Author: Chris Anu
A blast of early winter weather has got the better of Eskom. The state-owned electricity utility said on Thursday that it will implement stage-2 load shedding overnight on Thursday. “Despite significant progress in our generation recovery efforts, higher-than-expected electricity demand, the loss of generation units and extensive planned maintenance have placed strain on the system,” Eskom said in a statement. “As a result, stage-2 load shedding will be implemented from 4pm today and will remain in effect until 5am tomorrow,” the company added. The renewed power cuts come as South Africa gets hit by the first blast of wintery weather,…
Capitec reported a 30% increase in headline earnings to R13.7 billion. Capitec spent R3.49 billion on information technology (IT) in the financial year ending 28 February.So says Francois Viviers, group executive of marketing and communications at Capitec, in an e-mail interview with ITWeb after the bank announced its annual financial results yesterday.The bank now serves more than half of the country’s adult population, it says.Capitec reported a 30% increase in headline earnings to R13.7 billion. It says continued investment in data and technology allows the utilisation of trillions of data points to create solutions that yield value and satisfy client…
With the recent inclusion of Gemini AI in Google Workspace bundles, Digicloud Africa partner Zila Tech is stepping up its efforts to lower barriers to entry and drive adoption of Google Workspace and Google Education solutions in English-speaking African countries, helping customers to achieve the productivity gains AI offers. Gemini, described as an “always-on AI assistant”, was previously available as an add-on product. It has now been incorporated into the various Google Workspace products, giving users AI assistants in apps such as Gmail, Docs, Meet, Sheets and Chat. Gemini also powers NotebookLM, a powerful note-taking and summary research tool that…
The DigiSquad team: CEO Bishnen Kumalo, product development head Keitumetse Koboekae and partner Lundi Kumalo. South African fintech investment platform Crossfin Ventures has announced an investment in South African fintech firm DigiSquad for an undisclosed sum.DigiSquad is a payments advisory and platform solutions company that aims to grow the reach of modern payment platforms in under-serviced communities across the African continent.From its base in Johannesburg, the company provides advisory and consulting, product design, and data and analytics services to clients throughout Africa and beyond, including the US, says Crossfin in a statement. DigiSquad CEO and founder Bishnen Kumalo says: “Africa’s…
Capitec Bank’s mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which recently slashed its prices, is performing strongly, the company’s latest financial results show. Capitec published its annual results for the year to end-February 2025 on Wednesday, which showed a 30% jump in headline earnings to R13.7-billion. “Strategic initiatives”, which include various value-added services and Capitec Connect, contributed R3.1-billion to group headline earnings, up from R2-billion in 2024. Capitec Connect’s net income in the latest reporting period came to R193-million, up from R35-million a year ago, while subscribers with active Sim cards (active within six months – a particularly loose definition) increased by…
Communications and digital technologies minister Solly Malatsi. As the first African country to hold the presidency of the G20 group of nations, South Africa has taken the opportunity to emphasise the need for cross-border collaboration to improve ICT infrastructure and services across Southern Africa.Against a backdrop of growing ‘isolationism’, South Africa’s minister of communications and digital technologies Solly Malatsi said: “At a time when the world seems to be pulling apart, it is encouraging we are choosing to stay connected on connectivity.”Malatsi was speaking at the opening of the 45th annual Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA) conference in Johannesburg today.He…
New GX Capital founder and CEO Khudusela Pitje Khudusela Pitje, founder and CEO of New GX Capital, has criticised South Africa’s competition regulators over the time they took coming to a decision over the proposed acquisition by Vodacom of a stake in fibre operator Maziv – only to seek the deal’s prohibition. The proposed deal, which was ultimately blocked by the Competition Tribunal last October, would have seen Vodacom acquire a 30-40% co-controlling stake in Maziv in a multibillion-rand transaction. Maziv is controlled by CIVH, which is in turn is controlled by Remgro. Pitje and his family make up one…
Communications and digital technologies minister Solly Malatsi. As the first African country to hold the Presidency of the G20 group of nations, South Africa has taken the opportunity to emphasise the need for cross-border collaboration to improve ICT infrastructure and services across Southern Africa.Against a backdrop of growing ‘isolationism’, South Africa’s minister of communications and digital technologies Solly Malatsi, said: “At a time when the world seems to be pulling apart, it is encouraging we are choosing to stay connected on connectivity.”Malatsi was speaking at the opening of the 45th annual Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA) conference in Johannesburg today.He…
JSE-listed technology solutions provider 4Sight is buying Sage HR and payroll partners X4 Solutions and XFour Technology, for more than R42-million. The acquisition, executed through 4Sight subsidiary 4Sight Systems, is meant to expand 4Sight’s digital enterprise ecosystem and strengthen its presence in the workforce technology sector across Africa. Established in 2017, X4 Solutions and XFour Technology offer mobile-first employee self-service platform RocketSlip, which integrates with platforms like WhatsApp, catering to the needs of deskless and distributed workforces. Their XOne product, meanwhile, is designed for onboarding, offboarding and timesheet management. Key personnel will be required to remain employed by the 4Sight…
Join SADC’s premier ICT gathering at the 45th SATA Conference. Openserve, in proud partnership with the Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA), invites ICT professionals, policymakers, regulators and development partners to the 45th SATA Annual Conference, taking place from 23 to 25 April 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.Recognised as SADC’s premier ICT gathering, this flagship event will bring together high-level stakeholders from across the region to advance the shared agenda of broadband access, regional collaboration and digital transformation.This year’s conference features an influential line-up of speakers and sessions:Keynote address by the Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies, Hon Solly…