Author: Staff Writer

Gulf Capital, an operationally focused private equity firm investing from the GCC to Asia, announced today the successful completion of its exit from iSON Xperiences (iSON), a tech-enabled emerging markets customer experience and delivery partner that offers Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services across India and Africa. Gulf Capital and AfricInvest had invested around $50 million in iSON to accelerate the company’s growth. During the partnership period with Gulf Capital, iSON completed three bolt-on acquisitions that allowed the company to expand its geographic coverage across Africa including Egypt and South Africa, in addition to expanding its product offering and capabilities. iSON…

Today, RMB announced the extension of its longstanding partnership with China Construction Bank (CCB) for an additional five years. This collaboration, established in 2009, facilitates cooperative efforts between the two entities, leveraging their individual strengths. CCB has been instrumental in supporting various Chinese enterprises in their investments and trade activities in Africa, while RMB contributes its extensive on-the-ground expertise to enhance these initiatives. RMB CEO Emrie Brown said: “We have, since we first started partnering with CCB, together facilitated over R20bn of trade and provided over R6n of financing to Southern African companies. CCB was also an anchor funder of…

Driven to offer Africans hope, dignity and opportunity, MTN Group this week celebrated the 25th anniversary of MTN Rwanda at a gala event attended by President Paul Kagame and other dignitaries.  President Kagame commended MTN for its commitment over the years: “Who else would have found it easy to invest in a country that had just emerged from our tragic history, as we know it? We took risks, both of us, you took a risk with us, and we took a risk with you, but here, 25 years later I think we can say we are happy. “ Speaking at the…

On Thursday, October 26, 2023, Vodacom Group will commence secondary trading on the A2X Stock Exchange, allowing holders of its ordinary shares to trade on this platform. The primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) will remain unchanged, and the company’s issued share capital will not be impacted by this additional listing. This move offers investors an alternative trading venue, complementing the company’s primary listing. Vodacom Group CFO Raisibe Morathi says, “We are pleased that the secondary listing on A2X has been approved. As we grow and having recently accelerated our growth profile by completing the acquisition of a…

Outsized, a platform for top-tier independent talent in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its Series A funding round. Led by South African venture capital firm Knife Capital, the round also includes investment from several private investors including Adrian Durham, founder of the global wealth management platform FNZ Group. The Investment enables Outsized to strengthen its position as the leading growth markets player in the global $5 billion freelance platform market. The company will grow its team in sales and engineering, expand in existing regions, and accelerate product development for both enterprise…

Write Your Future campaign launched in South Africa last month. The local campaign is spearheaded by a pilot project, which launched in Mashite, Limpopo on 20 September, with plans to roll out countrywide over the next few years. Aimed at enabling high-potential women aged between 18 and 25 through digital education, Write Your Future is being delivered in partnership with Social Coding, a Non-Profit Company (NPC) which helps under resourced communities to leverage technology for a better future. First launched in 2017, the Lancôme Write Your Future, brand social responsibility program has empowered more than 150 000 young women around…

In a country battling an unemployment crisis, Altron is proud to announce the launch of their 2023 IT Services graduate programme.  A survey conducted by the Manpower Group in 2022 found significant talent shortages across most sectors in South Africa, reaching as high as 78%. Among these sectors, IT stands out as one of the most in need of skilled talent. Altron’s 2023 graduate programme will see an intake of over 80 young professionals. “Key to any South African business is the need to upskill and build a talented workforce, a commitment that tackles two of the most pressing challenges facing the…

Mompati Mall is set to transform Vryburg in the North West province with its brand-new shopping experience that will launch to the public on 26 October 2023 with a spectacular grand opening. Vryburg’s very first mall, the ground-breaking new 22 700sqm shopping centre development by Twin City, is set to be a retail game-changer, introducing an eagerly awaited one-stop shopping, leisure and entertainment experience for locals and visitors alike. Named in honour of local icon Dr Ruth Mompati, Mompati Mall will welcome shoppers with a diverse mix of 68 retail stores and dining options and a food court, complete with…

Today, Amazon announced that it will launch Amazon.co.za in 2024, providing South African-based sellers the ability to reach customers across the country starting next year. More than 60% of sales in Amazon’s store are from independent sellers—most of which are small and medium-sized businesses—providing a vast selection of products, competitive prices, and great convenience for consumers. Starting today, independent sellers in South Africa can register their businesses on sell.amazon.com/south-africa. “We look forward to launching Amazon.co.za in South Africa, providing local sellers, brand owners, and entrepreneurs – small and large –  the opportunity to grow their business with Amazon, and delivering…

Entersekt has announced a one-call, real-time API that will enable banks to automate cardholder updates and close the gap on e-commerce payment card fraud. With RealSync, the real-time API, card-issuing banks can now immediately act if a customer reports a credit card lost or stolen, to prevent them falling victim to online fraud. Additionally, the single API integration enables banks to connect the API without the time and costs required for multiple API integrations. “Many banks still rely on outdated batch upload processes for card holder information and card status, which means consumers who need to cancel or block a…

Omnia announced today, a strategic partnership with Swedish-based Hypex Bio Explosives Technology (Hypex) and the acquisition of a minority equity stake in the company. Hypex is at the forefront of innovative and sustainable civil explosives solutions and has developed a ground-breaking emulsion using hydrogen peroxide (HP), offering substantially enhanced environmental benefits compared to conventional products. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for both Omnia and Hypex as it will notably enhance the ongoing development and commercial rollout of Hypex’s HP emulsion technology in key markets. Additionally, it provides Omnia, the parent company of global blasting solutions provider BME, with access…

Sasai Money Transfer, a business of Cassava Technologies and one of the fastest growing international money transfer operators has announced the expansion of its money transfer service from South Africa and the United Kingdom into Lesotho through a partnership with Econet Telecom Lesotho’s EcoCash Spache Fono (mobile money wallet). According to the World Bank, remittances in Lesotho account for up to 22,5% of the GDP with inflows from South Africa reaching $477 million per year while $3 million inflows come from the United Kingdom. Over 50% or these remittances into Lesotho are sent to rural areas The Executive Head for…

One reason to consider why shoppers abandon purchases is hidden costs – 51% of South Africans prefer the delivery charges to be rolled into the cost of the goods, says DHL Online Shopper Survey. The survey discovered that being up-front about delivery charges – or rolling them into the product’s pricing – can reduce cart ditching. DHL eCommerce has surveyed 11,500 shoppers from 13 countries to gain a unique insight into their e-commerce purchasing patterns. The 2023 Global Online Shopper Survey offers insights into where and why consumers shop cross-border, what they buy and spend, their attitudes to delivery and…

Frogfoot Networks, a licensed open-access fibre infrastructure provider, has acquired Garden Route Networks and Route Networks to extend its connectivity and infrastructure capabilities along the South African coast. The acquisition allows for the organisation to seamlessly improve its capabilities and service delivery to existing customers while opening up the opportunity to connect with new customers using a robust and highly agile infrastructure. “The acquisition of these two companies is a natural fit for us as it extends our footprint and we gain more density which is a good fit for our infrastructure,” says Shane Chorley, CEO at Frogfoot Networks. “It…

As part of ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide by providing tech-driver education, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Hon. Mondli Gungubele, today unveiled a state-of-the-art ICT Laboratory at Nyanga High School in the Eastern Cape. The ICT Lab, built through the Telkom Foundation’s Connected Schools programme, is expected to empower more than learners, teachers and unemployed youth around the Engcobo with the ICT skills and devices they need to thrive in this increasingly digitalised world. Telkom is the backbone of South Africa’s digital future through its network infrastructure which provides an unrivalled footprint of connectivity across the…

Deel, the all-in-one HR platform for global teams, today launched Deel IQ, a global work assistant powered by AI. Deel IQ allows employers from small startups and larger enterprises to access reliable global HR information and insights effortlessly. Underpinned by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Deel IQ is enhanced by access to Deel’s Global Knowledge Base—informed by a 200-person in-house team of local HR experts and lawyers. These resources give Deel IQ the power to turn any organization into a global HR expert with a single source for compliance information. Businesses leveraging Deel IQ can get accurate information on local laws and best…

From loadshedding to ever-increasing inflation, food cost increases and rising petrol prices, 2023 has been another tough year for consumers. So, this summer, MTN is doing what it takes to help South Africans ‘Skip to the Good Stuff’ with the very best deals and special offers on SA’s best network.  “After another taxing year, we believe it’s time that South Africans get their moment to ‘Skip to the Good Stuff, doing summer their way and experiencing it in the style best suiting them. Whether that means taking it easy, settling into it, or hitting it full on, ‘KeDezemba’ is around…

A massive inter-governmental search and seizure operation across five provinces was carried out today to break the back of a sophisticated criminal syndicate of alleged coal-smugglers, who played a major role in exacerbating the energy crisis and loadshedding. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) was the lead agency in today’s search and seizure operation because information became available regarding a host of tax crimes allegedly committed by members of the coal-smuggling syndicate. This success of today’s operation is due to exceptional inter-governmental co-operation and information-sharing under the auspices of the NATJOINTS Energy Safety & Security Priority Committee tasked with unmasking…

A business case for the electrification of municipal vehicle fleets was recently developed by the City’s partner GreenCape, who has done a case study on the three year Electric Vehicle (EV) pilot project. The City’s Fleet Management Department funded the project and elected the City of Cape Town Traffic Services fleet to form part of this initiative.   ‘Our aim with this pilot project was to eventually have a solid local business case for the electrification of municipal vehicle fleets. Municipal fleet managers who are exploring the procurement of EVs for their fleets now have this case study to refer to…

Tripplo, the Johannesburg-based innovative logistics software platform, has secured a $1.8 million or R33.8 million equity investment to close out its seed funding extension round. The round was led by Futuregrowth Asset Management (representing Old Mutual Life Assurance Company South Africa) and followed by Galloprovincialis. The two investors join Standard Bank of South Africa, Founders Factory Africa and Digital Africa Ventures. This capital injection will further enhance Tripplo’s vision of becoming the best logistics platform globally and its mission of revolutionising the logistics industry, driving innovation and efficiency in the movement of goods. “We are thrilled to welcome Futuregrowth Asset…

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, the impact of cyber threats and reduced availability of resources can’t be overstated. Businesses need high-performing, secure and easily managed storage more than ever. At Dell Technologies World in May, we announced updates across our storage portfolio in two key areas we’ve identified as critical to success: cyber resiliency to secure and protect data everywhere and breakthrough efficiency to lower both operational and energy costs. PowerStoreOS 3.5 kicked off the year with software-driven innovation to address these requirements, introducing features that accelerate Zero-Trust security adoption and improve operational efficiency. But we’re not done yet. PowerStore’s 3.6 release continues to help…

The majority of South African car shoppers are inclined towards owning an electric vehicle (EV) in the future, according to the 2023 South African Electric Vehicle Buyers Survey. Unsurprisingly it’s the youth (24-35 year-olds) rather than the oldies (over 65) who are most likely to be future EV buyers.   But the EV’s higher price remains its biggest drawback along with charging time, lack of charging infrastructure and impact of load shedding. Its main advantages according to respondents? Reduced carbon emissions, reduced air pollution, and cheaper running costs. “The perceived disadvantage regarding the initial cost to purchase has decreased by 3.4% from…

Dutch-based technology platform Lisa BV will launch its smart leasing platform in South Africa after acquiring its core leasing technology platform from Inospace, South Africa’s largest last-mile logistics operator. Rael Levitt, founder and CEO of Inospace, announced Lisa’s breakthrough market entry today and confirmed that Inospace has entered into a three-year license agreement for Lisa to manage its half-a-million-square-metre property portfolio. Several South African property companies have already contracted with Lisa, which is rolling out its solutions to listed and unlisted property companies with portfolios of more than 200,000 sqm and 200 tenants. “Inotech was launched in 2021 to market…

Global investment manager with South African roots Ninety One has signed a new long lease with Growthpoint Properties for the building it has been in for more than two decades, signalling its commitment to the Cape Town CBD and environmental sustainability. Ninety One is based at the Growthpoint-owned 36 Hans Strijdom building in the Cape Town Foreshore, which it shares with Investec. However, next year Investec will be relocating to its new building at the V&A Waterfront. In a decision that was greatly influenced by Ninety One’s net zero carbon aspirations, after evaluating multiple options for its offices, including new…

Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid), a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, has partnered with wingu.africa a pioneer provider of carrier-neutral data center services in Tanzania, and the foremost specialist carrier-neutral data center group in East Africa to introduce the second Azure Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) stack. This investment from Liquid Tanzania will provide a more conducive environment for local businesses to accelerate their digital transformation journeys.“In 2021, we were the first to bring Azure Stack to Tanzanian businesses, helping them gain access to cloud solutions that met the local data regulatory requirements and efficiently run latency-sensitive business applications. This…