Author: Staff Writer
After becoming the country’s first retailer to tap into the Roblox space in 2022, Game launches Season 2 of ‘the Game game’ on the platform on 4 August 2023, bringing with it a new first for South Africa – locally-inspired and designed user generated content (UGC). Within the first hour of the GAME Game going live, it amassed more than 10 000 plays, with all limited UGC items (over 1000 units) claimed within this time frame. I attached an image of this limited piece, which was a groove-powered jetpack – complete with a boom box. Comments from players included feedback…
Our youth will be tomorrow’s leaders. This is something we frequently hear, but how are we preparing them? South Africa is a nation with many issues, and the ongoing problems that South African youth face today are extremely troubling. In this article, we speak to industry experts and ask them how we can help prepare our children for the future. Future-proofing youth with software development skills The most in-demand expertise and one of the most challenging sets of skills to get on the South African market actually remain inside the software development field. Andrew Bourne, Regional Manager, Africa at technology…
Continued growth in used passenger car sales and the drop in the average used car price in July bodes well for consumer affordability and the sustainability of the used car market. Used car sales momentum continued to pick up in July with sales growing by 8% month-on-month. A total of 32,090 units were sold, reflecting an increase of 2,434 units over June, according to AutoTrader Used Car Sales data. The current value of these used cars sold to date swelled a further 7.3% month-on-month to a whopping R12,932,363,057. And year-on-year growth rose 7.8% over July 2022’s cumulative total…
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are embracing the call from their CEOs and board members to take a more strategic role in the business – from being more involved in environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives – to spearheading digital transformation to shape the future of the business. However, the CFO’s traditional role of financial scorekeeping, regulatory reporting, and cost optimisation is just as crucial as ever in light of chronic inflation, slow economic growth, and a heavier compliance burden. Forward-thinking CFOs increasingly seek new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to co-pilot this complex…
Knife Capital reached final close for its $50 million or R941 million African Series B expansion fund, Knife Fund III. The Fund supports the expansion of African innovation-driven companies to fill a critical follow-on funding gap, as lead investor and through co-investment with other credible funders across the continent. The focus is on high-growth scalable South African B2B technology companies that have impact potential and show strong returns through exit optionality. The fund will also back entrepreneurs in other African countries who fit this investment profile in collaboration with experienced local partners. Support to African startups at the early growth…
MultiChoice Africa Holdings B.V (MAH) announced today that it had notified DStv subscribers of its withdrawal of services from Malawi with immediate effect. This follows the injunction issued by the High Court in Lilongwe in a matter between MultiChoice Malawi (MCM) and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) prohibiting an adjustment to the DStv tariffs. MCM said it does not offer the DStv service to the public and therefore cannot set or adjust tariffs for this service, a point repeatedly made to MACRA. As a result, the order handed down to MCM is incapable of being implemented by them but…
On Sunday, August 6th 2023, The Women’s Netball World Cup Finals, one of the world’s biggest female sporting events, took place on African soil. On the sidelines of the court was a spread of female camerawomen, an initiative spearheaded by the event’s production partner, SuperSport, to have women lead editing, camera, and production crews. The impact that this may have had on young women and girls watching the event could be far-reaching. Research suggests that the creation of same-gender role models for youth is linked to career choices in previously male-dominated fields such as STEM, later in their lives. A…
The explosion of generative AI has accelerated the need for data literacy in what was already a fast-paced, data-driven world. Data literacy is no longer a nice-to-have skill but a must-have in any field. To help more people develop these critical skills, SAS has launched its second, free Data Literacy e-learning course, Data Literacy in Practice, that empowers individuals and professionals to explore and visualise data with confidence. “In a world overflowing with data, unlocking its power sets you apart. Data literacy is more relevant than ever for young learners and professionals wishing to upskill and reskill,” said Dr. Emily Pressman,…
FTTsmB is a new category of business fibre from fibre ISP Atomic Access that’s up to 75% more affordable than legacy business fibre (FTTB). “FTTsmB or Fibre To The small/medium Business is the premium-economy version of high-speed business fibre, except for the fact that SMBs always receive first-class treatment,” says Nick Soper, Atomic Access MD. Dark fibre-based FTTB offers the fastest and most reliable internet for business. However, it’s usually very expensive, slow to install and requires long-term contracts. This often puts high-speed reliable business fibre out of reach of SMBs. “At around R2 000 per month as opposed to…
MTN’s Mobile Money offering, MoMo, is inviting skilled tech developers and innovators to participate in the MTN MoMo API Hackathon which is aimed at producing solutions that shape the future of demand-driven financial services. This exciting event is giving South Africans the opportunity to win $10,000 or R185 925.00 and to be part of making a real impact on financial services in the country. Spanning across 15 countries, each with its own prize pool, the MoMo Hackathon is now open to South Africans for the first time and is open from 31 July until 9 October 2023. “The MTN MoMo…
A new feature on the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport’s #PotholeFixGP App now allows users to report faulty traffic signals. This is in addition to the application allowing users to report potholes on Gauteng roads. At least 7418 potholes have been reported since its launch in 2022. “The added function is intended to enhance user experience of the people of Gauteng. It is ultimately set up to improve service delivery to the people of Gauteng. “The APP can provide a status update of the traffic signal and potholes ranging from reported, assigned to completed. It further allows for checking…
Telkom Group announced today that it has appointed highly regarded digital communications and media expert Randall Abrahams as Group Executive: Digital Solutions, in a move that will bolster the Group’s strong digital strategy. Abrahams will manage the Digital Platform business for Telkom within its technology function. His responsibilities will include driving digital strategy, as well as identifying and implementing innovative technologies to develop opportunities for the Group. Abrahams is well equipped to drive Telkom’s digital business, having worked in leadership and strategy roles in the digital content, music, broadcasting, television and online sectors. “We are excited to have Randall joining…
After becoming the country’s first retailer to tap into the Roblox space in 2022, Game launches Season 2 of ‘the Game game’ on the platform on 4 August 2023, bringing with it a new first for South Africa – locally-inspired and designed user generated content (UGC). By engaging with local designers to better understand what young South Africans are looking for from what is arguably the future of fashion and retail – virtual goods – the brand hopes to build on last year’s success, when the game was launched as part of its Black Friday campaign. Game’s Senior Manager for…
MTN South Africa has been successfully deploying its 5G private network communications solution within the mining sector and today it announces its drive to deploy the solution amongst a larger variety of industries. This development promises to usher in a new era of growth, innovation, and operational efficiency, needed to drive further industrialisation beneficial for South Africa’s much-needed economic growth. By incorporating high-performance 5G wireless communication, regardless of location, factory size, or public network challenges, MTN’s innovative private networks will redefine industries, empowering even remote areas to thrive. “Our 5G private network gives you control of your connectivity, by…
For hundreds of years banks have put financial excellence at the heart of their operations. But as traditional banks rush to compete with the nimbler fintechs and digital-only challenger banks, too many leaders are neglecting the human element of their digital transformation programmes and the result of this neglect could end up costing them far more than many imagine. A 2022 EY research report has found that businesses that put humans at the centre of their transformation efforts are 2.6 times more likely to succeed. For many banks, paying attention to the human element simply means designing the best possible…
+OneX, the new-age solutions and systems integrator in the Reunert Group, has onboarded over 300 clients and has grown its full-time employee headcount to around 320 people to enhance its value proposition. The company now aims to dramatically scale up its managed services capability and position itself as an end-to-end digital transformation partner that can help organisations across their digital consulting, cloud, unified communications, data, software, end-user computing and security needs. Speaking at the company’s inaugural +OneXplore event, CEO Rob Godlonton, said that +OneX has delivered strong growth since it was founded in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting…
Discovery Bank and its online financial education partner, Worth, today announced an exciting, limited offer to give more people access to the benefits of good financial knowledge. The objective is to empower every South African to make the right choices for a brighter financial future. Until 30 September 2023, it is possible to complete a financial course that usually has a price tag of R5 000 for only R5. This practical financial education has been a catalyst for thousands of South Africans to change their money matters around for the better through small behavioural changes. Discovery Bank, a fully digital…
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Deputy Minister, Buti Manamela, says a sharp focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning and future skills is needed to enhance the objectives of the Young Scientist Forum (YSF). “Further to this, we also believe that consideration must be given to the human and social sciences. “We believe that all these areas of focus are critical for the development of all BRICS countries and essential for their resilience and the long-term psychological well-being of their respective populations,” the Deputy Minister said on Wednesday. Manamela was speaking in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, where he was delivering the closing…
When determining the cost of tertiary education, parents and guardian often focus on the fixed costs of education such as tuition fees, accommodation costs and textbooks, however they get blindsided by miscellaneous expenditure such as commuting expenses incurred by student to travel between their homesteads and their places of accommodation at university campuses. These variable costs are particularly hard-hitting for students who have to travel long distances to their institutions of higher learning which are mainly concentrated in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. These travel costs which are not covered by any student financial aid, are…
Today, MTN, and Disney+, the streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, have joined forces in conjunction with the launch of a Mobile Plan for Disney+ in South Africa. MTN will offer a bundle to its customers who sign up for a Disney+ Mobile Plan at the cost of R49. Paying for that bundle with their airtime or adding it to their bill, they will get 500MB of free streaming data per month. MTN will also offer its customers a Disney+ mobile entertainment pass that will include 2GB of streaming data for R59 per month. Plans are in development for…
Kaspersky experts have detected a wave in scams related to the RAM courier service in South Africa: fraudsters are employing deceptive tactics to trick unsuspecting users into divulging their financial information by claiming packages were undelivered due to unpaid customs fees. RAM is one of South Africa’s most popular courier services. Cybercriminals are sending deceptive emails that appear to be from RAM courier service, falsely claiming that a package was not delivered due to pending customs fees. To create a sense of urgency, the email urges users to click on a provided link for further instructions. When users click on…
The Shoprite Group invites high-performing students to apply for its bursary programme for the 2023 and 2024 academic years. Students enrolled for degree studies in Criminology, Accounting, Information Technology, Retail Business Management, Food Science and more can now apply for funding by visiting the Group’s careers page before 30 September 2023. The comprehensive bursary programme includes tuition fees, on-campus accommodation, a grocery allowance and guaranteed employment upon graduation. In the last financial year, the Group spent over R16 million on its bursary programme, which funded 206 students. As the largest private sector employer in South Africa, the retailer is…
Tertius Zitzke, CEO of 4Sight, says that the company is seeing huge interest in artificial intelligence (AI) from its customer base and 4Sight is already delivering these solutions incorporating AI to drive productivity as the ultimate goal for business. “The launch of ChatGPT end of 2022, created huge excitement in the market because it brings us closer to artificial generative intelligence (AGI), where AI becomes much more like human intelligence,” he says. “But we are only at the beginning of a steep learning curve as companies start to integrate AI into the way they do business. My prediction is that…
Modern consumers have become used to a plethora of easy pay options when transacting. One doesn’t think twice about using their phone or smartwatch to pay for their morning coffee after a workout session at the gym. Contactless payments (such as tapping your card or using your smartphone or smartwatch at a point of sale (POS) machine), are becoming increasingly popular due to the convenience they offer. However, with convenience comes great responsibility and the need for consumers to be more alert and aware as this payment method, like any other platform or area where money or the transfer of…
Cape Town’s Township internet service provider, TooMuchWifi, has announced that it has expanded its operations in the Western Cape province, bringing affordable and reliable internet connectivity to Mbekweni, a settlement between the towns of Wellington and Paarl, where there is a growing demand. In addition, the company is extending its operational reach to better serve the communities of Atlantis on the West Coast and Delft near Blue Downs, where it already has a footprint. This move marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth, in line with its mission to bridge the digital divide that prohibits so many communities from…