Author: Staff Writer

Topco Media, a leading events and media company, proudly hosted the Future of HR Awards 2023 on 23 November at the prestigious Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg with over 150 attendees. In this opening address, Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media emphasised the transformative role of HR in shaping the future of work. He stated, “It’s the people’s practices that allowed organisations to attract and retain the talent that achieved these results.” Reflecting on the conference, Fletcher highlighted the global competition for highly skilled talent and the need to showcase and celebrate African talent in the face of evolving challenges.…

JSE-listed Pepkor reports a 7.7% increase in annual revenue, reaching R87.4 billion for the full year ending September 30, 2023. The group’s operations demonstrated exceptional working capital management, resulting in a 15.9% rise to R13 billion in cash generation compared to the previous year. Pepkor, the owner of household brands such as Pep, Ackermans, Tekkie Town, Buco, and Incredible, maintained a store base of 5,917 at year-end. despite ongoing national challenges affecting the operating environment and consumer livelihoods, the group successfully secured market share gains in key product categories. Key market share gains in highly competitive retail segment While the…

The existence of Dark Matter is a long-standing puzzle in our universe. Dark Matter makes up about a quarter of our universe, yet it does not interact significantly with ordinary matter. The existence of Dark Matter has been confirmed by a series of astrophysical and cosmological observations, including in the stunning recent pictures from James Webb Space Telescope. However, up to date, no experimental observation of dark matter has been reported. The existence of Dark Matter has been a question that high energy and astrophysicists around the world has been investigating for decades. “This is the reason we do research…

Dell Technologies announced the winners of the South Africa Partner Awards 2023 at the recent Dell Technologies Forum held at the Kyalami Convention Centre.  The Awards recognise partners for growing their business within the Dell Technologies Partner Programme and unlocking new possibilities for their customers with transformational technology solutions.  Congratulations to all the winners of the Dell Technologies South Africa Partner Awards 2023:  ·        Partner of the Year: First Technology ·        Excellence in New Business Development: Ubuntu Technologies ·        Excellence in Expansion: Ubuntu Technologies ·        Excellence in Storage Sales: Nexio ·        Excellence in Server Sales: Dimension Data ·        Excellence in Client Solutions Sales: First Technology ·        Breakthrough Award: VIC IT Consulting ·        Excellence in Engagement: Ubuntu Technologies…

Next Travel Connect, an innovative South African firm, is poised to revolutionise the way global travelers maintain connectivity across more than 90% of popular tourist destinations. Introducing its cutting-edge global connectivity mobile network tailored for the contemporary traveler, Next Travel Connect not only provides competitive rates on unlimited data and voice plans worldwide but also distinguishes itself through comprehensive travel connectivity solutions. “Our mission at Next Travel Connect is to connect the world in a way that’s never been done before,” said Deepak Logan, Founder and CEO of Next Travel Connect. “We understand the pain points of international travellers –…

Volvo Car South Africa has announced that a special armoured version of the XC90 flagship SUV has joined its local line-up, offering select clients the option of ordering discreet ballistic protection directly from the Swedish luxury manufacturer. The armoured XC90 – which forms part of Volvo’s broader global product offering – provides certified 360° ballistic protection according to the NIJ-IIIA standard, without compromising on either comfort or performance. The ballistic certification test is carried out on the complete vehicle, based on the stringent NIJ-IIIA standard in combination with the VPAM BRV 2009 standard (B4). The armoured XC90 is thus rated to…

The Shoprite Group’s crime fighting efforts have resulted in a year-on-year decline in armed robberies and burglaries, and its successful prosecution of criminals has ensured sentences totalling 1 384 years and three months – including 24 life sentences – in the past three years.   In addition, suspects still awaiting trial – where the Group successfully opposed bail – have to date been in custody for the equivalent of 395 years and 8 months. “Our top priority remains creating a safer environment for our customers and our employees,” explains Oswald Meiring, Head of Group Security and Loss Prevention. “Securing arrests and…

In an effort to mitigate the impact of load shedding and bolster network resilience, MTN South Africa has spearheaded a comprehensive modernisation project across a number of provinces. This initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that alleviate the challenges posed by load shedding while fostering increased access to the advantages of a connected world.  As part of a broader modernisation strategy and significant investments to fortify network resilience against the disruptions caused by load shedding and criminal activities targeting power stations, MTN has achieved noteworthy milestones in multiple provinces. In KwaZulu-Natal, MTN has already modernised 245…

Pick n Pay Smart Shopper has introduced ‘Smart Hopper’ – an exciting game in its relaunched app which customers can play daily to win vouchers, helping them save even more. The gameplay involves customers navigating through several levels, reminiscent of classic arcade games, as they hop between virtual shelves to collect products. The game gets progressively more challenging, and the rewards increase as customers unlock new levels. The enticing rewards include 5X Smart Shopper points on select products or categories, bonus points for fuel purchases at BP, and exclusive cash-off vouchers. The game can be played daily so regular players can…

MTN Group and NEC XON, a subsidiary of NEC Corporation, announced the successful implementation of Africa’s inaugural 400G optical transponder solution, Phoenix. This groundbreaking endeavor marks a significant step for the telecommunications sector in Africa, holding the promise of transforming the landscape of optical network construction and operation, thereby revolutionizing internet delivery throughout the continent. The introduction of the Phoenix solution represents a notable advancement in the telecom industry, with the potential to reshape networking and connectivity not only within Africa but also on a global scale. MTN’s proactive adoption of this cutting-edge technology serves as a commendable example for…

The transformative power of technology education, giving back to communities and continuous learning were the key messages from speakers attending the annual Huawei Seeds for the Future 2023 programme launch in Woodmead, Johannesburg yesterday. Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s global CSR flagship ICT student training programme, running in South Africa since 2016 in partnership with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT). So far, 102 students have benefitted from the programme, which aims to ensure that tech-savvy and change-resilient young people have the skills and mindsets needed to be competitive in the workplaces of the future. The key…

South African startup Momint was named the Best Web 3.0 Startup at the recent Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa Summit held in Addis Ababa. Solving a crippling energy crisis is not for the faint-hearted. Neither is it just a South African conundrum. This is just one of the many challenges across Africa awaiting innovative solutions from its people. However, as recent achievements by South African start-ups and the investment community show, the tenacity, innovative thinking and sound investments needed to solve these problems are taking place south of the continent – a region ripe with talent and opportunity .South African innovators…

In advancing its commitment to environmental sustainability, through an investment of R100 million, Mercedes-Benz SAa (MBSA) will install 22 847 photovoltaic (PV) technology (solar panels) at its East London manufacturing plant, to convert sunlight into electrical energy and to contribute to carbon reduction in the manufacturing process. The additional photovoltaic solar energy forms part of the second phase of MBSA’s pursuit towards net carbon-neutral manufacturing. By 2030, Mercedes-Benz plans to cover more than 70 percent of the energy demand in production with renewable energies. A core element of Mercedes-Benz sustainable business strategy is Ambition2039, with which was already set the…

MTN South Africa and Huawei won the “Sustainability Champion of the Year” award at this year’s AfricaCom Awards. AfricaCom is the largest annual event in the communications industry in Africa. Its awards are designed to recognise organisations and institutions that have made innovative and outstanding contributions to the telecom industry in Africa. The award was given in recognition of their work in building flexible green site solutions. Developed against the background of South Africa’s ongoing power crisis, the solution uses green and intelligent technologies to perform end-to-end site reconstruction and reinforcement with power supply, distribution, load, and intelligent O&M. Thanks…

Retail investors and traders looking for a simple and cost-effective platform to grow their portfolios in their own way, can now do so with Clarity, by Investec. Backed by Investec’s trading and investing capabilities, Clarity is a new online platform that offers instant access to local and global markets – in rands or foreign currency (USD) – with a low minimum investment. Through Investec-issued contracts for difference (CFDs), investors can trade or invest in over 600 local and international shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). And they have the option of trading with or without margin, at any value. “We are…

Payments infrastructure company Stitch today announced the launch of a new payment method: Pay with crypto – the most comprehensive of its kind available in South Africa. With this method, businesses can allow a growing set of customers that wish to buy goods and services using crypto to do so directly, and get settled in ZAR.  Cryptocurrency adoption continues to grow in South Africa. A study from Binance indicates that around 7.7 million South Africans own cryptocurrency today, often purchased using popular exchanges such as Binance and VALR. Globally, interest in using crypto to pay for goods and services is…

MTN Group (MTN) has appointed Computershare Investor Services (Pty) Limited (Computershare) as the authorised service provider to manage the process of locating shareholders with unclaimed dividends. The objective is to update and verify shareholder information to facilitate the disbursement of any outstanding dividends.  Since the commencement of this initiative, a substantial number of shareholders have updated their records, leading to the successful distribution of over R17 million in dividends. In collaboration with Computershare, MTN continues to exercise due diligence in tracing shareholders to ensure the timely payment of unclaimed dividends.  Computershare has been entrusted with the task of identifying these…

The importance of 5G to Africa’s business success was underlined this week at the 2023 Africa 5G Summit (run as part of the sixth Southern Africa Mobile Broadband [MBB] VIP Salon). The summit was hosted by Huawei and took place during AfricaCom, the continent’s largest technology conference. It brought together industry leaders, regional government regulators, and representatives from industry organisations to share their 5G development strategies and industry experience. The theme of this year’s summit was “5G Lights Up Africa Together Towards Business Success”. Among the topics discussed were how operators in Southern Africa can continuously build value-added networks for…

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…