Author: Staff Writer

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…

Google is rolling out its Search Generative Experience (SGE) in the SSA region as an opt-in experiment in Search Labs. This AI-powered experience is available in English.  With new breakthroughs in generative AI, Google is reimagining what a search engine can do and is bringing these powerful new capabilities to Search in a bold and responsible way. This powerful new technology can unlock entirely new types of questions that Search could not previously answer, and transforms the way information is organized in Search to help people sort through and make sense of what’s out there. Improving Search with generative AI …

In today’s digital landscape, two prominent players are set to reshape the decentralised payments scene in South Africa: MetaMask and Xion Global. Their collaboration is not just a fusion of strengths; it’s a vision, a roadmap to the future of payments in South Africa. Web3 Payments in South Africa MetaMask (MM), globally recognised as the world’s leading self-custody wallet with 30+ million users, serving as a bridge to the decentralised web and a primary wallet provider for web3 payments on Xion Global. With that in mind, Xion Global offers a user-friendly web3 payment solution, ensuring that both tech enthusiasts and everyday users can…

Volvo Car South Africa has announced Black November specials giving customers who purchase a new SUV through Volvo Car Finance* during November or December 2023 up to six months of instalments absolutely free**. Rather than limiting these new finance deals to Black Friday, the Swedish luxury automaker has opted to extend its promotions across the months of November and December, allowing local buyers ample opportunity to take advantage of these savings. Customers who purchase a new XC40 through Volvo Car Finance during the final two months of 2023 will receive their first four months of instalments free. Meanwhile, those who buy…

Bank Zero has confirmed that its commitment to Zero bank fees remains strongly in place. This announcement comes in the wake of the recent Mid-Term Budget, and an ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the country.  “We see our promise of Zero bank fees as central to our brand’s unique value proposition, as shown by our four-year track record,” says Michael Jordaan, Chair of Bank Zero. “Some believed this was a gimmick, but in fact it’s fundamental to who we are. There’s one pricing structure for all our customers, and those fees that are Zero will stay Zero.”  Bank Zero offers free…

Think Tank, a visionary technology solutions and social enterprise company is proud to announce the launch of vCampus, a cutting-edge digital learning platform designed to cater to individuals, universities, and businesses across diverse industry verticals.  vCampus – a paradigm shift in education Representing a transformative wave in the education sector, vCampus provides the intersection where digital technology meets the thirst for knowledge and skill enhancement. It offers a unique ecosystem for two essential roles: content creators and learners. Content creators, often subject matter experts in their respective fields, can now partner with vCampus to share their expertise with the world.…

eAgronom, the agriculture-focused climate tech company helping farmers adopt sustainable practices for the health of their farms and the planet, has achieved a major milestone in its outreach focused on the African continent. By the end of 2023, eAgronom will have onboarded 200,000 hectares of agricultural land on the continent into its carbon credit program. Using sophisticated soil health tracking technology and hands-on education in sustainable farming practices, eAgronom is making farms across Africa into carbon sinks that fight global emissions. These farms are spread across Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. East and southern Africa are regions of enormous…

BlackBrick, Africa’s fastest-growing apartment hotel apartment network, has sold 80% of its Bedfordview urban resort, which is being developed in partnership with Growthpoint Properties and in association with BlackBrick Developments.   Set inside a 35,000sqm forest, BlackBrick Bedford is positioned perfectly between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport. The development is enjoying brisk sales as it nears completion at the end of 2023. BlackBrick Co-Founder Jonathan Liebmann explains that Blackbrick Bedford is prime real estate because of its strategic location, great range of amenities and facilities, and mix of investment options with projected returns in excess of 11% for investors. BlackBrick Bedford is…

At the recent Southern African Railways Association, Huawei revealed how its connectivity solutions are enabling the digital transformation of the railway industry. Its Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) solution, 5G Digital Indoor System, and Rail Cloud offerings, in particular, could make for a vastly improved, safer, and more efficient railway experience.   “During SARA 2023, we talked to railway operators and the consensus is that we are all looking for solutions that make railways smarter, safer, more visualised, more efficient, and more reliable,” says Guo Guoqing, President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Enterprise Business, adding that communication technologies will be crucial…

The digital customer experience (CX) landscape is continually evolving, with AI playing an ever-growing role in helping businesses, including those in the finance sector, build their relationship with their customers, helping to set them apart from their competition. Conversational AI is a gamechanger for banks and financial institutions, enabling the complete reimagining of the digital customer experience by driving meaningful business value via increased operational efficiency. “Early changes in the application environment saw multi-channel communication taking centre stage where customers could interact using channels such as voice, chat, web self-service, email, and the like,” says Brendan van Staaden, who heads up MoData…

The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation today announced the five teams advancing to the Finalist Round of the Milken–Motsepe Prize in Green Energy. Each finalist team will receive $70,000 to further develop and test their designs in a live field test demonstration in South Africa next year.The finalist teams are: AfTrak Micro Electric Agriculture and Energy (https://apo-opa.info/3QprXQS), for its innovative system of using solar microgrids to power custom-designed tractors for deep-bed farming; GEG ehf. (https://GEGpower.is/), for its solar- and geothermal-powered hybrid renewable energy system; New Digit Technologies (https://apo-opa.info/40q1yXR), for its compact, portable device to generate energy and purify water; OMNIVAT…

MTN South Africa today announced that it would be contributing R30 million to the SA Rugby Growth Fund, R10 million per year for the next three years, in recognition of the Springbok’s historic victory at the Rugby World Cup.  Charles Molapisi, CEO at MTN SA, the principal sponsor of the Springboks, offered his heartfelt congratulations to the Boks today, saying, “We are deeply privileged to have been a part of this journey alongside the Springboks. Each one of you has consistently shown us what nation-building, unity and unwavering dedication can achieve. This R30 million contribution is to help SA Rugby ensure that…

Vodacom Financial and Digital Lifestyle Services is launching VodaLend Personal Loans with the aim of providing a responsible credit solution for South Africans who need to secure extra funds in a tough economic climate. The new offering, in partnership with Old Mutual Finance, a registered credit provider, gives customers and non-customers alike convenient access to a personal loan of up to R250 000. “We understand that the high cost of living and other economic pressures are taking their toll on consumers. Through VodaLend Personal Loans, we are offering an accessible, trusted and reliable financial solution backed by a reputable partner, which can…

DRIVEN by the freight transport sector, South Africa’s freight and logistics market is expected to boost the economy by $21.53 billion (R409.7 billion) in 2023, while online retail sales will more than double that contribution to $46 billion (R875.38 billion) within two years¹. City Logistics CEO Ryan Gaines says development in the outlying areas, coupled with exponential growth in e-commerce, are significant factors for the country’s booming logistics sector. “This growth is evident not only in the frequency of truck deliveries, but in warehousing investments required to accommodate the demand. The retail sector in particular is seeing a volume growth of 6% year-on-year,”…

MFS Africa, Africa’s largest digital payments network, is thrilled to unveil its new identity: Onafriq. This rebranding is not just a name change but a reflection of the company’s evolution and its vision for the future. As Dare Okoudjou, founder and CEO, puts it: “The name MFS Africa, just like an old jacket, was getting a little tight for us as we’ve grown. We’ve expanded beyond just mobile financial services, becoming a true omni-channel platform across the continent and beyond. As we embark on this next phase of our journey, we wanted a name that reflects our aspiration of wiring up…

Hollard International will extend its footprint in Africa through the finalisation, on 31 October 2023, of an agreement to acquire a significant interest in Apollo Investments Limited, the holding company of Kenya-headquartered insurer APA Insurance. This strategic investment, subject to regulatory approvals, gives Hollard International a presence in the East African market, supplementing its existing operations in Southern and West Africa. Hollard becomes the second international investor in the Kenyan group, following Swiss Re, which acquired a stake in 2014. For APA, the partnership gives Kenya’s second-largest insurer access to a larger market and expanded opportunities for growth, says Ashok…

Volvo Car South Africa is pleased to announce that a new Polestar Engineered Optimisation performance package – which has long been offered on various other Volvo nameplates – is now also available for all plug-in hybrid T8 derivatives in the local line-up. “South Africa is the only market on the African continent currently offering this latest Polestar Engineered Optimisation package for the renowned plug-in hybrid T8 powertrains,” said Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa. Every XC60 and XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrid derivative using the T8 Twin Engine AWD powertrain is eligible for this latest optional software-based upgrade, which enhances…

Huawei and the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the purpose of creating a non-exclusive framework of cooperation for the transformation of the SADC region’s railway transport and corridor logistics to enable seamless, efficient, smooth, cost-effective and quality railway corridor services on all SARA Corridors. The signing took place during SARA’s annual exhibition and conference in a ceremony witnessed by Eng. Agostinho Francisco Langa Júnior, President of SARA and Guo Guoqing, President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Enterprise Business and all SARA members. The MOU is designed to help address an urgent need in the railway…