Author: Chris Anu

For seven decades, poor countries wanting to get rich have turned again and again to dams. For the post-independence leaders of Egypt and Ghana in the 1950s, hydroelectricity and sovereignty were inextricably linked. Building vast irrigation and electricity projects across the Nile and the Volta was a prerequisite if they were to catch up with their former colonial masters. That association still holds: four of the six biggest users of hydro today are Brazil, Russia, India and China, the Bric nations synonymous with the idea of rapid economic development. That may be changing, however. The rise of data centres mining…

Vodacom invests R620 million to improve connectivity and digital inclusion in Mpumalanga. Mobile telephony group Vodacom will spend R620 million on improving connectivity and digital inclusion in Mpumalanga this financial year.This is in addition to the over R400 million the telco invested in the region in the previous financial year (2024-2025), it says.According to a statement, the funds form part of an investment totalling more than R1 billion over two years, in line with the operator’s efforts to ensure its network is accessible to all South Africans. The investment is focused on expanding network infrastructure and driving access to connectivity,…

The cost of a data breach in South Africa has declined slightly to R44.1-million, according to a new research report from IBM. The company said in a statement on Friday that despite an increase in the number of breaches recorded in South Africa, the adoption of data security, artificial intelligence and machine learning insights, and DevSecOps practices have helped lower the average cost of such incidents. A year ago, the average cost of a data breach in South Africa was R53.1-million, according to IBM, representing a nearly 17% decline. However, the average number of breached records increased to 23 445 versus…

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in the financial services industry. As artificial intelligence (AI) takes on a growing role in financial services, from granting loans, to automating small-business bookkeeping, banks grapple with how to use it responsibly and authorities seek to put rules in place.Ciko Thomas, group managing executive of personal and private banking at Nedbank, says the ethical use of AI is “a big factor in banking. Already, we’re grappling [with this] a lot as an industry, and I know we’ve done a lot of work inside Nedbank to think about the ramifications of AI in our business.”Thomas…

Trade minister Parks Tau South Africa faces a 30% tariff on its exports to the US starting next week, a move expected to cost tens of thousands of jobs after the country failed to secure a trade deal before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump. In an executive order on Thursday, Trump slapped new tariff rates ranging from 10% to 41% on dozens of countries as he seeks to reshape global trade on more favourable terms for the US. The order said the higher import duty rates would take effect in seven days. South Africa has tried for…

In this episode of ITWeb TV, Jurie Schoeman, managing partner at BSG, talks about the biggest tech trends the consultancy firm is witnessing in the South African market and how generative artificial intelligence has been received by local firms. He also touches on the company’s graduate programme among other issues. #DigitalTransformation #AI #GenAI #GraduateProgrammeDigital transformation is evolving rapidly, driven in part by the rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).This is according to Jurie Schoeman, managing partner at South African consultancy BSG, in an interview with ITWeb TV.He noted that GenAI is playing a significant role in reshaping digital transformation initiatives…

BYD’s Atto 1 BYD – the Shenzhen-headquartered vehicle manufacturer sometimes referred to as “China’s Tesla” – will launch its lowest-model to date, the Atto 1, in South Africa next month, at an expected price point of below R400 000. That’s according to a report by CarMag, which recently travelled to China with BYD. Though it said the firm is “tight-lipped” about the likely price of the Atto 1 – known as the Dolphin Mini or Dolphin Surf in other markets – CarMag cited Chinese reports suggesting that BYD hopes to launch the model in South Africa for less than R400 000. That…

IBM found that the average data breach cost has declined in SA, reaching R44.1 million in 2025. A data breach incident now costs South African organisations a little less compared to the same period a year ago, averaging R44.1 million.Last year, the average data breach cost per incident for local organisations stood at R53.1 million. The decline to R44.1 million in 2025 represents a nearly 17% year-on-year decrease.The drop witnessed this year has been mainly driven by the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning insights, according to the 20th edition of the IBM 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report.…

Mustek’s head office in Midrand, Johannesburg Printing and packaging firm Novus Holdings’ offer to buy out other shareholders in technology group Mustek has hit another hurdle. The two companies said in a joint announcement issued via the JSE on Friday that the Takeover Regulation Panel (TRP) is holding off from issuing a certificate of compliance, which is required before the transaction can be consummated. Novus had told Mustek shareholders in a circular that it had expected to receive the certificate from the TRP by no later than 1 August 2025. This will no longer happen. The TRP has received certain…

Google and Raspberry Pi Foundation’s programme will provide learners with early exposure to the tools and knowledge they will need to thrive in the digital economy. Google has announced its partnership with UK-based Raspberry Pi Foundation, aimed at equipping 210 000 learners and 4 200 school teachers in SA with essential digital skills. The programme will provide learners with early exposure to the tools and knowledge they will need to thrive in the digital economy. Raspberry Pi Foundation has selected local NPC, Edunova, as the implementation agent across five provinces in SA.The partnership was unveiled at Google’s AI in Action…