Author: Staff Writer

Yesterday, Eskom and the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formalise the collaboration to develop renewable energy artisan skills in South Africa, to support the implementation of the Eskom Just Energy Transition (JET) Strategy. Eskom has developed a comprehensive JET Strategy which places equal importance on the ‘transition to lower carbon technologies,’ and the ability to do so in a manner that is ‘just’. In support of this strategy, Eskom has a pipeline of clean energy projects at various stages of development and recognises that there is a dire lack of skills…

MTN Group today announced that Marvin Ncube has been appointed Executive: Business Finance, effective 1 September 2022. Ncube is a seasoned finance executive with more than 19 years’ experience in strategic business planning, business performance, capex management, statutory reporting and revenue assurance, said MTN. In his role, Ncube will lead three core finance sub-functions which impact and influence financial business performance for the Group. These are Group Financial Planning and Analysis, Regional and Manco Finance Business Partnering and Group Capital Management. “Given his vast experience, expertise and accomplishments, I am confident that (Ncube) will add immense value to these portfolios…

The Shoprite Group has finalised sustainability-linked loans totalling R3.5 billion for investments to expand its key environmental programmes as part of its wider sustainability strategy. These include a R2 billion loan from Standard Bank (the bank’s biggest in the retail sector to date), and a R800 million sustainability-linked loan and a R700 million green loan (a first in the retail sector) from RMB for investment in environmental projects. A further sustainability-linked loan is in the pipeline. The loans will be used to expand the Group’s investment in:   Renewable energy and the increase of energy from renewable sources as a percentage of total electricity consumption; Recycling cardboard and plastic; Sustainable packaging, including reusable,…

More cardless ATMs with greater functionality are now available to more people thanks to the ongoing partnership between leading fintech enablement partner, Ukheshe, and leading global payments provider, Paycorp. The partnership sees ATM Solutions, a division of Paycorp, which owns and operates over 4000 Cash Express branded ATMs, add rich embedded functionality to its fleet of ATMs enabling customers to make cardless cash withdrawals. Says Clayton Hayward, CEO of Ukheshe: “Cardless withdrawals allow customers to access cash conveniently from their mobile wallet without using a card. Initiated securely in a mobile wallet such as MTN Momo or OzowMe, a transaction…

The Reach Group, a specialist provider of communications infrastructure management solutions to landlords, property managers and telecoms providers throughout South Africa, has acquired 100% of Jasco Property Solutions. This acquisition will enable the Reach Group to broaden their services offering platform and deliver more value to customers through the new consolidated Reach Property Solutions business. The Reach Group are experts in both the real estate and telecommunications management industries and have a proven track record in property leasing and professional infrastructure lease management services. The augmented offering enabled by the acquisition now allows Reach Property Solutions to compressively offer a…

Opera, the company behind the eponymous web browser, together with MTN, is providing South Africans with 3GB each of free data per month within Opera browsers to enable internet access for everyone. In July 2022 alone, Opera and MTN delivered in total 17.7 petabyte of free data to 5.9 million users. The need to communicate and access the internet is fast becoming a basic human right in South Africa, according to the non-profit group Media Monitoring Africa. Data access is now considered nearly equal to utilities like water and electricity – an intrinsic and essential commodity that every home needs.…

Applications for the Vodacom bursary programme aimed at first, second, and third-year university students in South Africa, who are pursuing further education within STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, are now open. Each year, the Vodacom Foundation’s bursary programme offers deserving students an opportunity to further their studies. The students are selected based on merit and their neediness for financial assistance. More specifically, the Vodacom bursary 2023 will cover the following fields of study: Information Technology Information Systems Computer Engineering Computer Science Electronics Engineering Mathematical Sciences Data Analytics/Sciences The bursary covers the cost of full-time education and will pay…

In a first for retail in South Africa, the Shoprite Group has acquired over 100 of the most fuel-efficient trucks in Southern Africa. The Scania Euro V trucks have a proven fuel saving of around 10% along with lower CO2 and NOx emissions. The Group’s world-class supply chain – which includes 29 distribution centres covering 673 843m2 – provides it with a competitive advantage in the retail industry to consistently deliver on its business promise of everyday low prices. Key to its supply chain is a highly sophisticated transport route planning and scheduling system which optimises energy efficiency and deliveries…

Since launching Airfibre in March last year, Supersonic by MTN SA has seen staggering growth and now covers over 3.4 million households across the country with the service. After passing 10,759 homes in the first month after launching in March 2021, the rate of growth increased rapidly to reach 3.1 million homes in one year. This has continued to reach over 3.4 million in May this year. “We are continuing to see impressive growth as demand for Airfibre as an alternative to traditional fibre continues. Our aim is to continue delivering and innovating so that more homes are covered and…

Tiger Brands will soon begin rolling out solar power at its manufacturing sites. This kicks off a multi-million-rand investment with the goal to have 65% of the business’ electricity requirements at a manufacturing level across South Africa sourced from sustainable energy solutions by 2030. This will be done through the procurement of Power Purchase Agreements from Independent Power Producers, as well as other renewable energy options. Onsite solar power, and other renewable energy solutions, will be installed at 35 Tiger Brands manufacturing sites across South Africa by 2030, beginning with 4 sites, which will generate 2 megawatts of power, providing…

MTN Group today announced the appointment of Willington Ngwepe to the new post of Chief of Staff in the office of the Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 October 2022. Willington joins from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), where he has spent the last five years as CEO. Before that, he was ICASA’s chief operating officer. “Willington brings with him extensive leadership, technology and regulatory experience that will be invaluable as we execute on our strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress,” said MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita. “We welcome him to the MTN…

Uber has appointed Kagiso Khaole as the new General Manager for Uber in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), taking over Frans Hiemstra’s role who has been appointed as the Regional General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Uber. Kagiso joined Uber in 2021, where he led mobility operations across SSA and has previously worked in several industries, including eCommerce, Software and Services, Consumer Electronics, Management Consulting, Insurance and Banking. This makes Kagiso well positioned to further grow the business in the region, which is operational in over 50 cities across South Africa, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and…

African technology infrastructure and services provider Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid), a business of Cassava Technologies (Cassava), today announced the finalisation of its 100% acquisition and delisting of Telrad, an Israeli-based technology company (TASE: ILA). Telrad has a significant presence in 13 countries across the Middle East, South America, United Sates, Eastern Europe, Asia and provides high-quality technology products and services for global businesses and governments. The company offers innovative technology solutions, including networking, cloud infrastructure, information technology, geoinformatics and cybersecurity. “Earlier this year, Liquid had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Telrad, and I am pleased that we have…

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, held an engagement this week with the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP) where he announced the City government’s continued cooperation with the development facilitation agency for socio-economic development in the greater Tygerberg area. This partnership brings renewed assurance for Capetonians in the catchment area that the regenerative initiatives run by the GTP will continue to grow into 2023. Under the partnership, the City’s Bellville Future City Masterplan, which aims to transform the greater Tygerberg area into a second central business district, will push ahead. Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member…

Audi South Africa, in partnership with GridCars, has finalised the installation of 33 electric vehicles (EV) charging stations across the country. These represent a total of 70 charge point connectors and expand on the existing network in the country. The chargers range in their charging capacity from 22kW (AC) to 80kW (DC) and 150kW (DC) ultra-fast charging and are immediately available to all South African electric vehicle drivers, regardless of model or brand ownership. “Audi is committed to ensuring that customers of any electric vehicle can comfortably travel the country, with the reassurance that the EV charging infrastructure is in…

Verdant Capital has raised $10 million or R161 million of debt funding for Zeepay.  The medium-term debt raise, which forms part of its A.5 series, comes to support Zeepay in a bid to augment its fast-growing remittance to wallet business. The debt funding is intended to support the rapid growth of the business.  In 2021, the company processed USD 1.8 billion of transactions volumes, cross-border and domestically.  It is the vision of the Founder and Managing Director, of Zeepay, Andrew Takyi-Appiah I, to reach the milestone of USD 200 billion of annual transaction volumes in the long-term. Zeepay is the…

Willington Ngwepe, the CEO of the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) is planning to leave his top post by 15 October 2022 to pursue other opportunities. ICASA announced today that the the term of office of its long-standing CEO comes to an end on the 15th of October 2022. The regulator said Ngwepe has, however, advised that he is not available to be considered for re-appointment to serve a further term as CEO, having decided to pursue other career opportunities. Ngwepe has served ICASA with both dedication and distinction for eight eventful years, formerly as Chief Operating Officer from…

DataProphet, a world-leading AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) for manufacturing innovator, today announced the completion of its $10 million or R165 million Series A funding round. Knife Capital led the round, joined by South Africa’s IDC and Norican – the world’s largest metal surface preparation and finishing equipment provider. The funding provides DataProphet with the capital to invest further in its award-winning industrial AI product set while facilitating targeted growth in selected geographies and manufacturing verticals. Knife Capital had initially invested in DataProphet in early 2018 via its KNF Ventures Section 12J funding vehicle. This latest round is the first investment made by…

Transnet and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) have welcomed a Special Tribunal provisional order freezing millions of rands worth of assets belonging to two former Transnet executives. In a judgment handed down on Monday, the Special Tribunal prohibited Thabo Lebelo, his wife Alletta Mokgoro Mabitsi, Phathutshedzo Brighton Mashamba and his wife Matlhodi Phillicia Mashamba from selling, leasing, donating or transferring their luxury properties in Rosebank and Dainfern. The SIU investigation has revealed that the acquisition of the properties was allegedly funded by money received from service providers contracted by Transnet. The order is provisional for now, though, and must be made final. A joint statement…

Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp now allows you to delete messages for up to two days after they are sent. Previously, this limit was 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds. “Rethinking your message? Now you will have a little over two days to delete your messages from your chats after you hit send,” the platform wrote on Twitter. 💭 Rethinking your message? Now you’ll have a little over 2 days to delete your messages from your chats after you hit send. — WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) August 8, 2022 Also read: Facebook is Shutting Down Its Live Shopping Feature To Focus…

Neobanking is set to boom in South Africa, with nearly a quarter (24%) of South African internet users expected to have a digital-only bank account by 2023, according to Finder’s Neobanking Adoption Report. Finder’s survey of 2,179 South African internet users reveals around 15% of adults currently have a neobank account and an additional 9% plan to open one by 2023. With a further 6% planning to open a neobank account by 2027, just under a third (31%) could have a neobank within five years. Finder’s global fintech editor, Elizabeth Barry, says neobanks are increasingly popular with consumers. “Neobanks allow…

Cape Town-headquartered venture capital (VC) firm HAVAÍC this week announced a $500,000 or R8.4 million investment in FinAccess, an East African headquartered software solutions provider that digitises community banks or SACCOs (Savings & Credit Cooperative Organisations) and farming co-operatives (“co-ops”) in the region. FinAccess is driving financial inclusion and unlocking financial services for many unbanked East Africans through its technology platform and widespread distribution. Allocated from the VC firm’s $20 million HAVAÍC Universum Core African Fund, which closed in May, the investment is part of a pre-series A funding round to expand the company’s two core products, banking software solution…

The Algorand Foundation announced the 10 winners of its Algorand Centres of Excellence (ACE) Programme, with awards totalling US$50 million over five years. The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Financial Innovation Hub is the only lead recipient in Africa. The ACE Programme received 77 proposals from over 550 participants representing 46 countries. Winners were selected by an international panel of 27 experts from a diverse set of disciplines. UCT has been awarded the grant alongside a small selection of top international institutions, including Yale University, Cornell University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne. “The selection process was incredibly difficult,…

Whether single by choice, or single by circumstance, it is clear that women are not waiting around to start climbing the property ladder. While the prospect of embarking on a home ownership journey with a single income may seem daunting – particularly in light of the recent interest rate spike – it is not an unattainable goal, says Andrea Tucker, Director of MortgageMe. It is important to remember that home ownership is a marathon, not a sprint. By making wise financial choices and following the right advice, you can take the plunge with full confidence. Join the wave Recent statistics…

South African-based Adapt IT Holdings is buying Agileum Hospitality in Mauritius as part of its strategy to enter the Indian Ocean hospitality industry. The transaction has been concluded through the Mauritian entity Adapt IT International. The deal includes the Oracle Hospitality rights to service the Indian Ocean hospitality market. Adapt IT is a South African global software and services group and a member of Volaris Group Inc. Adapt IT provides specialised software and digitally-led business solutions, assisting over 10 000 businesses in over 55 countries worldwide across targeted industries to Achieve more by improving customer experience, core business operations, business…