Author: Chris Anu

Online gambling’s social and economic impact continues to grow, amid the legal uncertainty. (Picture: Freepik) Conflicting legal opinions are mounting over the legality of online gambling, with lawyers and the National Gambling Board (NGB) squabbling over interpretations of the law.This lack of clarity over the legality of online gambling comes during Responsible Gambling Month.The legal wrangling follows a recent Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling, which found that bookmakers in Gauteng can’t offer fixed-odds bets to punters on the outcomes of roulette games except when they have casino licences. See also The storm was triggered by an SCA ruling that…

Discovery Group CEO Adrian Gore Discovery Group has unveiled Vitality AI, a new artificial intelligence platform developed in partnership with Google, designed to make millions of people healthier through personalisation and data-driven insights. Vitality AI will be made available to Discovery’s South African customers and offered in the other markets around the world where it operates, including the UK. It will also be made available through four global reinsurance providers. Announcing the collaboration, Discovery co-founder and CEO Adrian Gore said the biggest gains in AI will come from “personalisation and contextualisation” – helping people take the right health actions at…

The global business services sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in SA and a priority sector for government. South Africa’s global business services (GBS) sector shows no signs of slowing down, adding 8 180 net new international jobs from April to June.The resulted in $131 million (R2.3 billion) contributed to the country’s export revenue, during this period.This is based on insights from non-profit organisation Business Process Enabling South Africa’s (BPESA’s) quarterly GBS Sector Job Creation Report, released ahead of the GBS and BPO Investor Conference in Durban. See also The report covers the first quarter of the financial…

In today’s fast-paced, digital-first landscape, businesses of all sizes face a critical challenge: how to not only survive but thrive amid constant change. From supply chain disruptions to the rise of hybrid work models, the demands on technology have never been greater. It’s no longer just about having the latest gadgets; it’s about leveraging smart, reliable, and scalable solutions that empower productivity, secure data, and drive innovation. Learn more at www.acer.com/za-en/business/what-we-offer Acer Africa is stepping up to this challenge, offering a comprehensive suite of business technologies and tailored services designed to meet the unique needs of the African market. Recognising…

The state expects to launch the gov.za alpha site this month. The state will this month launch the gov.za alpha site, followed by the migration of departmental websites and the implementation of zero-rating. This was revealed during National Treasury’s progress report on the status of Operation Vulindlela phase two, for the second quarter of the 2025/2026 fiscal year.Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and Treasury aimed at driving the implementation of structural reforms to support more rapid and inclusive economic growth. See also Says Treasury: “Development of the reimagined gov.za website and content-management system is advanced. A…

Altron Group CEO Werner Kapp JSE-listed technology group Altron has lifted its interim dividend by 20% even as it warns of a “tough trading environment” in IT services. Group operating profit from continuing operations in the six months to 31 August 2025 increased 15% to R549-million, driven by an “excellent performance” in the Platforms segment, with headline earnings per share from continuing operations climbing 22% to 96c. This was, however, tempered by the difficult trading environment in IT services, which led to a 1% decline in group revenue to R4.8-billion. Altron Digital Business posted an operating loss of R42-million. “Despite…

Cheslyn Jacobs, incoming CEO of TymeBank. TymeBank has received approval from the South African Reserve Bank’s Prudential Authority to appoint Cheslyn Jacobs as its new CEO, effective 1 January 2026.Jacobs succeeds Karl Westvig, who has been with TymeBank’s leadership since 2023 and will continue to serve in an advisory capacity to support the bank’s ongoing growth.Jacobs, a TymeBank founding team member and current CCO, brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and leadership experience, having played an integral role in building the business, according to the bank.His appointment marks the beginning of the bank’s next chapter, which will be defined by…

President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: GCIS Government plans to launch the “alpha” (pre-beta) version of its revamped central website this month, according to according to an update of the second phase of government’s Operation Vulindlela programme. The www.gov.za portal acts as a central gateway to information on government services and initiatives. President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his state of the nation address in February that the state will invest in public digital infrastructure to give South Africans access to government services anywhere and at any time. The update, from national treasury, said development of the “reimagined” website and content-management system is…

SASSA wants to implement modernisation and digitisation improvements in two provinces. It’s a busy week on National Treasury’s eTenders Portal, with many opportunities for the ICT industry to consider. However, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), dominates the issue with six requests focused on modernisation and digitisation improvements in two provinces. The agency’s Western Cape region kicks off the series with an advert for the phase three requirements of its rollout of queue management systems (QMS), audio and visual systems and kiosks. The specifications reveal that the installations, and in some cases repairs, will cover 17 office locations. Supply…

Vodacom Group is the mobile operator boasting the largest financial services operation on the African continent, with revenue, active users and transaction volumes surpassing those of rival MTN Group. On a continent where formal banking penetration is low, financial services has become a key strategic revenue generator for both operators, who expanded their fintech empires as part of their five-year strategic plans to 2025. As they look to 2030, their focus on financial services is set to sharpen, with both aiming to have a larger portion of group revenue coming from their fintech operations. Both Vodacom and MTN have consumer-facing…