Author: Chris Anu

SITA’s head office in Erasmuskloof, Pretoria. (Photograph by Lesley Moyo) The incoming managing director (MD) of the State IT Agency (SITA) is expected to lead and oversee the implementation of the SITA 2025 – 2030 corporate strategy when he assumes his post.This is according to Tlali Tlali, head of corporate affairs at SITA, who confirmed that the MD-designate is expected to officially take up his post on 1 April.Magatho Mello was announced as the new SITA MD last December, a move that the communications ministry described as part of efforts to restore good governance, stability and performance at the agency.SITA’s…

South African owners of 372 of Volvo’s popular EX30 model have been urged to pay close attention to a safety recall. When Volvo Cars first brought its compact electric SUV, the EX30, to South Africa, it wasn’t just another EV on the market — it quickly became the benchmark for premium electrified driving. Launched as one of the most accessible fully electric Volvos locally, the EX30 won hearts with punchy performance, clever packaging and strong safety DNA – so much so that it led BEV sales in 2024, capturing about a third of the local EV market and even earning…

OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Health. ChatGPT maker OpenAI is rolling out a health-focused feature to the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool that’s used by nearly a billion users.Named ChatGPT Health, the new feature aims to provide users with health and wellness information.This, as health is one of the most common ways people use ChatGPT, according to OpenAI.In a blog post, Microsoft-backed OpenAI says de-identified analysis of conversations show that over 230 million people globally ask health and wellness-related questions on ChatGPT every week.ChatGPT Health will also “securely” connect medical records and wellness apps to ground conversations with a user’s own health…

Everyone’s a content creator now For the first 30 years of television’s existence in South Africa, linear broadcasting dominated the way content was served to the public. Broadcasters including the SABC, MultiChoice and eMedia enjoyed the privilege of captive audiences who were “programmed” through rigid schedules that determined the type of content that would be served and the times that content could be accessed. In a similar way to how Video Killed the Radio Star, the internet came along and democratised not only how content is created but also how it is consumed. The proliferation of social media sites such…

Syspro, provider of the purpose-built ERP for manufacturing and distribution, and SugarCRM, provider of the award-winning intelligence-driven sales automation platform, today announced a new go-to-market partnership giving manufacturers and distributors precision selling capabilities.The combination of ERP and CRM provides a powerful way to help businesses navigate sales environments characterized by complex product catalogs and distribution channels, long buying cycles and deep customer relationships.By fully integrating with Syspro ERP, Sugar unifies product, customer, order and service data to guide reps toward the right actions to win business, strengthen customer loyalty, support repeat sales and long-term account growth.The solution, called Sugar for…

TechCentral’s motoring show, Watts & Wheels, is officially back, with the first full episode of season 1 widening the lens beyond new cars to look at the forces reshaping South Africa’s automotive industry. The first episode of season 1 – you can catch our “season 0” episodes here – opens with a sharp focus on South African Auto Week, where the pressure on local vehicle manufacturers dominated discussions. Original equipment manufacturers are facing a tough balancing act as imports rise while local assembly plants wrestle with costs, scale and uncertainty. From policy to products, the show then shifts gears to…

Quectel Wireless Solutions, an end-to-end global IoT solutions provider, today announces the launch of the RG600QA and RG660QB 5G module, based on the Qualcomm® X85 and X82 5G Modem-RF Systems. The RG660QA is based on X85 while the RG660QB is based onX82. Engineering samples of two first SKUs in the RG660Qx series have been already made available to customers and pre-production samples will be available to the market in Q2 2026. Designed for versatility, this module series supports a broad array of next generation 5G use cases, from home and business wireless broadband to mobile video, camera applications, and high-performance mobile…

Trade minister Parks Tau. Leah Millis/Reuters South Africa has softened its competition regulations to allow firms battling high power costs to jointly build energy infrastructure and collectively negotiate supply contracts. Trade minister Parks Tau said in a government notice on Wednesday that the new measures were meant to assist distressed industries. Electricity costs in South Africa have risen by more than 900% since 2008, the country’s Minerals Council says. Smelters and steelmakers are struggling to survive the impact of high power prices, compounded by competition mainly from China, whose industry enjoys significantly lower electricity costs. Electricity costs in South Africa…

NSFAS board acting chairperson Dr Mugwena Maluleke. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is in the process of robust upgrades to its accommodation portal, it has revealed.This, as student accommodation has become a contentious issue over the years, with some students often left stranded at various points during the academic year.The accommodation hurdle has formed part of the instability and “deep” administrative challenges the scheme has faced over the course of its history.On Tuesday, NSFAS provided insight into preparations for the 2026 academic year, including the disbursement of funds and student accommodation arrangements.NSFAS board acting chairperson Dr Mugwena Maluleke…

Transport minister Barbara Creecy. Image: GCIS South Africa’s long-delayed plan to modernise its driving licence card system has been thrown back into uncertainty. This follows the high court in Pretoria overturning a multimillion-rand tender awarded to French technology company Idemia. It declared the tender irregular, invalid and unenforceable. The ruling was welcomed by transport minister Barbara Creecy on Wednesday. She said that pending the appointment of the successful service provider, the department has been allowed by the court to outsource the printing of the cards to the department of home affairs. South Africa’s card licensing system collapsed due to a…