Author: Chris Anu

Absa Group has made several strategic executive appointments. (Image: 123RF) Absa has made several executive appointments to strengthen leadership capability across the group, bringing onboard tech and telecoms sector leaders. Among the appointees are M-Pesa Africa MD and Safaricom chief financial services officer Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, and former EOH chief risk officer Fatima Newman.They are joined by Absa’s Prabashni Naidoo and Rushdi Solomons, who have been transitioned and promoted, respectively, to different roles within the group. Lopokoiyit will take on the role of chief executive: personal and private banking, effective 1 April, says the bank in a statement. “This appointment demonstrates…

Broadband Infraco, which painted a dismal picture of its financial well-being in parliament on Tuesday, has revealed it is on a mission to win back one of its most lucrative contracts – with the State IT Agency (Sita). Parliament’s communications & digital technologies portfolio committee was told by executives of the state-owned company, which provides backhaul fibre communications, that MTN, which it lost the contract to, was not performing to par. They hope to win back some of the business. Infraco had been providing core network infrastructure and connectivity services for Sita to deliver IT and communications services for government.…

Self-service and free-to-use Platform ZA is now available to South African tech founders. (Image: Supplied) Technology start-up and investor network Startup Club ZA has unveiled an online platform that facilitates access for the local tech ecosystem. This, as founders struggle to access the right people, meaningful visibility, credible opportunities and trusted resources in a coordinated way.Platform ZA, says the founding company, is a discovery point for hiring and job listings, news, resources and a national start-up network.It’s a self-service and free-to-use platform that’s open to founders, investors, operators, service partners, community leaders and individuals looking to join start-ups.In a statement,…

Paramount CEO David Ellison Paramount Skydance has enhanced its Warner Bros Discovery bid by offering shareholders extra cash for each quarter the deal fails to close after this year and agreeing to cover the breakup fee the HBO owner would owe Netflix if it walked away. Even though Paramount did not raise its per-share offer, the sweeteners mark the company’s latest attempt to woo Warner Bros shareholders in its prolonged battle with Netflix for control of some of the world’s most prized TV and film assets. Paramount said on Tuesday that it has offered shareholders a US$0.25/share “ticking fee”, amounting…

Safer Internet Day educates children, parents, educators and stakeholders about the risks associated with the online space. (Image source: 123RF) This year’s Safer Internet Day (SID) comes amid heightened interest in the development of tailor-made laws to combat social media harms, with Australia’s Online Safety Amendment serving as an example.Commemorated globally on the second Tuesday of February, SID was started as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004. It is now commemorated in around 150 countries worldwide, including South Africa.For this year, the event is themed: “Smart tech, safe choices: Exploring the safe and responsible use of artificial…

National treasury has stepped in to provide funding to state-owned broadcasting signal distributor Sentech, which is in dire financial straits and no longer a going concern due to its ongoing fees dispute with the SABC. Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani, director-general of the department of communications & digital technologies, told parliamentarians on Tuesday that in total the treasury has granted R889-million in adjustment allocation letters. The most recent – totalling R700-million – was received by the department on Monday. It is earmarked for funding signal distribution. The DG explained to MPs in the communications portfolio committee that the department was still waiting to…

The African Financial Industry Barometer 2025 depicts a sector at a technology inflection point. (Image created using GenAI via ChatGPT) Africa’s financial sector is in the midst of a pronounced technological transformation, with digital innovation now being central to organisations’ competitive strategy.However, firms struggle to fully mature their tech adoption and face hurdles in developing a pipeline of necessary tech talent.This is one of the key findings of the African Financial Industry Barometer 2025, released this month by Deloitte, in partnership with the Africa Financial Summit.The fifth edition of this annual survey of more than 70 banking, insurance, fintech and…

In a world driven by data (and what companies can do with it), organisations are chasing the elusive single view of the customer, a comprehensive, unified understanding of each client across products, channels and touchpoints. This was a key theme that emerged through Altron’s Local Logic podcast series, where technology leaders discussed how South African businesses can use artificial intelligence, data and digital innovation to create value for their customers. Local Logic covers topics such as enterprise AI, innovation frameworks and data-driven decision-making, featuring guests including corporate chief technology officers and technology entrepreneurs. Listen to the full podcast here In…

Xiaomi unveils REDMI Note 15 Series. (Image: Xiaomi) Xiaomi South Africa has today announced the launch of the REDMI Note 15 Series, comprising three models: REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G, REDMI Note 15 Pro and REDMI Note 15.Defined by REDMI Titan Durability, the line-up highlights long-lasting battery performance, reinforced drop resistance and enhanced dust and water protection, alongside upgraded imaging capabilities, flagship-level performance and a seamless user experience.REDMI Titan Durability, engineered for everyday challengesSpanning every model, REDMI Titan Durability integrates a long-lasting battery experience, enhanced drop resistance and comprehensive dust and water resistance – establishing a new durability standard for…

First things first, what are you reading this article on? Is it your mobile device? If you answered yes to that, you’re part of the majority. Why? Spending time on your mobile phone has become one of the biggest digital entertainment tactics in this online age. Did you know that South Africans spend among the most time on their phones globally, averaging over nine hours per day? That’s an astronomical number. This is something that markets and companies are taking note of and they’re changing how they offer their services to suit the needs of South Africans. This is especially…