Author: Staff Writer

As the holiday season draws near, it’s time to hit the stores and surprise your loved ones. Whether it’s the gift of love and appreciation during Christmas, or a good luck present to help someone special start a brand New Year, we all want to present a gift that’s practical in function yet also trendy in design. Oftentimes, it’s a struggle to find a gift that ticks both boxes, which is why we’ve put together a gift guide for those shoppers who need a little inspiration, starting with the latest trends in Lifestyle Tech. Accessorising with Tech: Fashionable Tech WearablesAs…

In recent years, South Africa has witnessed a concerning rise in cybercrime. The figures are alarming: according to Sophos’ The State of Ransomware in South Africa 2023 report, 78% of South African organisations fell victim to a ransomware attack last year. Ransomware isn’t a passing cybersecurity threat. Instead, it’s currently the biggest danger to organisational data and operations. These malicious attacks are evolving, becoming more evasive and dangerous. But there is a way to regain control. By leveraging NAKIVO’s ability to protect and restore data, businesses have not only slashed recovery costs by half but also ensured minimal recovery time and business…

More than 42 excellent students and lecturers affiliated with the Huawei ICT Academy programme in South Africa were honoured for their outstanding achievements in 2023 at the annual Huawei ICT Academy Awards Ceremony, held in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg. The top performing academies for 2023 were from; Majuba TVET College (Kwa Zulu-Natal), Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Venda, Walter Sisulu University and Durban University of Technology. Winning students and lecturers walked away with incentive prizes and certificates to mark their accomplishments in an event which highlighted the transformative power of ICT education in bridging the digital divide.  Kian Chen,…

Picture this:  you’ve meticulously planned your dream holiday – visas, flights, hotels, all set. Your heart races with excitement, but in the midst of it all, you’ve missed a vital detail: how are you going to stay connected on your epic global adventure?  If you’re thinking of figuring it out when you land, brace yourself for a nightmare.  You’ll either queue for ages to buy an overpriced local tourist SIM or be slapped with astronomical roaming charges from your current network operator. But what if we told you there’s a smarter and simpler way? Next Travel Connect is here to rewrite…

MTN South Africa today announced price increases for postpaid contracts that will take effect from 1 February 2024. The price increases come at a time when the company continues to invest in network resilience to ensure that customers enjoy a high-quality network experience, despite continued national power cuts, ongoing crime at sites and a weaker rand against the dollar.  The adjustment encompasses an average increase of 4.3% on customers’ total monthly bills (which include all elements such as insurance, device fees, out-of-bundle spend, itemised billing etc). According to Monetary Policy Committee statement of November 2023, the South African Reserve Bank…

Sanlam, the largest non-banking financial services group in Africa, has recently launched its cutting-edge fintech business cluster. Led by a globally competitive exco team, Sanlam Fintech represents a strategic move within the Sanlam Group to expand its existing fintech offerings and ensure that all aspects of the $8-billion (R143-billion) listed corporation’s services are digitally-driven.  The overarching goal is to use tech to accelerate access to financial services for all Africans, delivering on the group’s purpose: to help Africans live with financial confidence. The cluster will be led by a powerful group of heavy hitters, headed up by Riaan van Dyk as…

A new year is upon us! It’s a time for relaxation, reflection, and making plans for the next twelve months. We might do some cleaning, clearing out the previous year’s clutter, and get our thoughts in order for when we return to our offices, dorms, and classrooms.  Take some of that time to attend to your computer. Laptops and PCs become slower as they accumulate clutter, such as files and browser tabs. Your workflow might also struggle with disorganised files, emails, and bookmarks. A little housekeeping can do wonders for your and your computer’s performance.  “Excessive digital clutter can hinder…

Cost-Benefit Analyses are showing that Private 5G networks offer a compelling – and continually growing – value proposition for mines.  This is according to Gary Woolley, Executive: Private Networks at Comsol, who says that while Private 5G is still cutting-edge technology just starting to make its presence known in mining, it is already demonstrating clear value. An Ericsson report found that a 5G-enabled smart mining can deliver an ROI of 207% in ten years in surface mines, and 256% ROI in underground mines. With five high-value use cases deployed simultaneously, complete payback was achieved in just three years. Woolley says Comsol, with a track…

Huawei South Africa has handed over 79 rigging kits to 14 of its telecommunication site construction and maintenance subcontractors during a ceremony at its Woodmead campus in Johannesburg. The handover forms part of Huawei’s commitment to supplier development and supporting small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the ICT sector. In addition to the handover, the company has assisted several SMME partners with equipment donations and environment, health, and safety (EHS)-related training to support their operations. “Huawei is cognisant of its role in skills transfer and supporting small, medium and micro enterprises to benefit not only our business objectives, but…

Huawei unveiled its latest tablets, laptops, and earbuds at the Huawei Innovative Product Launch event themed “Creation of Beauty” in Dubai today. Among the new devices launched at the event were the HUAWEI FreeClip — a pair of fashionable earbuds with an open ear design, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2″ — Huawei’s largest tablet to date, a refreshed line up of the MateBook D 16 laptops, and the PaperMatte Edition of the popular MatePad Air. This latest product launch follows in the footsteps of the “Fashion Forward” event in October, which saw the unveiling of a new line up of wearable…

Humane, a clandestine startup formed by a formidable collective of former Apple personnel, led by co-founders Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, launches its mobile virtual netowk operator (MVNO) to offer wireless services for AI Pin.  Humane  has chosen Optiva’s full-stack BSS solution to help power the billing, network integration and value-added services for its users. Ai Pin’s seamless integration into daily routines will enable users to take the full power of AI everywhere, elevating your interactions with the world through its growing list of capabilities. With Ai Pin, Humane is defining a new class of devices to bring AI to…

The Anzisha Prize, the biggest award on the continent for very young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 22, has just announced the opening of applications for its upcoming funding cycle. This time, the focus is on green entrepreneurs who combine innovation and sustainability, and are passionate about making a positive impact on the environment. A green entrepreneur is an individual who identifies and develops business opportunities that address environmental challenges their communities face while also generating financial profits. They are driven by a passion for sustainability and a commitment to creating a positive impact. The category also covers a broad range…

Entersekt, the financial authentication company, today announced it has acquired the Modirum 3-D Secure software business from Modirum, a digital payment security provider for an undisclosed sum.Modirum is a leader in enabling authenticated, card-not-present payments with a history dating back 25 years. Modirum’s cloud-based 3-D Secure (3DS) technologies and services authenticate digital payment transactions globally in numerous payment systems, hundreds of issuers, and thousands of merchants, as well as enable 3DS transactions for hundreds of millions of cardholders. “Financial institutions are fighting to stay ahead of fraud threats, and are dependent on disparate, siloed authentication tools used for various banking…

The Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) has issued an alert against eGadgets.co.za, an online retailer selling electronic goods, for failure to deliver goods that have been bought and paid for by online shoppers. Of the 32 consumer complaints lodged with the Ombuds office against eGadgets in the last 12 months, only 11 have been successfully resolved. Lee Soobrathi, Ombudsman for the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud, says that the supplier has ceased to cooperate with the CGSO, resulting in the office having to close 17 unresolved cases and referring the consumers to open new cases with the regulator. This is despite numerous attempts by the CGSO to engage with eGadgets to resolve the complaints. “When a supplier refuses to cooperate, the CGSO issues a Termination Notice, effectively closing the case, so that the consumer can escalate their concerns to the National Consumer Commission (NCC). This is because the NCC has powers of investigation and sanction, that we – as a mediation body – do not,” says Lee Soobrathi. According to the Ombudsman, eGadgets has consistently failed to fulfill customer orders within the stipulated timeframes, despite…

The last thing any South African wants this festive season is to have their celebrations interrupted by an unplanned power outage or a sudden escalation in load shedding. To ensure that we can enjoy energy security this festive season, Huawei is running a massive promotion on its all-in-one Power-M solution. The promotion, which has seen Huawei significantly reduce the price of the solution, also includes installation and financing (if necessary) through partnerships with Verteco and Absa respectively. The promotion also includes a hardware warranty as well as a six-month guarantee on installation through Verteco. Installation complies with the South African…

Fairbairn Consult, a leading financial advisory firm, and a member of the Old Mutual Group, launched its second Fairbairn Café at N1 City Mall on 1 December 2023.   This launch follows the success of the pioneering store in Kenilworth Centre which opened its doors earlier this year, marking a significant leap in the company’s mission to make financial advice accessible, approachable, and enjoyable for all. Nassief Mohamed, founder and owner of the first two Fairbairn Cafés, says his vision was inspired by the communities’ need for accessible, professional financial advisory services in a unique, relaxed setting. Mohamed says, “Customers…

Telkom is expanding its network of consumer touchpoints with the roll-out of a T-Connect electric vans, providing a range of services across South Africa, in a disruptive retail innovation. As part of the Telkom commitment to constantly improving customer engagement within communities, this festive season will see the deployment of six Telkom T-Connect vans. These vehicles will bring digital services to events, beachfronts, office parks and gated communities in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal. Locally manufactured by South African company MellowVans, the electric vehicles are driven by previously unemployed youths who earn commissions from sales and sign-ups. All drivers…

Khoi Tech’s ground-breaking Afriwatch1 smartwatch is now available online and at selected Telkom stores.  Khoi Tech – an innovative,100% BEE, Soweto-based company – created the Khoi Afriwatch1 health and fitness smartwatch in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. They pitched their concept to Telkom, who were thrilled by the potential and provided R500,000.00 grant through their FutureMakers programme. Through dedicated research, development and clinical trials with leading Soweto healthcare provider, Vilakazi Health Care, Khoi Tech refined the technology achieving an incredible 94% accuracy on average for vital health data. The Khoi Afriwatch1 smartwatch offers users real-time information on key health metrics…

Proparco, the French development finance institution, and 27four, a South African investment manager, led R550m investment in Divercity Urban Property Group alongside reinvestment from its existing shareholders. The investment is intended to fund portfolio growth and balance sheet optimization. “This significant investment in Divercity will enable us to develop over 2,500 new apartments,” Carel Kleynhans, CEO of Divercity, said:. “This helps us to demonstrate the impact and commercial viability of this economically-productive, sustainable and fundamentally empowering urban development model.” The majority of affordable housing in South Africa is located at the urban periphery, far from economic opportunities and essential amenities.…

In an informal online shopping survey conducted by PayPal among South African’ residents*, 74.5% of respondents indicated that their reason for shopping from international online stores, is to obtain unique products that are unavailable in South Africa. Some of the most commonly purchased items fall into the categories of books and media (25%), electronics (20%) and beauty and skincare (14.7%). Clothing and fashion items, however, is a clear frontrunner with over two thirds of respondents (76%) indicating that they purchase these items, several times a year, from international online stores. “Given the rise in sites such as Etsy and Shein,…

Solar solutions have taken centre stage in South African homes. The quest for an “always on” lifestyle has propelled consumers into a crucial crossroads: should you rent or buy your solar system? As we navigate the landscape where cost saving and uninterrupted power supply meets environmental consciousness, understanding the differences between owning and renting a solar system becomes precious. After all, the end goal remains the same – harnessing the sun’s power to electrify our homes. Renting vs. buying: The key differences “When you decide to rent a solar system, you agree with a solar service provider to use their…

Dell Technologies has released 2024 predictions by Dell’s John Roese, Global Chief Technology Officer, highlighting emerging trends that are set to shape the technology industry in 2024 and beyond. “The center of the universe for 2024 is AI. Next year will be all about putting AI into practice at the edge, diversifying the hardware pool and securing it through Zero Trust. We’re entering an AI era so need to recognise that long term, AI will drive architectural change across the entire IT ecosystem for many years to come,” said John Roese, Global Chief Technology Officer. ”Actively think of AI but…

MTN Business, in collaboration with Huawei and Verteco, has launched the Power-M inverter and battery solar solution tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Huawei Power-M is designed to provide a space-efficient and digital backup power solution for SMEs. With its versatility, Power-M can cater to the power requirements of various business setups, ranging from small offices to larger establishments. For more than a decade, loadshedding has adversely affected businesses throughout the country, leading to substantial disruptions, decreased productivity, and financial setbacks. The frequency of loadshedding days has escalated in recent years, reaching record levels and further exacerbating the difficulties…

Airbus and BMW Group have jointly initiated a groundbreaking global Quantum Computing Challenge named “The Quantum Mobility Quest.” This challenge aims to address the persistent and formidable challenges in aviation and automotive sectors that conventional computers have struggled to overcome. Distinguished as the inaugural initiative of its kind, this challenge marks the collaboration of two major industry giants. “This is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on quantum technology and its potential impact on our society. Partnering with an industry leader like BMW Group enables us to mature the technology as we need to bridge the gap between scientific…

Sanlam Investments, one of South Africa’s largest black-owned asset managers in South Africa, reaffirms its commitment to sustainable investing through a new R46 million sustainable infrastructure deal. The Sanlam Investments Sustainable Infrastructure Fund is funding a portion of the joint venture (JV) between Alien Fuel Group and Sappi in Umkomaas, KZN, known as Mkomazi Alienfuel (MAF). This project will provide crucial baseload renewable energy derived from biomass to Sappi’s dissolving pulp manufacturing plant in Umkomaas, one of the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, where Sappi currently employs approximately 1,500 employees. Dissolving pulp is derived from cellulose from woodfibre and…