Author: Staff Writer

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…

Santam, South Africa’s largest general insurer, has announced the rebranding of its app-based digital client solution from JaSure to Santam Switch, following the 100% acquisition of the insure tech company a year ago. As part of its multi-channel strategy, Santam is accelerating its growth through a variety of distribution channels and business models to reach new market segments through “new age” digital insurance solutions. According to Atang Matebesi, the CEO of Santam’s Client Solutions business, the rebrand accelerates a fully digital solution for Santam and positions the brand for growth within a younger market segment, while leveraging Santam’s established brand,…

Most nascent entrepreneurs raise funding from a combination of savings, goodwill of family and friends and angel investors to convert their idea into a prototype or a minimum viable product (MVP). For entrepreneurs from historically disadvantaged backgrounds (HDPs) in South Africa, pre seed funding is a  bigger struggle as many don’t have familial wealth or assets accumulated and lack access to angel investment networks. According to the 2022 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report, banks and venture capital funds are still the most likely sources of funding for most businesses in South Africa. But getting this capital is fiercely competitive for early-stage…

Kaspersky experts share insights on distinguishing voice deepfakes. Deepfake (“deep learning” + “fake”) artificial intelligence has been growing at a rapid rate over the past few years. Machine learning can be used to create compelling fakes of images, video, or audio content. To determine whether some audio piece is a fake or a speech of a real human, there are several characteristics to consider: the timbre, manner and intonation of speech. For example, a voice deepfake will give out an unnatural monotony of speech. Another feature that should be considered is the sound quality. So, illegible speech and strange noises…

Women gamers around the globe experience high rates of gender-based harassment, keeping many from participating in gaming. Independent research recently conducted in Argentina and the UK has revealed how females are treated in competitive multiplayer games, with verbal abuse, death threats and gender-based frustration very much the order of the day. Participants in both research studies even claimed that they could not compete with an open microphone as games often become impossible to play if the other players hear a female voice. “With the number of South African girls and women in the video gaming community growing at a rapid…

The effects of South Africa’s power cuts, inflation, cost of living and brain drain disproportionately affect domestic workers – 94% of whom are women. The average domestic worker in South Africa is their family’s sole breadwinner and sole caregiver, supporting an average of four dependents at home. This is apparent in the data gleaned from SweepSouth’s 2023 Report on Domestic Workers Pay and Work Conditions, released today. Distilling the survey responses of more than 5,500 participants, the sixth edition of the annual report reveals that the average domestic worker in South Africa is 37 years old and earns about R2,989…

The QR code payment industry has seen a surge in adoption in recent years, with estimates suggesting a global market value of USD$9.98 billion in 2022. QR codes are seeing a marked increase in popularity in South Africa as well, says Pieter Roux, President Payment Strategy at Ukheshe. From the brand evolution of Masterpass to Scan to Pay, Powered by Ukheshe, our Scan to Pay data shows a growing demand for mobile payments as more consumers use their mobile devices – from entry-level devices to high-end smartphones – for payments with an average of 12 million transactions per month. QR…

Sanlam Private Equity (SPE), the private equity division of Sanlam Investments, today announces that it has acquired a majority stake in Danny’s Auto Body Parts (Danny’s Auto), a provider of a wide range of high quality aftermarket automotive parts and accessories for various vehicle types and models in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries. SPE made the acquisition through its private equity fund, SPE Mid-Market Fund I, and aims to make a significant impact on job creation and support the democratisation of vehicle repairs and maintenance. Based in Springfield, Gauteng, Danny’s Auto has a 76-year track record as a successful…