Author: Staff Writer

The Coega Development Corporation, through its Capital Raising and Sustainability Business Units, together with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), are undertaking preparatory work towards the establishment of a Biofibre Hub, or Cluster, in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Coega’s partnership with the CSIR offers SEZ investors the best of South Africa’s innovation capability, including the R&D outputs of the National Innovation Clusters and the R&D produced in the country’s leading research universities through the CSIR network. This is critical for the development of new economic sectors. “The CSIR views this partnership as a necessary doorway to…

Virgin Active South Africa will launch its brand new, member-centred app and rewards programme in May to incentivise regular exercise and lifestyle changes. The new app is part of the businesses’ overall mission to connect people to exceptional active experiences – wherever they are in their journey, their budget, or in the world. The app is designed to meet the needs of existing Virgin Active members while attracting potential new ones. The app will track members’ activity and allocate rewards for consistency. The app will also serve as a one-stop-shop for any wellness and fitness related topics. Members can access…

Even though South Africa’s official unemployment rate decreased marginally in the fourth quarter of last year with 169 000 jobs gained in the period, the number of unemployed persons increased by 28 000 to reach 7.8 million. Given the current economic environment, Kaspersky is warning of the risk of cybercriminals exploiting people’s need to find meaningful employment by targeting them in increasingly sophisticated scams. In Africa, 8.7% of individuals and corporate users were affected by phishing last year. This is according to Kaspersky’s Spam and Phishing in 2022 report. Closer to home, 9.7% of South Africans experienced phishing attacks. While these spam…

Tyme, one of the fastest growing digital banking groups globally, has successfully secured two new international investors as part of its pre-series C capital raise launched in January this year. This comes as the group’s South African flagship, TymeBank, celebrates its 7 million customer milestone this month (12 May 2023). Along with the two new shareholders – Norrsken22, an Africa-focused tech growth fund, and Blue Earth Capital (“BlueEarth”), an independent global impact investment firm – Tyme’s shareholders have invested a total of $77.8 million. The funds being raised are intended to further operations in South Africa and the Philippines, for…

Africa Data Centres, a business of Cassava Technologies group, ihas formed a strategic partnership with The London Internet Exchange (LINX) to explore growth and opportunities in current and new markets across the continent Africa. Tesh Durvasula, CEO of Africa Data Centres, highlighted their Pan-African Interconnection partnership to explore opportunities continent-wide. The goal is to add value to local network communities, LINX membership and data centre facilities across Africa. According to recent research by Accenture into the ICT ecosystem, it was revealed that Africa is on the brink of a tech explosion. The consulting firm says certain countries are on a particularly…

If you are unemployed, under 30, have access to a laptop and data, and have a Grade-12 Certificate… listen up! This is for you: You can prepare yourself for the workplace of the future with a number of scholarships in 4IR Skills and make yourself highly sought after in the job market with a Nationally Accredited Qualification. A career in the Tech sector is not beyond your reach and all are invited to apply to the Sisekelo Tech Scholarship Programme (STSP), designed to help address the Tech Skills Gap among South African youth. Primarily targeted at young unemployed individuals as…

According to the latest KASI411 taxi commuter data from March 2023, an exciting new collaboration that harnesses the valuable insights acquired through the Sebenza online platform, combined with the convenience of their free taxi Wi-Fi hotspots. Food is the biggest monthly expense for most of South Africa’s taxi commuters, but despite high levels of unemployment, many are still able to make ends meet, either through a side hustle, a SASSA grant, or through family support. These are some of the recent insights from the latest KASI411 taxi commuter data (March 2023), an innovative partnership between market research agency, Red Fox…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is rapidly transforming the business landscape, with profound implications for leaders and their interpersonal skills. According to Jacqui van Rooijen, Leadership expert and Transformation Coach at YCagel, leaders will need to adapt their management approach to leverage the benefits and mitigate the risks associated with AI-powered team management. “There is no denying the transformative impact of AI on our world, and it’s poised to reshape leadership practices,” says Jacqui as she delves into the potential pitfalls and advantages it offers in managing and leading teams. Changing Interpersonal Dynamics AI technology reshapes the traditional interpersonal dynamics between…

SoluGrowth, leading South African business process solutions company with DAC Systems as specialist ERP implementation partner, has recently implemented the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (Business Central) platform at the Food & Beverages Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FoodBev SETA). The initial phase of the project implemented General Ledger, Budgeting, Journal Entry Process, Cash Management, Asset Management, Creditors/Debtors Management, Vendor Management, Contract Management, Purchasing Management, and Projects functionality as well as Reports. This enabled FoodBev SETA to enjoy a new more robust set of business management tools from the outset. Subsequent to that, the project and technical teams of…

Huawei Digital Power this week launched its new commercial and industrial products designed to ensure business continuity for small businesses and households adversely impacted by intensifying load shedding, as well as rapidly rising fuel and electricity prices. Among the products launched is the Huawei Power-S seamless solar hybrid power and backup solution. The solution is suitable for commercial and industrial scenarios providing high-quality hybrid power supply. It can be used for farms, malls, hotels, restaurants, banks, offices, campuses, and factories, which have energy needs 30-100KW range. Power-S can support multiple energy sources including photovoltaic, diesel generators, and Grid. As a…

The current tech product landscape is as exciting as ever, we see many innovative designs, cutting-edge features, and astronomical improvements in how they enhance the life of consumers. The HUAWEI Consumer Business Group has announced and launched a series of new technologically advanced flagship products. From revolutionary smartphones, laptops, to trendy wearables and more – consumers and tech enthusiasts alike, are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting the latest and greatest products to help them get things done. Here’s a breakdown of the innovative and smart products:   The HUAWEI P60 Pro: Exquisite art and technology In the ever-evolving…

A white paper released by Huawei and IDC has underlined how significant communication technologies will be in building the sustainable, carbon neutral energy grids of the future. The white paper, titled “On Electric Power Communication All-Optical Network, Accelerating Digital Transformation of Electric Power”, was released locally at the Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Electric Power Summit, which formed part of Enlit Africa 2023, one of Africa’s largest energy and utility conferences. It underlines how the power communication network is the basis for automatic power grid dispatching, market-oriented network operations, and modernised management. Such a network, it says, is an important means to…

Bespoke software engineering firm, Dariel Software, has announced the launch of its Cape Town office together with the appointment of Craig Mitchelmore as Regional Manager as the company expands its reach to the Western Cape. The decision to expand comes off the back of Dariel’s own impressive growth trajectory and an evolving client base in the region where demand for its cutting-edge technology and solutions is rapidly increasing. Dariel will establish closer ties with customers in the Western Cape while being better positioned to introduce its services to a portfolio of clients beyond the financial services sector more prevalent in…

Bayobab today announced strategic pan-African connectivity partnership with Microsoft. This partnership will see Bayobab provide access to large-scale infrastructure services to build capacity to further Microsoft’s cloud initiatives, accelerating digital transformation across organisations and broader communities. This partnership comes at a critical point in Africa’s digital growth trajectory with an internet-based economy on the rise. Sub-Saharan Africa will be home to more than 1 billion people, with 50% under the age of 25 years, forecasts World Bank. A continent with the youngest population and a growing appetite for digital connectivity to access entertainment, financial and commercial needs provide enormous potential.…

Cloud technology is a crucial enabler for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), assisting them to bolster growth by enabling them to collaborate more efficiently with their partners and suppliers whilst increasing efficiency. One Linkage, a women-owned technology company, has recognised this, and is hosting an upcoming event on 25 May 2023 to delve into cloud technology and its potential to foster growth for SMEs participating in ESD programmes. With a keen focus on innovation and leveraging modern solutions, this event will provide a platform for corporates, ESD practitioners and consultants and incubators to explore the transformative power of cloud technology…

Phuthuma Nathi, the MultiChoice Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) share scheme, is looking for shareholders who have not received their dividends between 2006 and 2022.  As one of the most successful BBBEE schemes in South Africa, with more than 78 000 Black shareholders, Phuthuma Nathi has been paying dividends every year since the start of the scheme in 2006. Despite our efforts to contact shareholders, there is still a significant number of shareholders who have not claimed their dividends. Some of the main reasons for unclaimed dividends are that shareholders forget to update their bank account and personal details, which…

The Wealth Today and Forensic Risk Alliance announce the Forensic & Restructuring (fore) Summit 2023, set to take place on Tuesday, June 6 in Dubai. The summit will delve into the rapidly evolving landscape of white-collar crimes, sanctions, and corruption, specifically focusing on the role of Big Data and Data Analytics in investigations and prosecution. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have been leveraging data analytics to detect and prosecute these crimes, and the same proactive approach is expected from companies. The Summit will also explore emerging trends in corruption, including the impacts of…

Eskom notes with concern various social media posts claiming that the country will soon experience a blackout or collapse of the national electricity grid. Eskom refutes these claims and would like to assure South Africans that there are measures in place to avoid the collapse of the power system. Loadshedding is one of these mechanisms. The risk of a national blackout, while inherent to the operation of a large power system, has an extremely low likelihood of materialising given the implementation of a number of control measures, including loadshedding. The grid is by no means at a higher or imminent…

MTN GlobalConnect announced an important step in the evolution of its business through the unveiling of its new name and positioning – Bayobab. The brand reveal took place at International Telecommunications Week (ITW) Conference in Washington DC, attended by over 6000 delegates from across the digital wholesale telecoms community. The new identity, Bayobab, represents the company’s strategic transformation journey to connect Africa with open next-gen digital solutions through its two distinct businesses, Bayobab Fibre and Bayobab Communication Platforms. “Building the largest and most valuable platforms is part of our Ambition 2025 strategic priorities,” MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita said. “The…

Born-in-SA insurtech platform Root has expanded into the UK and is enjoying promising growth in a receptive market. Root COO Charlotte Koep says the company’s first foray into global markets is proving encouraging “There is a real appetite across the UK insurance market for a platform like ours, which offers both the technical flexibility to support a myriad of product edge-cases and access to modern, accessible and embedded distribution possibilities – and at pace. “We’re establishing the business in the UK and building strong distribution partnerships. We find big organisations and we help them add value and create value –…

M-KOPA, an African Fintech platform that provides digital financial services to underbanked consumers, has secured $20 million in new funding. Since its inception in 2011, M-KOPA has provided over $1 billion in credit to more than 3 million customers, thereby avoiding 2.2 million tonnes of carbon emissions through clean energy products and allowing almost 2 million individuals to access high quality smartphones, positively impacting over 5.5 million lives on the continent. Having well-defined growth ambitions, M-KOPA has entrusted Standard Bank Group (through its subsidiaries, Stanbic Bank Kenya and Stanbic Bank Uganda) to act as mandated lead arrangers for two…

South African fintech specialist, e4, today announced its acquisition by a consortium of private equity investors, led by an independent private equity fund manager, Infinite Partners. The transaction will see e4 obtain the necessary capital for advancing to the next stage of its expansion. e4 is a  technology company that provides custom, innovative solutions and services, including software development and business automation. With a focus on software as a service (SaaS), e4 leverages its technology expertise to completely transform customer processes, positioning itself as a pioneer of digitalisation in South Africa. For over 20 years, e4 has been building on…

Newly launched Zarcare, an online healthcare platform, wants to provide patients with convenient access to top-notch healthcare services from the comfort of their own homes. Designed to help patients save time, money, and the hassle of in-person medical visits for non-emergency needs, this online healthcare platform offers the added convenience of online access to prescriptions, medical reports, and patient history. “It’s high time we remove the bandage from an unequal healthcare system in South Africa that isn’t adequately equipped to cater to every patient,” says Annie Gwerengwe, Managing Director of Zarcare. “We are on a mission to revolutionise the healthcare…

Woolworths, in partnership with DSV and Everlectric, is the first South African retailer to embark on an extensive rollout of electric panel vans (EVs) to deliver their customers’ online purchases.  This move is part of the company’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainability in the retail industry. “Last year we announced our commitment to electric delivery vehicles, and we are delighted to now have nearly half our fleet powered by the sun.  The new electric vehicles have been introduced on selected routes in Cape Town and Gauteng with further rollouts and extensions into KwaZulu Natal planned to…

Cabinet is calling on all mining houses to register their tailing dams or mine residue deposit dams on the Department of Water and Sanitation database in order to ensure compliance with dam safety regulations. The Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, conducted an oversight visit in Jagersfontein, Kopanong Local Municipality in the Xhariep District of the Free State. The Deputy President focused on the efficient and equitable supply of water and resettlement of community members who were affected by the Jagersfontein Development Project Dam collapse, causing one death and injuring scores of people. In a Cabinet statement released on Thursday, Minister in…