Author: Staff Writer
Vodacom South Africa and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa have joined forces to pilot an AI innovative solutions aimed at protecting marine mammals from entanglements. “In South Africa, our coastal waters play a vital role in contributing to our socio-economic growth through industrial operations and tourism but also to our environment, hosting a diversity of species and minimising the adverse effects of climate change events,” Sitho Mdlalose, CEO at Vodacom South Africa, said. “As part of our commitment to ensuring we have a healthy planet for generations to come and accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals set…
Topco Media has set the stage for an inspiring convergence of thought leaders at the upcoming Future of HR Summit & Awards 2023, taking place at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton from November 22-23, 2023. This two-day summit with the theme Culture 3.0 – Navigating the Future of Work, promises an engaging and insightful experience with a stellar lineup of speakers poised to lead the charge in shaping the future of work and Human Resources. Graeme Codrington, a renowned Future of Work Expert and CEO of TomorrowToday Global, will kick off the event with a keynote address on “Redefining the Workplace.” Codrington…
South Africans have become used to excellent in-app security when it comes to banking and other online transactions. Looking ahead, passkey technology will mean we could soon enjoy the same unphishable, biometric-based solution in the browser, boosting consumer confidence and helping foster digital adoption. “As banking apps have become more secure, fraudsters have naturally looked to exploit the weakest link which, at the moment, is a combination of the browser and users being overly trusting. The usual username and password for browser login can easily be phished and fast talking social engineering can even dupe unsuspecting users into sharing OTPs…
The importance of collaboration to Africa’s digital growth trajectory was underlined at the recent AfricaCom conference, which took place in Cape Town from 13 to 16 November. Opening the technology conference, which is the largest in Africa, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele spoke about how important digital infrastructure will be in growing economies across the continent. Partnerships, he said, will be crucial to unlocking this growth. “As we transcend this journey of meaningful digital connectivity,” he said, “we hope to see more emerging opportunities in the telecoms and networking industry than before, with focus on improving network…
Yellow Card, Africa’s leading licensed Stablecoin on/off ramp, has been awarded the prestigious “AFIS Disrupter of the Year Award” at the 2023 Africa Financial Industry Summit. The award ceremony, held in Lome, Togo, recognised Yellow Card’s outstanding contributions to innovation and resilience in the African financial sector. The Disrupter of the Year Award acknowledges companies that have demonstrated resilience in challenging times and whose innovation represents a market disruption. Yellow Card emerged victorious in a field of strong contenders, including Moniepoint, Sparkle, Ejara, and Bamboo. The award was received by Chris Maurice, co-founder, and CEO of Yellow Card, who expressed…
To honour the ingenuity of South Africa’s pioneers, emerging enterprises, and small businesses, Telkom, a prominent technology firm, acknowledged outstanding businesses demonstrating resilience, expansion, and innovation. This recognition took place within the framework of FutureMakers, Telkom’s premier Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme. The event was distinguished by the participation of the Telkom Group Executive Committee (EXCO) and various stakeholders in the Enterprise and Supplier Development Ecosystem. Addressing the audience, Mr. Serame Taukobong, Telkom Group Chief Executive Officer, emphasised the important role the entrepreneurs and their businesses play in creating much needed jobs, alleviating poverty, and solving other societal challenges…
MTN SA has announced the launch of its compelling Black Friday deals for both new and existing customers, helping South Africans “Skip To The Good Stuff” this summer. Available from 17 November to 04 December 2023, customers can enjoy incredible savings on Mobile Internet, Home Internet, prepaid devices, and contract deals which include SIM Only and massive savings on the latest smartphones all of which includes Disney+ Mobile or Disney+ Premium subscription, providing access to the world’s best entertainment, all on SA’s best network, MTN. “At MTN, we’re all about “skipping to the good stuff” this summer. To ensure everybody…
Raisibe Morathi, group CFO at Vodacom, has been named South Africa’s CFO of the Year at the 10th Annual CFO Awards. The CFO of the Year was announced on Thursday,16 November, at the conclusion of the annual gala event for finance executives, held at the spectacular Polo Room at the Inanda Club in Sandton, Johannesburg. Raisibe was the big winner during the “Oscars of finance”, which celebrated its special 10th edition this year. She walked away with three of the ten prizes, including the CFO of the Year title, the Strategy Execution Award and the High-Performance Team Award. She was,…
MTN’s Fintech business today announced the appointment of Patrick Attoungbre as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fintech Côte d’Ivoire, effective November 2023. In assuming this role, Patrick will drive MTN’s Fintech business in Côte d’Ivoire, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion. Bringing a wealth of experience in the telecommunications and fintech sectors, particularly within the African continent, Patrick has nearly two decades of expertise. His previous executive roles within the MTN Group have positioned him as a highly respected leader in the industry. Serigne Dioum, Group Fintech CEO at MTN, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We look forward to…
inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, announces the launch of a new venture and M&A arm aiming to invest up to $100 million in promising startups. Seasoned entrepreneur and investment professional Andries Smit joins inDrive as vice president of New Ventures. New Ventures investments will focus on rapid growth and positive community impact with the following investment criteria: A mission that challenges injustice, improving the lives of individuals and communities Local market startups with potential for global expansion Post-seed/pre-Series A companies with proven product market fit Rapid organic growth Healthy economics and cash flow “Once an underdog and…
The Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, in partnership with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Dogpatch Labs Ireland is thrilled to announce the selection of five tech startups for the prestigious Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023. Now in its second successful year, the collaboration between the Irish Embassy in South Africa and the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct aims to forge mutually beneficial partnerships between South African entrepreneurs and Irish technology expertise, leveraging Ireland’s global tech hub status. This year’s Challenge saw nearly 300 entries from South African-owned, growth-stage tech startups focused on…
Global payment company Paycorp has unveiled CryptoExpress, an app designed to simplify the conversion of cryptocurrencies to cash for South Africans. The CryptoExpress app seamlessly integrates with users’ crypto wallets, enabling them to effortlessly withdraw their cryptocurrency as cash at more than 3,000 crypto-enabled Cash Express ATMs nationwide. Cash Express ATMs are operated by Paycorp subsidiary, ATM Solutions. Available on both iOS and Android, CryptoExpress features state-of-the-art encryption technology and robust multi-layer security measures, ensuring the highest safety for users. The app also includes an ATM locator feature to help users easily find the nearest Cash Express ATM. To withdraw cash, users simply convert…
Standard Bank’s Jörg Fischer was crowned CIO of the Year, at the first annual CIO Awards on 15 November 2023, a glittering gala event, dubbed the Oscars of IT. The exquisite event took place at the Polo Room at the Inanda Club in Johannesburg. The CIO of the Year Award, which was presented by Ziaad Suleman, chief commercial officer at EOH, CIO South Africa Principal Partner, the award recognises a CIO who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation, contributing to the success of their organisation over a number of years. Jörg is proud of the “exceptional” relationship between IT and…
Seacom, Africa’s converged ICT services provider, today announced the appointment of Lucas Malamule Ndala as the new Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), succeeding Richard Schumacher, who previously held the role. Ndala’s appointment as GCFO marks a pivotal moment in Seacom’s ongoing journey of growth and innovation. With a career spanning over two decades, Ndala brings a wealth of financial expertise and industry insight to the organisation. He has a remarkable track record, having served in various executive roles within the Telkom Group, including CFO, COO, Group Executive for the GCEO Support Office, and board member of the Telkom Group division,…
As part of AfricaCom 2023, Huawei this week hosted the Operations Transformation Forum Africa 2023 (OTF Africa 2023). The forum brought together leading African operators, industry partners and organisations, and other top experts to discuss how the telecoms industry can use digital intelligence to unlock new opportunities. Held under the theme, “Embrace Digital Intelligence, Explore the New Blue Ocean” discussions at the event focused on using innovative digital services to explore a new blue ocean for growth in the consumer and home markets by building unique advantages for carrier operators through advanced infrastructure and network convergence. Operators also shared their…
The Africa Fibre Forum 2023, hosted by Digital Council Africa (DCA) and co-sponsored by Huawei and the World Broadband Association (WBBA), took place in Cape Town and saw a multitude of stakeholders commit to accelerating the rollout of fibre across Africa. Set against the backdrop of Africa Com, the continent’s largest technology conference, the event brought together more than 100 industry leaders and experts from 50+ organizations, and several media outlets. Among the consensus points reached during the event is that digitalisation and globalisation have made the fibre infrastructure industry more important and relevant than ever. As such, having the…
1K Africa and Ascension Capital today announced an investment in Consumer Profile Bureau (CPB), a South African payment profile hosting credit bureau. This strategic investment reinforces their commitment to bolstering CPB’s innovative solutions and expanding its market presence. CPB, known for its credit bureau services, including tracing, credit verification and debtor profiling, goes beyond the conventional by offering real-time credit solutions to a diverse client base. These solutions encompass reporting and analytics, digital identification, paperless FICA and online data analytics. CPB operates as a registered credit bureau under South Africa’s National Credit Act No. 34 of 2005. Established in 1981, CPB…
Legacy Africa Capital Partners’ (LACP) Fund 1 today announced a significant investment for a minority stake in Welltec, a leading Financial Wellness Technology (FinWellTech) firm. This investment strengthens Welltec’s position in the market, allowing them to expand their bespoke financial wellness programs targeted at financial and fintech organisations. This investment arrives at a pivotal moment, as South Africans navigate a landscape of financial stress marked by high debt levels and an ailing economy. In these challenging financial circumstances, many consumers are turning to personal loans as a crucial lifeline, supplementing their income with unsecured credit. Welltec’s FinWellTech software plays a…
Tracker’s vehicle crime statistics for the period January to June 2023 reveal that hijackings still dominate, accounting for 55% of all national vehicle crime incidents versus theft at 45%. However, while the hijacking to theft ratio for personal vehicles is relatively even at around a 50/50 split, a business vehicle has a far higher hijacking propensity at 65% versus theft at 35%. The Tracker Vehicle Crime Index aggregates information from Tracker’s more than 1.1 million subscriptions. Tracker’s data indicates that a business vehicle is 59% more likely to experience vehicle crime and 32% more likely to experience hijacking than a…
Pick n Pay asap! is on track to refunding its customers for 19 days’ worth of groceries as the Proteas entered the semi-finals, having beaten Afghanistan last Friday. “This has unlocked a 1 in 4 chance for every qualifying asap! customers to recoup their grocery expenses,” says Vincent Viviers, Retail Executive: Omnichannel at Pick n Pay. The retailer has strategically backed the Proteas to win as it aims to deliver South Africa’s most extensive free grocery giveaway. All qualifying Pick n Pay asap! orders will be refunded if South Africa emerges victorious in the Cricket World Cup. This is elevating…
NAPAfrica, Africa’s leading Internet eXchange Point (IXP) and the sixth largest exchange globally, has welcomed social media platform TikTok to its growing community. At the same time, NAPAfrica announced a significant milestone in its growth journey by surpassing the 4Tbps (Terabits per second) traffic milestone, solidifying its position as the pivotal exchange for internet traffic across the African continent. NAPAfrica reached the 3Tbps traffic threshold in March 2023, representing a 33% growth in traffic volumes in under a year. “The presence of over 250 carriers and networks is the drawcard for content providers like TikTok to join the exchange,” says…
In 2023, competitive gaming and spending hours binge-watching a series is some of the most fun you can have with an internet connection. Both are wildly popular, and both transport us to weird and wacky locations where anything is possible, but which is better? Game On In May this year, the latest edition of the iconic Legend of Zelda game series sold 10 million copies in just three days. To put that into perspective, Drake’s latest album For All The Dogs sold the equivalent of 402 000 albums in its first week and is one of the best performing releases of 2023. Clearly, gaming is one…
Telkom today announced the Telkom Transformation and Innovation Awards, set for November 14, 2023. This annual event recognises Telkom’s support for technology-driven startups in South Africa. These awards highlight Telkom’s Enterprise and Supplier Development Programs, showcasing their significant impact on the local business ecosystem. The event also honors Telkom’s internal Transformation ambassadors, who drive positive change within the company by championing the Transformation & Innovation agenda across various business units. Dr Mmaki Jantjies, Group Executive for the Innovation and Transformation Office at Telkom, expressed her enthusiasm for the awards, stating, “One cannot emphasise enough, the importance of platforms such as…
TelCables South Africa, a local subsidiary of Angola Cables, and business-to-business ISP, TouchNet are set to advance and transform cloud connectivity for SMMEs, MSPs and enterprise businesses across southern Africa. This collaboration aims to enhance cloud connectivity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs), managed service providers (MSPs), and large businesses in southern Africa. By leveraging the Angola Cables global network, the partnership offers flexible and secure digital cloud solutions, enabling rapid expansion of digital infrastructure networks for corporate and enterprise clients. Sudhir Juggernath, CEO of TelCables Southern and East Africa said this collaboration is significant, “By leveraging the best of…
Following a series of continuous interest rate increases since November 2021, leading to a widespread debt and cost-of-living crisis in South Africa, Nedbank has stepped in to provide crucial assistance. The bank has extended support to nearly 2 million clients, enabling their rehabilitation. Additionally, Nedbank has aided 9,000 South Africans in retaining their homes, prevented over 80,000 individuals from losing their cars, and assisted more than 25,000 people in selling their vehicles and homes in the open market. All these interventions were made possible because individuals approached the bank seeking help. “Many South African consumers do not have to endure…