Author: Staff Writer

The 2023 Shanghai Auto Show is opening its doors for an electrifying new edition and Maserati is thrilled to show the world its latest full-electric creations, marking the historic moment of being the first Italian luxury brand to produce 100% electric vehicles. And of course, China is the cradle of this fascinating and exciting revolution mobility – not only in terms of innovation but also of forward-thinking and embedded interest in the luxury market – and the ideal venue for the global premiere of Maserati Grecale Folgore. On this special occasion, the Trident’s first full-electric SUV is in good company,…

Capital Appreciation, a FinTech group listed on the JSE, is buying Dariel Solutions, the holding company of Dariel Software, for a total consideration of R131,2 million. The transaction will be settled through a combination of cash and the issuance of treasury shares. Dariel will be part of Capital Appreciation’s software division. “Dariel fits our model of investing in established, asset-light companies that deliver innovative and disruptive FinTech solutions to mainly institutional clients, with a culture and business ethos well-aligned with that of the Group,” Capital Appreciation CEO, Bradley Sacks, said.  “We have experienced significant growth in our businesses due to…

SnapScan, the Cape Town-based fintech company that launched its QR code payment technology in 2013, is no stranger to developing innovative payment tools. Its latest product, the SnapStore Pro card machine, is no exception. After years of supporting small businesses with convenient, mobile payment solutions, the fintech has recently leveraged its partnership with Standard Bank to develop an exciting new card machine to improve the payment experience for both businesses and their customers. “SnapScan and Standard Bank both recognised the need to provide the most in-demand payment options for small businesses with the kind of fintech pricing and experience they’ve…

The Invigilator App, a local Covid 19 education startup, has been scaled for the global market. Mexico, India and Australia are the first to integrate the app into their tech-education management system. The startup has nearly one million local students using its platform. The Invigilator was launched three years ago, when the coronavirus pandemic hit our shores, as an education-focused assessment monitoring app. Its main objective is to face-check and track students taking online or face-to-face courses, as well as an anti-plagiarism feature that ensures students submit original work. The uniqueness of the app is that it opens up education…

Eskom said today that Stage 6 loadshedding will continue to be implemented until 05:00 on Saturday. Thereafter, Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00 and Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on Saturday. This cycle will be repeated on Sunday until 05:00 on Monday morning. These loadshedding stages may change at short notice. Eskom will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur. Breakdowns are currently at 15 930MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 6 505MW. Over the past 24 hours…

Bolt, the leading on-demand mobility platform in Africa, has introduced a driver selfie verification feature to increase passenger safety by combating driver impersonation. The feature has been fully rolled out to all drivers operating on the Bolt platform across South Africa. It will require drivers to take a selfie, thus verifying their identity before going online. The driver’s selfie will be matched against the Government database (Department of Home Affairs) to ensure the right driver is behind the wheel. Drivers, at random, will also be prompted occasionally to share a live selfie to ensure that the correct driver is behind…

inDrive, the global mobility and urban services platform, is launching inCode 2023, the company’s inaugural annual global hackathon. inCode will award €16,000 for the top ideas to make ride-hailing safer and more inclusive. inDrive invites the world’s top tech talent to register teams of 1 to 6 people, whose entries will be judged by inDrive experts on idea, impact, code quality, UX/UI quality, and feasibility. The inCode hackathon challenges innovators to: Improve safety: Discover ways to make ride-hailing safer and more secure for all, so both riders and drivers have complete peace of mind. Advance accessibility: Propose methods to make…

CYBER1 Solutions, a cyber security services company with 26 years of industry expertise, has announced the expansion of its European presence, and the appointment of Hilbert Long as the General Manager for the region in line with the EMEA expansion plans. The company’s European office will be based out of London and with staff across EMEA. The business aims to grow its footprint in the region by expanding its set of cyber security services to current and future customers. “Our strategy is to grow the entity to become a self-sustaining fully-fledged business within the European market,” says Long. “We aim…

African insurtech aYo Holdings, created by telecommunications giant MTN, has launched its operations in Cameroon with innovative insurance products that offer local consumers affordable accident and death cover. aYo launched in January 2017 in Uganda and has since reached 20 million customers across Uganda, Ghana, Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire, whilst other markets being readied for launch later this year. The company has paid in excess of $2,2 million in claims. Laetissia Enonga CEO of aYo Cameroon, estimates that less than 2% of Cameroon’s population currently has insurance. “Most people think insurance is a luxury product, but we want to show…

Huawei has announced an amazing HUAWEI Battery Replacement campaign to reward its smartphone users in the South Africa. This special campaign offers customers the chance to obtain a genuine battery replacement tailored to their specific device model at a remarkably low price and starting at just R149.00. Users can enjoy the benefits of a new and genuine battery that promises optimal performance and longevity and a 90-day warranty on it. Genuine Huawei Battery As part of the Battery Replacement Campaign, users have the opportunity to get a new Genuine Huawei battery replacement for their specific device model. With a Genuine…

Huawei kicked off its 20th annual Global Analyst Summit (HAS) today in Shenzhen. The summit was attended by more than 1,000 industry analysts, financial analysts, key opinion leaders, and media representatives from around the world, who gathered to discuss the status of the ICT industry, including development strategies, roadmaps for digital transformation, and future industry trends. Sabrina Meng, Huawei’s Deputy Chairwoman, Rotating Chairwoman, and CFO, opened with a keynote. “Digitalization is a blue ocean for the whole industry,” she said. “Huawei will keep investing in domains like connectivity, computing, storage, and cloud.” “We aim to provide our customers with digital…

Telecoms giant MTN (brand value up 24% to R74.3 billion) is South Africa’s most valuable brand for the twelfth time in the past thirteen years, according to leading brand valuation consultancy, Brand Finance. Every year, Brand Finance puts 5,000 of the biggest brands to the test, and publishes over 100 reports, ranking brands across all sectors and countries. The world’s top 100 most valuable and strongest South African brands are included in the annual Brand Finance South Africa 100 2023 ranking. MTN’s brand value continued to grow in 2023, meaning that its value is now up 50% from its pre-pandemic…

MTN National Wholesale is standing tall as the industry’s go-to network “backbone” partner at a time when public and private sectors are prioritizing network and digital ICT tools in their economic reconstruction and recoveries. In line with the company’s Ambition 2025 strategy, particularly around the pillar of Network as a Service, MTN aims to become the number one digital network and service provider of choice to the wholesale market in South Africa by 2025. To this end, MTN National Wholesale is ramping up the number of innovative enablement solutions it can deliver at speed and with added cost and efficiency…

Telkom’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme, Telkom FutureMakers, has partnered with venture builder firm, Aions Creative Technology to grow local start-ups. This partnership comes on the back of a competitive pitching process where the venture builder firm was awarded R58 million in funding that will reflect Telkom FutureMakers’ commitment, to growing and partnering with ICT SMMEs who form the backbone of the South African economy. Founded in 2015 and having assisted more than 2500 SMMEs to date, Telkom FutureMakers’ vision is to develop leading entrepreneurial programmes that invest in and incubate ICT businesses, provide access to market through their supply…

The continued support of the annual SA Investment Conference (SAIC) by local and global sponsors will enable the country to continue to attract investors and allow the economy to grow and create much needed jobs. SAIC acknowledged long term sponsors of the prestigious conference. This included Anglo American, Discovery, Exxaro, Huawei, Naspers and Vodacom. At a prestigious awards dinner, President Cyril Ramaphosa presented Huawei with an award for its continued support and partnership with the SAIC, since its launch in 2018. Huawei is a key partner in South Africa’s digital economy transformation and also invests heavily in ICT skills training.…

YuLife, the tech-driven financial services provider on a mission to inspire life, today announced its launch in South Africa. Founded in London in 2016, YuLife achieved rapid traction in the UK insurance market through its flagship product, group life insurance. The company’s expansion into South Africa marks a significant milestone as it seeks to redefine how people around the world derive value from financial products. YuLife’s Group Risk Protection (Life, Income Protection, Lump Sum Disability, and Funeral Cover) includes everything in a traditional group insurance policy – but also adds a globally award-winning wellbeing app and trusted support services. YuLife…

Video games can be about more than just entertainment. Competitive gaming blends the advantages of speed, tactics, forethought and teamwork into a unique package that can help learners develop confidence and skills. Similar to traditional athletes, top esports competitors exhibit unwavering focus and dedication, continuously honing their skills through persistence and training. The world of esports represents that journey, and a new league called Acer Nitro ASL brings those opportunities to schools around South Africa. Acer and the African Cyber Gaming League (ACGL) have partnered to establish Acer Nitro ASL (ACGL Schools League). This new league will bring esports events…

Kia broke ground last week on its dedicated plant for the production of batter-electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV). The ceremony was held at Kia’s Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, and was attended by over 200 people, including government officials, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Kia’s Global President and CEO Ho Sung Song, and other employees from the Group and the automotive parts industry. Kia CEO, Ho Sung Song, on behalf of Hyundai Motor Group, highlighted in a greeting that Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Hyundai MOBIS together plan to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic electric…

Africa’s largest crypto investment app Luno, has today launched the Luno Large Cap Bundle, allowing Luno customers to access crypto investment bundles for the first time. Luno has partnered with CoinDesk Indices, the leading provider of digital asset indices, to provide customers with access to investment bundles that aim to follow CoinDesk’s broad market indices, helping customers to easily manage and maintain different investment strategies. Approximately 70% of global crypto product assets under management track indices provided by CoinDesk Indices. The Luno Large Cap Bundle is the first in a suite of products that follow these indices. “Investing in crypto…

+OneX, the new-age solutions and systems integrator in the Reunert Group, has concluded an agreement to acquire privately-owned cybersecurity and managed services company MMC for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition of MMC boosts +OneX’s ability to offer its clients cybersecurity and Compliance as a Service (CaaS) solutions as part of its comprehensive cloud and digital transformation portfolio.  Founded in 1991, MMC is a Microsoft Solutions Partner that offers business-critical IT managed services, with deep specialisation in cybersecurity and information security. MMC has built up a strong team of Microsoft specialists that help companies of all sizes to defend and protect…

SASSA grant beneficiaries with gold cards expiring in the next few months can avoid long queues and payment mishaps by switching their payments, free of charge, to a Shoprite Money Market Account – South Africa’s lowest cost, fully fledged, transactional bank account.    In four easy steps grant holders can open an account and switch their SASSA payments:  Register: Dial *120*3534# OR WhatsApp 087 240 5709 OR visit the in-store Money Market counter OR download the Shoprite app.  Sign in & download your Bank Confirmation Letter.  Download the SASSA form here or collect one at the Money Market counter in any Shoprite or Checkers supermarket.  Take your printed Bank Confirmation Letter, completed SASSA switch form and original ID to…

High-achieving Grade 12 learners with a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are invited to apply for an all-inclusive undergraduate bursary from Sasol, South Africa’s employer of choice in the Chemical and Energy sector. Applications close on 23 May 2023. During 2022, Sasol awarded 255 bursaries to undergraduate, postgraduate and university of technology students for the 2023 academic year, studying in South Africa. Around 560 students are currently studying on Sasol bursaries. The bursaries are open to learners who are planning to study towards a B. Eng. or B. Sc. Eng. in various engineering disciplines or for a…

On 25 April 2023, Volkswagen will start the sale of its most powerful hatch, the Golf 8 R, in the local market. The recommended Retail Price (VAT and emissions tax included) for Golf R 2.0 TSI 235kW DSG will be R912 800. “Production constraints and parts shortages severely derailed our launch plans, but we are excited to finally extend the performance range in South Africa with the introduction of the new Golf 8 R. The Golf 8 R joins the Golf GTI and the Tiguan R as Volkswagen’s performance derivatives in the South African market,” said Steffen Knapp, Head of…

From looking at innovation differently to creating an enabling environment for it to thrive, Paul Carter-Brown, CTO and director at leading Banking as a Service and embedded finance enablement partner, Ukheshe, says the company’s Eclipse platform is paving the way towards a cashless future. Innovation hinges on a clearly defined, overarching strategy that outlines the broad challenges a company aims to address and the specific role it aims to play in addressing them. The difficulty lies in actualising this vision and seeing it through from conception to a tangible product that has a positive impact. Innovation involves not only high-level…

Prema is a blockchain platform which specialises in making it simple for users to interact with digital assets on multiple Web3 blockchains. The Prema platform consists of the Prema X NFT marketplace, Prema’s wallet and the NFT traceability system. This is a unique system of IRL (In Real Life) and URL (UnReal Life) categorisation, which allows NFTs in the virtual world to be tied to events and physical items in the actual world through the innovative use of NFC and AQR technologies. Prema is based in Singapore and is catered towards regional markets, with its most notable NFT collections being…