, is part of the broader Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) week and is expected to bring together developers, institutional participants, and Web3 infrastructure builders from around the world to discuss industry trends and the evolution of underlying infrastructure. Engaging in Industry Dialogue, Focusing on Trading Infrastructure As one of the key annual gatherings within the Ethereum ecosystem, EthCC continues to attract participants from across sectors. Discussions around trading infrastructure, liquidity conditions, and…
Vodacom’s VodaBucks loyalty platform has once again been recognised for excellence, taking home multiple prestigious accolades at the inaugural African Loyalty Awards. These included Best Programme: Telco, Best Use of Gamification, Best Long-Term Loyalty Programme in Southern Africa, and Best Overall Long-Term Loyalty Programme of the Year in Africa. The awards celebrate Africa’s most customer-centric brands and loyalty programmes, recognising innovation, impact, and measurable value delivered to consumers across the continent. VodaBucks strong showing reinforces Vodacom’s position as a leader in loyalty innovation, underpinned by a shared-value model that continues to redefine the customer experience. The accolades were presented during…
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the local availability of the Galaxy S26 series and the Galaxy Buds4 series. As Samsung’s third generation of AI (artificial intelligence) phones, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 deliver the most intuitive and proactive Galaxy AI1 experiences yet, helping users accomplish more with fewer steps. Galaxy S26 Ultra: Where Innovation Leads Galaxy S26 Ultra brings together Samsung’s most advanced innovation in a single device – powerful performance, an excellent camera system, enhanced intuitive Galaxy AI and the Samsung’s first mobile phone with a built-in Privacy Display2. Privacy Display, which has drawn widespread praise since its unveiling,…
Marking a decade of impact in advancing South Africa’s small business ecosystem, Telkom FutureMakers has launched TrailblazeHER, a three-month Women-in-Tech Enablement Accelerator designed to scale black women-owned technology enterprises within the digital economy. Over the past 10 years, Telkom FutureMakers has supported black-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to build sustainable businesses, unlock market access, and grow within an increasingly digital landscape. TrailblazeHER represents a focused next step, deepening this impact by accelerating high-potential women-led tech businesses. The programme will support 10 black women-owned suppliers within Telkom’s value chain through a targeted blend of executive leadership coaching, specialised technical…
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…
South African businesses are entering a new era of tax compliance as the SA Revenue Service steadily modernises its tax ecosystem. They will be compelled to work on upgraded eFiling and e@syFile platforms, use e-invoicing and e-reporting as their standard, and align with SARS’ modernisation of the VAT system. These changes are not yet mandatory, and draft legislation points to a phased rollout to be completed around 2028. This may seem distant, but preparation today can prevent operational headaches tomorrow. Renaldo Muregess, Head of Software Pre-Sales at Itec South Africa, says that the sooner businesses understand the changes and align…
A new trailer and poster for “Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord” are now available to download and share. The all-new animated series from Lucasfilm Animation will premiere exclusively on Disney+ 6 April, 2026. Two episodes will premiere each week, with the final two airing on the ultimate Star Wars holiday, May the 4th. Set after the events of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” this pulpy adventure finds Maul plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire. There, he crosses paths with a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan who could be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.…
In a major boost for rural education, Telkom has partnered with the Eastern Cape Department of Education to bridge the digital divide at Sitoza Senior Secondary School. The initiative officially relaunched the school’s ICT laboratory with a handover of 30 laptops and 30 MiFi connectivity devices, each equipped with preloaded SIM cards and data packages. The intervention provides crucial digital access to a school celebrated for its grit, determination, and consistent academic excellence. This handover builds on a transformative year for Sitoza, following the redevelopment of its campus unveiled by Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane in January. Lerato Mostoeneng, Managing Executive:…
FlySafair has introduced new one‑tap payment options in its mobile app, allowing customers to pay for flights quickly and securely using Apple Pay and Google Pay. The new payment methods, powered by Stitch, form part of the airline’s ongoing focus on using technology to simplify the booking experience and remove unnecessary friction for customers. Stitch is a South African payments infrastructure company that enables secure, seamless transactions online and in-person. Passengers using the FlySafair mobile app can now complete their flight purchase with a single tap, using payment details already stored on their phones, eliminating the need to manually enter…
South African property portal MyProperty has introduced AI voice search, becoming the first property platform in Africa to allow users to find homes by simply speaking to the website. The new technology forms part of a major upgrade that moves the South African portal onto the MyProperty Africa platform, a next-generation system designed to make it easier for buyers, sellers, renters and estate agents to navigate the property market. With the upgrade, users can now interact with the platform using natural voice prompts such as “Show me houses under R2 million in Centurion” or “Find two-bedroom apartments near Sandton with a…