Author: Staff Writer

Capitec’s 12 million app users can now purchase Showmax streaming vouchers for as little as R22 per month—less than R1 per day—exclusively through the Capitec banking app. Showmax, which is aiming to become Africa’s leading streaming service, and Capitec, the biggest digital bank in South Africa, have joined forces to make entertainment and sport more affordable. 50% discount on Showmax streaming vouchers for 12 million Capitec app users  Showmax Entertainment Mobile priced at R22, Showmax Entertainment all devices at R49 and Showmax Premier League mobile at R34 per month Less than R1 a day for entertainment on mobile Capitec clients can…

African payment solution provider Peach Payments has appointed Uways Kureeman as its new country head and director for Mauritius. He reports to outgoing country head and director Sandeep Chagger, who took up the role of Group Chief Operating Officer in February. Chagger says: “We are committed to driving growth and innovation in the digital payments ecosystem of Mauritius. I am confident that Uways, with his substantial experience in technology implementations, strong business network, and passion for digitisation, will accelerate Peach Payments’ growth and innovation in Mauritius and the region. His successful leadership tenure as the General Manager of ICL in…

Cape Town-based startup Open Access Energy (OAE) has secured R13.6 million in funding from investment firm Factor E Ventures. This funding represents the first tranche of a $1.5 million seed round, supporting OAE’s mission to develop software solutions that address South Africa’s energy crisis. OAE has successfully created two software solutions that optimize transactions between Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Energy Traders, and consumers, including large offtakers like factories. The startup aims to revolutionize South Africa’s energy sector by enabling wheeling, enhancing grid reliability, reducing emissions, and generating new revenue streams for IPPs. “Open Access Energy has quickly become a major…

Vodacom is investing over R800 million this financial year to build new network sites, upgrade mobile networks, expand full fibre broadband, and launch energy projects, all aimed at enhancing broadband connectivity and delivering exceptional service. Importantly, to bridge the digital divide, new sites will be deployed in remote areas of KwaZulu-Natal that have never had connectivity before. “We are making a significant investment in the network in KwaZulu-Natal in order to achieve our goal of building an inclusive digital society,” Imran Khan, Managing Executive, Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal region, said. “Our goal is to give our customers an excellent network experience by…

McDonald’s South Africa (MSA) is collaborating with the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) to train 1,400 unemployed youth through a Hospitality Learnership Programme. This initiative aligns with CATHSSETA’s recently adopted High Impact Programme, which aims to empower unemployed individuals with skills that could lead to employment within McDonald’s and the broader hospitality sector. This initiative comes at a critical time, as continuous skills development is essential in countries with high youth unemployment rates. CATHSSETA is one of the 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) established under the Skills Development Act (No. 97…

According to a recent report, 1,514 incidents of attempted murder involving female victims were recorded between July and September 2023. Furthermore, females were victims in 14,401 grievous bodily harm (GBH) incidents reported to the police during the same period. In response to alarming statistics like these, the University of Johannesburg hosted an event focusing on the nightlife economy as a means to tackle critical issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment, human trafficking, and drink spiking. “The University of Johannesburg’s new project on the role of the nightlife economy in addressing gender-based violence brings together nightlife establishments, regulatory bodies,…

Eastgate in Johannesburg is set to become the home of Africa’s largest officially registered rooftop solar installation, according to an announcement made by the shopping centre’s owner on Monday. The ambitious solar project, which began with its first panel installation in 2020, is approaching its final stages and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Investing in solar power was a strategic decision taken by Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), as it provides a cost-effective, efficient and environmentally friendly means of generating electricity. L2D’s sustainability strategy includes the reduction of its reliance on the grid, which has improved operating…

A new study by the IBM Institute for Business Value found that surveyed CEOs are facing workforce, culture and regulation challenges as they act quickly to implement and scale generative AI across their organisations. The annual global study of 3,000 CEOs from over 30 countries and 26 industries, including South Africa, found that 64% of those surveyed say succeeding with generative AI will depend more on people’s adoption than the technology itself. However, 57% of local respondents say they are pushing their organisation adopt generative AI more quickly than some people are comfortable with. The findings also revealed that nearly two-thirds (65%)…

The threat of malicious Wi-Fi hotspots that intercept user data is nothing new, but fake Wi-Fi incidents have recently reached new heights. In a case from Australia, for example, a passenger was arrested for setting up fake Wi-Fi hotspots at the airport and on board the plane during the flight. There’s a good reason these days why passengers are more likely to use in-flight Wi-Fi: airlines are increasingly offering entertainment streamed directly to passengers’ devices rather than on the seatback screens. Once being connected to the airline’s media portal, they can not only have access to movies, music, games and…

AI is impacting nearly every sector including fraud. Generative AI technology has also spawned increasingly sophisticated methods of deception, with deep fake technology emerging as a significant threat in South Africa. Criminals are creating more advanced versions of impersonation fraud using AI-generated video and voice.  These are so convincing that businesses have been duped into transferring millions to scammers, like an employee at the Hong Kong office of a multinational company who transferred $26 million after unwittingly attending a video call with deep fakes of co-workers, including the company’s chief financial officer. A Luno staff member was recently targeted using…