Interviews with leaders in South Africa's ICT industry.
Samsung Electronics recently launched the latest line-up of its popular Galaxy A-series of midtier smartphones, with the A26, A36 and A56 replacing the older A25, A35 and A55 models. One of the most notable new features of the A-series is a curated artificial intelligence module, dubbed Awesome Intelligence, that brings powerful AI features previously exclusive to its top-tier Galaxy S-series phones to its midrange devices for the first time. Unique to the A-series is a new safety feature called Samsung SOS+, a free-to-use, 24/7 subscription service exclusive to owners of the new Galaxy A56, A36 and A26 devices. In an emergency situation – and on-demand – the service immediately geolocates the user and sends private security and medical emergency services to their location at the press of a button. In this episode of TCS+, Justin Hume, vice president for mobile at Samsung Electronics South Africa, tells TechCentral about how SOS+ works in the new Galaxy A-series line-up. Hume delves into: • The inspiration behind SOS+ and why Samsung has chosen the A series to pilot the service; • How the service works and its benefits for A-series smartphone users; • Why the service is currently limited to users of the A56, A36 and A26 devices and Samsung's plans for expanded roll-out; • Key features that set the SOS+ service apart; and • Why Samsung has chosen Aura as its partner in providing the SOS+ service. Don't miss a fascinating discussion! TechCentral
For years, mobile telecommunications was dominated by a handful of large operators, or MNOs. Now, with almost 30 MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators, serving niche consumer bases in banking, retail and education, among other sectors, the MVNO market is thriving. However, brands looking to take advantage of this boom and add mobile services to their offerings are not guaranteed success. There are several critical decisions regarding strategy, process and choosing the right technology platform that are key to building a critical mass of loyal MVNO customers. In this episode of TCS+, Daniel Swart, chief commercial officer at MVNX, an MVNO enablement specialist, discusses the opportunities and threats facing MVNOs in South Africa today. Swart Delves into: • The services MVNX, as an MVNO enabler, offers to brands looking to launch MVNO services in South Africa; • How South Africa's MVNO market has developed since its inception in 2006 with the entry of now-defunct Virgin Mobile; • The markers of success separating successful MVNOs from those that have struggled to gain a foothold in the market; • The benefits MVNO brands reap from using an enablement platform to launch and distribute their mobile services; • The importance of understanding the competitive dynamics of the MVNO market and how new MVNOs should position themselves; • The regulatory aspects of running an MVNO; and • International MVNO trends Swart believes are likely to be emulated in South Africa. This discussion is not to be missed. TechCentral
The Lekker Network is a recently launched global business platform designed to help South African expatriates find business and investment opportunities around the world, including at home. Founded by a group of well-known businesspeople, The Lekker Network was launched in March and offers members access to a business directory, a jobs portal (for employers and job seekers), a social platform with “likeminded individuals” and events around the world for people, including non-South Africans, to meet up. Renier Lombard, a co-founder of The Lekker Network, is our guest on this episode of the TechCentral Show. He said the platform, whose ambassadors include well-known journalist and speaker Bruce Whitfield and former Springbok and now businessman Bob Skinstad, is designed to “forge connections between South African businesses and businesspeople, regardless of their location”. In this episode of TCS, Lombard unpacks: • Who founded The Lekker Network and why; • Who it is aimed at and who can join; • How much it costs and what members get for the fee; • The markets where The Lekker Network is focused – not surprisingly, the attention is on countries where there are a large number of South African expats; • How (and why) non-South Africans can join the network; and • The importance of the tech sector, including start-ups, to The Lekker Network community. Don't miss the interview! TechCentral
This is the fourth episode of a new podcast series curated by TechCentral's editorial team and generated by artificial intelligence tools. It's an experiment that's in beta for now, but if it works well, we'll consider making it a regular feature by launching a season 1. In this episode, we highlight some of the biggest technology news stories from South Africa and the world over the last week, as covered by TechCentral. Note that even using the most accurate and reliable sources, AI can and will occasionally make mistakes. In this episode, we look at: • Takealot's talks about hiring thousands of retrenched Post Office employees to support its e-commerce expansion plans; • Why South Africans' use of cash is costing the economy billions of rand a year, according to the Reserve Bank; • City Power's plan to roll out electric vehicle charging stations in Johannesburg; • The Internet Service Providers' Association's view of communications minister Solly Malatsi's plan to introduce equity equivalence in licensing in the ICT sector; • Intel's pivot to the “14A” manufacturing technology and what it means in its fight with TSMC for foundry customers; • Bank Zero's sale to Lesaka Technologies; and • The mental health impact of AI chatbots. Again, this podcast is experimental. We welcome your feedback. Would you like this podcast to become a regular feature? Is there anything you'd like us to improve? Is it too short or too long? Drop us a line at nexus@techcentral.co.za. TechCentral
The pace of innovation in the cloud space is breathtaking. Gone are the days when the cloud was just about virtual machines and storage; today, it is a dynamic ecosystem, constantly introducing features that are fundamentally transforming how businesses operate, from the smallest start-ups to the largest enterprises. Preegan Chetty, Azure product manager at First Distribution, returns to TechCentral's TCS+ to discuss some of the latest and most exciting features available in the Azure cloud environment and how businesses are leveraging those capabilities to facilitate growth. This is the third in a series of three episodes with Chetty and First Distribution. Episode one covered cloud cost optimisation in Azure and episode two looked at how businesses can manage the complexities of data residency in hybrid cloud environments. In this episode, Chetty delves into: • The benefits cloud-based IT environments offer over on-prem installations and how they help companies experiment and adopt new technologies faster; • How businesses can ensure they are able to keep pace with new technologies so they are not left behind; • How South African businesses are using the newest AI tools in Azure to build new products and services; • How to approach responsible AI development in the cloud; • How cloud AI tools can help with code modernisation; • How small businesses can take advantage of cloud technology; and • Emerging cloud technologies to keep an eye on. This discussion is not to be missed. TechCentral
Data is the lifeblood of every organisation, driving innovation, enhancing customer experiences and influencing strategic decisions. But managing this invaluable asset has never been more challenging. Hybrid IT environments – where some organisational data sits in the cloud other data resides in on-premises infrastructure – only adds to this complexity. In this second episode in a series of three delving into the ins and outs of Azure cloud deployments, Preegan Chetty, Azure product manager at First Distribution, discusses the data governance procedures that ensure organisational data is stored in the most useful, cost-effective and compliant ways. The first episode centred on effective cost management techniques for the Azure cloud environment. You can watch that episode here. In this episode, Chetty delves into: • Why the complexity of data governance increases when organisations migrate from on-premises to hybrid cloud environments; • The factors organisations should consider when deciding which data they should keep where; • What Dora legislation is and how it affects the hybrid data strategies of South African organisations; • Other legislation impacting data governance in South Africa; • The tools Azure provides to help data architects structure distributed data in ways that do not have a negative impact on performance; • Data governance for disaster recovery; and • The impact data governance decisions have on an organisation's cloud costs. Don't miss an informative discussion! TechCentral
Organisations are flocking to the cloud for its agility, scalability and innovation potential. But while the cloud promises big things, it also presents a set of financial challenges. Many businesses find their cloud bills spiralling out of control, eroding the very benefits they sought in the first place. In this episode of TechCentral's TCS+, Preegan Chetty, Microsoft Azure product manager at First Distribution, discusses the tools Azure provides for effective cost management and how businesses can take advantage of them to get the most out their cloud deployments without breaking the bank. Chetty delves into: • Some of the common pitfalls or hidden costs that organisations encounter when moving their workloads into the cloud and how to mitigate against these; • The different pricing models available in Azure and how organisations can leverage them; • What FinOps is and how businesses can benefit from it; • How organisational KPIs can be leveraged to manage cloud spending effectively; • How tagging can aid in cost centre management; • How to manage costs in more complex hybrid cloud environments; and • The AI tools Azure offers to aid businesses in managing their costs. This episode is not to be missed. TechCentral
The digitisation of social interactions has made it easier for people to maintain contact and build online communities. However, there has been a decrease in in-person interaction that has contributed to a sense of disconnect. South African-made social media platform Sociable hopes to solve this problem by combining online engagement with in-person meetups, connecting people based on shared interests. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Sociable co-founder and CEO Jason van Dyk tells TechCentral's Nathi Ndlovu about the importance of community and how Sociable is helping drive its development. In the show, Van Dyk delves into: • How community builders benefit from using the Sociable platform; • The features Sociable provides to communities and their members to enhance engagement; • How meeting spaces including coffee shops, bars and restaurants benefit from the in-person component of Sociable's community meetups; • Sociable's approach to safety for its users; • How Sociable positions itself against large social media platforms like Facebook; • Some of the most popular communities on the platform; and • The impact of AI on the social media landscape. Don't miss the conversation! TechCentral
This is the third episode of a new podcast series curated by TechCentral's editorial team and generated by artificial intelligence tools. It's an experiment that's in beta for now, but if it works well, we'll consider making it a regular feature by launching a season 1. Note that even using the most accurate and reliable sources, AI can and will occasionally make mistakes. In this episode, we highlight some of the biggest technology news stories from South Africa and the world over the last week, as covered by TechCentral. In this episode, we look at: • Takealot Group's strong top-line performance; • The profit surge at Prosus and what's driving it; • The over-capacity crisis hitting China's motoring industry; • How Oracle, a dowdy database developer, got a new lease on life; • Jaltech's decision to back solar specialist Wetility; and • The State IT Agency hits back at its critics in government; Again, this podcast is experimental. We welcome your feedback. Would you like this podcast to become a regular feature? Is there anything you'd like us to improve? Is it too short or too long? Drop us a line at nexus@techcentral.co.za. TechCentral
Spar Group is determined to play a significant role in the on-demand grocery delivery space in South Africa despite coming from behind, its omnichannel executive for Southern Africa has told TechCentral. Speaking to the TechCentral Show, Blake Raubenheimer took the publication's editor, Duncan McLeod, through the retailer's plan to compete directly with the likes of Shoprite Holdings' Sixty60, which gained an early market lead during the Covid lockdowns. Spar has every intention of becoming a meaningful player in app-based on-demand deliveries, according to Raubenheimer, who unpacked the retailer's plan to gain market share in the increasingly competitive but fast-expanding segment with Spar2U. South Africa's grocery sector has become increasingly competitive as price-conscious consumers look for value, convenience and distinctive products. Shoprite and Woolworths are keeping their rivals on their toes as they continue to sign up customers. Pick n Pay, which is also coming from behind, is aggressively targeting the space, too. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Raubenheimer discusses: * How Spar's business model – the vast majority of stores are run by franchisees – has complicated its move into the on-demand grocery game, and how it's working to turn this to its advantage; * How Spar is working to convince consumers to try Spar2U over other on-demand services; * The group's broader omnichannel strategy, where the retailer is positioned in the market, where it wants to get to, and how it plans to do it; * Its focus on the township and rural markets through partnerships with companies like KasiD and Delivery Ka Speed – and why it's important; Spar's partnership with Uber Eats; * How Spar's SAP enterprise software implementation in KwaZulu-Natal went awry and how it impacted the retailer; and * What Spar is working on from a technology perspective. Don't miss a fascinating discussion about how technology is transforming the retail industry in South Africa. TechCentral
Many municipalities in South Africa are struggling to maintain a reliable supply of clean water to households and industries. Thankfully, technology is here to help. In this episode of TechCentral's TCS+, Helen Hulett, newly appointed chief sustainability officer at geospatial information science specialist AfriGIS, tells Duncan McLeod about the Resolve Water project that she leads and how she and her team are working with businesses and municipalities to try to address a problem that has reached crisis levels in some parts of the country. AfriGIS's technology is able to have a real-world impact on this crisis, according to Hulett, who specialises in industrial water risk, water-related governance and social issues, and sustainability. Hulett, who has consulted with leading companies on the topic – they include the likes of Coca-Cola, Illovo Sugar Africa, Sappi, Aspen Pharmacare and Sasol – said AfriGIS offers advanced mapping and data analytics tools to address water scarcity, improve resource management and support businesses in need. In this episode of TCS+, Hulett also unpacks: • Her background and why she took the role of chief sustainability officer at AfriGIS; • What the field of geospatial information science involves and why it makes sense to apply it to this crisis; • AfriGIS's involvement in the Resolve Water project; • How serious the water crisis really is in South Africa and what it will take to address it; • The impact of the Resolve Water project so far, and how it's using GIS technology to achieve its goals – including mapping, real-time data analytics and collaborative partnerships; and • The role of artificial intelligence. The interview with Hulett, who is passionate about the topic of water security in South Africa, is not to be missed. TechCentral
This is the second (and beta) episode of a new podcast series curated by TechCentral's editorial team and generated by artificial intelligence tools. It's an experiment for now, but if it works well, we'll consider making it a regular feature by launching a season 1. Note that even using the most accurate and reliable sources, AI can and will occasionally make mistakes. In this episode, we highlight several key developments in South Africa's ICT sector, including the intense capex competition among Vodacom, MTN and Telkom that reveals a fierce battle for network supremacy and market share within the mobile telecommunications sector. Concurrently, the surge in mobile virtual network operators is reshaping the South African mobile market, also fostering increased competition and delivering specialised offerings for consumers. Also this week: an uproar over home affairs' proposed database fee increases; the proliferation of Starlink and other low-Earth orbit satellites present a significant threat to radio astronomy in the Karoo; and AI comes to Wimbledon. Again, this is experimental. We welcome your feedback. Would you like this podcast to become a regular feature? Is there anything you'd like us to improve? Is it too short or too long? Drop us a line at nexus@techcentral.co.za. TechCentral
This is the first (and beta) episode of a new podcast series curated by TechCentral's editorial team and generated by artificial intelligence tools. It's an experiment for now, but if it works well, we'll make it a regular feature. Note that even using the most accurate and reliable sources (human-generated articles from TechCentral and other reliable media sources), AI can and does make mistakes. Again, this is experimental. We welcome your feedback. Would you like this podcast to become a regular feature on TechCentral? Is there anything you'd like to improve? Drop us a line at info@techcentral.co.za - we'd love to hear from you. TechCentral
What should one make of the noise surrounding the licensing (or non-licensing) of Starlink in South Africa? And what of the plans to reform the rules around black economic empowerment in the sector? To make sense of these developments – and others – TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod sat down this week with Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO of the Association for Comms & Technology (ACT), an industry body that represents South Africa's six largest telecommunications operators: MTN, Telkom, Vodacom, Rain, Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Cell C. In the interview, for the TechCentral Show, Batyi unpacked communications minister Solly Malatsi's draft policy directive to communications regulator Icasa on so-called “equity equivalents” and why ACT believes there needs to be fairness in the licensing process. If the new rules apply to satellite operators, she said, they should apply to all licensees in the sector equally, including the big telecoms operators ACT represents. In the show, she also discussed: • Whether Starlink – and other low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite internet companies pose a threat or an opportunity for South Africa's network operators; • The role of LEO satellite operators in South Africa's future telecommunications mix – and can they help bridge the digital divide?; • The latest on the planned switch-off of 2G and 3G networks in South Africa, and why 3G will be the first to go; • Whether national treasury's recent move to cut ad valorem tax on basic smartphones goes far enough – and what other measures ACT would like to see to get smartphones in the hands of everyone in South Africa; and • What is happening regarding the next spectrum auction. Don't miss a great discussion! TechCentral
Mobile money has an increasingly vital role to play in South Africa's economy, despite the fact that the country boasts an advanced financial services sector. That's the view of Kagiso Mothibi, CEO of Fintech at MTN South Africa, who was sharing his views in a recent interview with TechCentral's TCS+ (watch it below) in which he discusses the broader fintech vision for the network operator and its role in driving innovation across the group. But what is it about mobile money services that is attracting South African consumers to products like MTN's MoMo, and what role do these platforms fulfil in the broader financial services ecosystem? Mothibi unpacks this in detail in the interview. He also discusses: • Why South Africa has proved to be a tougher mobile money market to crack than many other countries in Africa; • How the South African market differs from others in which MTN operates; • Who the target market is for MoMo – is it the unbanked and underbanked, or does MTN also have plans to serve well-heeled customers, too? • What's driving the growth in MoMo services in South Africa and why; • What MTN's fintech portfolio houses today and the company's plans to expand this in the coming years; • The recent launched of MoMo Pay, how it works and how MTN is onboarding merchants; • What pain points MoMo Pay addresses in the payments ecosystem; and • What the future holds for the fintech business in South Africa – and how product innovation locally is being deployed in other MTN markets across the continent. Don't miss an exciting interview! TechCentral
Forget the hype, embrace the revolution! In this episode of TCS+, TechCentral speaks with Workday South Africa country manager Kiv Moodley and manager of solutions consulting Jannie Malan to dissect the critical intersection of artificial intelligence and human potential. Malan oversees the solution consulting team, engaging with prospects and clients to understand their challenges and demonstrate how Workday's technology can enable them to achieve their vision. Both Moodley and Malan, who coincidentally joined Workday on the very day its South African office launched in 2018, brought seven years of frontline experience to the discussion, proving that AI isn't just a buzzword – it's already shaping our world. TCS+ host Jaydev Chiba sat down with the two men to discuss the topic of “Human by design: real-world AI, real human impact”. Experts note that AI, like other technologies, might be overestimated in the short term but underestimated in the long term. Overcoming initial apprehension requires understanding what AI is, and understanding helps reveal its potential to allow humans to be more productive and efficient. AI is not a silver bullet; its value is realised when it's embedded, understood and utilised effectively. The conversation highlighted several use cases, both personal and within business. Examples ranged from leveraging tools like Grok, ChatGPT and Gemini for productivity, and even a 10-year-old programming Alexa to tell a puppy it's mealtime. Another use case included using AI for creating a training curriculum and visuals. Moodley and Malan noted that AI is already embedded in daily life through GPS, search and recommendations. For businesses, a key trend is using AI to improve employee productivity by automating repetitive and mundane tasks, giving people more time for higher-value work. Industries show different levels of adoption, from logistics using AI for warehouse safety, to healthcare for diagnosis and treatment development, and insurance for fraud detection and client profiling. This shift shows value emerging as industries figure out where AI provides maximum benefit. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the critical need for ethical and responsible AI use. With organisations facing pressure to adopt AI, establishing AI governance is foundational. This involves potentially creating AI governance roles, executive sponsorship, governance committees and risk matrices to manage data privacy, bias and transparency. The Workday executives stressed the importance of AI functioning within a larger technology framework, requiring organisations to address data quality, security and accessibility. Critically, the concept of keeping the human in the loop was emphasised, ensuring humans make final decisions based on AI-surfaced insights. Workday itself champions transparency, providing fact sheets or model cards to explain its AI models and how data is leveraged and bias mitigated. TechCentral
Altron Group announced last week that it was selling its Altron Nexus business in a management buyout led by Nexus MD Louis du Toit and BriteGaze founder and technology entrepreneur Reshaad Sha. Sha and Du Toit are our guests in this episode of the TechCentral Show, where they tell TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about the acquisition and their plans for the business. As part of the acquisition – which is still subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, which should be concluded by the end of June – Altron Nexus will be rebranded as Sentiv, a portmanteau of “sentient” and “intuitive”. Sha will serve as Sentiv's executive chairman while Du Toit will be CEO. “Together they will steer Sentiv's transformation into a future-orientated technology partner offering intelligent, context-aware, mission-critical communications and industrial internet-of-things solutions,” according to a statement from the acquiring parties. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Du Toit and Sha explore: • How the deal came about; • The assets and businesses housed in Altron Nexus; and • The plan to turn the loss-making business around. Don't miss a great conversation! TechCentral
TechCentral's guests in this episode of the TechCentral Show believe Blue Label Telecoms and its affiliate (and soon to be subsidiary) Cell C present a compelling investment case. Philip Short, global portfolio manager at Flagship Asset Management – which counts Blue label as its sole South African investment – and Dylan Bradfield, portfolio manager at Sharenet, tell TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod that they believe the turnaround taking place at Cell C is real, and will have a meaningful impact on Blue Label shares. Blue shares, which have already rallied strongly – which have more than doubled in the past six months – could still have plenty of room to run, according to Short. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Short and Bradfield unpack: • Blue Label's announcement earlier this month that it is considering a JSE listing for Cell C; • Why Cell C's restructured operating model and strategy makes sense, and why that's good news for Blue Label shareholders; • The role of Cell C CEO Jorge Mendes in the turnaround – and what the opportunity is for the mobile operator with its new “asset-light” model of running its network – management of its radio access network has effectively been outsourced to partners (and competitors) MTN and Vodacom; • Which operators would be most vulnerable to a resurgent Cell C; • The importance of Cell C's strategy around mobile virtual network operators and the significance of its relationship with Capitec; • The move by Blue Label to sell Comm Equipment Company to Cell C – good move or not? • Whether Cell C can compete with Telkom, Vodacom and MTN in the business market, something Mendes has signalled his desire to do; • What the listing of Cell C could look like, what management's focus should be before the listing and what kind of valuation the business could attract; and • How much more value could be unlocked for Blue Label shareholders. Don't miss a fascinating discussion! TechCentral
This episode of TCS+ is the third in a series of three focused on the relationship between Switchcom Distribution and Huawei eKit as well as the networking solutions the two companies are providing for SMEs in South Africa and the rest of Africa. Dewald van Eck, networking engineer at Switchcom parent company CMVAS, and Kurt Anthony, support engineer at CMVAS, tell TechCentral's TCS+ about their hands-on experience working with Huawei eKit in customer implementations. In this episode, Anthony and Van Eck delve into: • How the Huawei eKit benefits the network operations manager when implementing networking projects; • The problems the eKit solution solves for SMEs; • How the eKit streamlines the network setup process for SMEs; • Real-world examples of the how the eKit has helped SMEs on the ground; and • Some of the common challenges faced when supporting SMEs during project implementations. Don't miss an informative discussion. TechCentral
4Sight Holdings has turned the corner and has signalled this with a recent move from the AltX to the main board of the JSE. CEO Tertius Zitzke is our guest in this episode of the TechCentral Show. He tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about the turnaround he's leading – not to mention the mess he inherited when he took over leadership of the business in December 2019, months before Covid hit. 4Sight has been operating largely below the radar, but the investment community has begun paying attention – and, although the shares been moving sideways for the past year, over three years they have climbed by 250%. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Zitzke unpacks: • What motivated the decision to move to the JSE's main board; • His background, including his leadership AccTech Systems, its acquisition by 4Sight and how he became CEO of the group; • Why the business was listed originally, and how its focus has changed under his leadership; • How the turnaround was achieved – and what still needs to be done; • Where 4Sight fits into the ICT market in South Africa; • The recent acquisition of XFour Group and plans for more acquisitions; and • What's next for 4Sight. Don't miss an interesting discussion! TechCentral
In this episode of the TechCentral Show, we chat to Clive Roberts, the consumer packaged goods (CPG) segment leader for anglophone Africa at Schneider Electric. In this discussion, Roberts unpacks the focus of the company's segment, which covers the dynamic food and beverage industry across 24 African nations, encompassing about 1 800 manufacturers. The sector is driven by converging trends, notably in smart manufacturing and a strong emphasis on sustainability, including waste reduction and energy efficiency. Simultaneously, evolving consumer preferences for healthier options, ingredient transparency and diverse dietary needs demand agility and resilience from these manufacturers. Cost management remains a critical focus. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation, as manufacturers focused on automation and better system integration to ensure business continuity. Further challenges, such as load shedding and water curtailment, shifted the focus towards power resilience, prompting investments in solutions such as industrial UPS systems. Sustainability is a key concern, particularly for EU-headquartered companies. Manufacturers are actively working to reduce their scope-1, -2, and -3 emissions through initiatives like integrating distributed energy resources, optimising energy use and implementing variable process control. Changing consumer behaviours, driven by social media and e-commerce, are demanding rapid access to goods and direct engagement with brands. This requires efficient supply chains and agile digital systems for both inventory and logistics management. Manufacturers will need flexible production and advanced tracking capabilities to meet the demand for visibility and diverse product options. Economic recovery post-Covid-19 relies on the continued adoption of digital transformation to enhance efficiency and predictability in manufacturers' processes. Schneider Electric is focused on providing hardware-agnostic integration, supported by organisations like the Universal Automation Organisation, to help manufacturers integrate existing equipment for unified control and accelerate digital transformation initiatives. Government policies, like the sugar tax, directly influence product innovation and reformulation, often requiring significant investment. Despite challenges, growth opportunities exist for companies that prioritise product quality, traceability and building consumer trust, potentially also allowing them to command premium prices. Roberts emphasised the value of early engagement with companies like Schneider Electric for expert guidance. He stressed that sustainability should be integral to operations and invited stakeholders to explore Schneider Electric's offerings. The anglophone African food and beverage sector is a dynamic industry, and embracing technological advancements, prioritising consumer needs and ensuring product integrity are key to future success, he said in the interview. Don't miss it! TechCentral
One of South Africa's responsibilities as president of the global Group of 20 (G20) nations in 2025 is to hosting the G20 TechSprint, an event that invites innovators from around the world to develop financial solutions that solve the most pressing challenges faced by central banks. The South African Reserve Bank is hosting this year's TechSprint in collaboration with the Bank for International Settlements. Lyle Horsley, head of fintech at the Reserve Bank, joined TechCentral's Nkosinathi Ndlovu on the TechCentral Show to talk about the competition and other initiatives spearheaded by Bank under the G20 banner. In this episode of the show, Horsley delves into: The history of the G20 TechSprint and some of the solutions developed in previous iterations of the competition; The problem statements entrants are required to centre their solutions on; How central banks balance the often-opposing concerns of innovation on one hand and strong regulation on the other; How digital identity and the principles of open finance are critical to digitised financial systems; How the global central banking community will help winners develop and scale their solutions; and Details about the format of the TechSprint, how to participate and the prizes up for grabs. Don't miss an interesting discussion! TechCentral
Boasting 1.6 million subscribers after less than three years in the market, Capitec Connect has quickly become South Africa's largest MVNO – and it has an ambitious plan for further growth. Dalene Steyn, head of Capitec Connect, tells the TechCentral Show (TCS) that the MVNO – or mobile virtual network operator – market in South Africa is poised for further expansion as banks, retailers and other brands muscle into the mobile business through wholesale partnerships with network operators. According to Steyn, although Capitec Connect is not a loss leader for the bank, the focus for now is building a critical mass of subscribers from Capitec Bank's customer base – Capitec Connect users must be bank clients to sign up for the service. In the interview, Steyn tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about: • Why Capitec Connect recently cut its prices, matching another MVNO, Afrihost AirMobile, as the cheapest MVNO provider in South Africa – spoiler: it's all about building scale; • Why Capitec is pulling ahead in the MVNO market and how big the bank wants to be in mobile – and why it's so important to its business; • Capitec Connect's plans to introduce post-paid contracts later this year and how this aligns with its push into business banking services; • The company's plans for device financing; • Its relationship with Cell C, whose network it uses to provide mobile services to its clients, and why it's pleased with the relationship; and • The unconfirmed market talk that Capitec might buy a strategic equity stake in Cell C. Don't miss the discussion! TechCentral
Schalk Visser has worked in telecommunications for more than 20 years, first at Telkom, then at Vodacom and now at Cell C, where he has served as chief information and technology officer since 2020. Visser, an engineer, joined Cell C 13 years ago – during the tenure of former CEO Alan Knott-Craig – as an executive in the company's programme management office, where he helped lead a renewal of its radio access network. TechCentral's guest in the latest episode of the publication's Meet the CIO podcast, Visser tells host Duncan McLeod about his career journey in telecoms before delving into his work in helping transform Cell C's technology stack – with a focus on recent years as the operator moved to shut down its own radio access network in favour of partnerships with other mobile operators. In the interview, Visser chats about: • Where his interest in technology began; • His time with Telkom and Vodacom, including his experience helping build Vodacom's network in Mozambique; • The changes that have occurred at Cell C in recent years and why they're significant – including a look at the network partnership with MTN and Vodacom, and what that's allowed the company to do differently; • His day-to-day role as head of technology at Cell C; • The role of technology in supporting what is essentially a technology business; • The changes he has brought to Cell C's technology stack and why; • The recent ransomware attack – what happened, and what's been done to address it; and • What's exciting him about what's coming down the line in telecoms technology. Don't miss a great interview! TechCentral
Cape Town-based fintech start-up Stitch last month caught the attention of many people when it announced it was raising R1-billion (US$55-million) in a significant series-B funding round. Co-founder and CEO Kiaan Pillay is our guest in this episode of the TechCentral Show, where he tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about the funding round, which was led by QED Investors with participation from a range of new and existing investors. The latest round brings Stitch's total funding to date to nearly R2-billion, or $107-million. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Pillay unpacks: • His background and why and how Stitch was founded; • How well-known South African comedian Trevor Noah became one of the participating funders in the latest funding round; • What Stitch is doing differently to other fintech and payment start-ups that has allowed to raise the quantum of funding that it has; • The significance of Stitch's recent acquisition of Exipay – and why it's important for Stitch to be a player in the in-person payments market; • Stitch's plans in the cryptocurrency space; and • Why the company is focused (for now) on the South African market. Don't miss a great discussion! TechCentral
Networking equipment wholesaler Switchcom Distribution has partnered with Huawei Technologies to bring new offerings to the South African market and elsewhere in Africa. In the first episode of this series, Switchcom national sales manager Lynton Brits and Huawei account manager Tanki Lebatla told TCS+ about the rationale behind the partnership and some of the networking and backup power equipment the companies have on offer. That video is available here. In this second episode of the series, Brits is back on TCS+, this time accompanied by Jan Keyser, CEO of Konnekt SP, a provider of networking solutions to small and medium enterprises. In this episode of TCS+, Brits and Keyser delve into: • Why networking solutions providers and small and medium enterprises are draw to the Huawei networking eKit distributed by Switchcom; • The different types of networking equipment that comes with the eKit solution; • The software support Huawei provides to make network configuration easier for engineers using the eKit; • The advantages of purchasing a homogenous solution from the same brand in making network configuration easier for installers; and • Tools for managing the software-defined networks deployed using the eKit as customer need evolve over time. This insightful conversation is not to be missed, especially for SMEs looking for networking solutions and the vendors who install them. TechCentral
Shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Tiffany Dunsdon – at the time CEO of JSE-listed Adapt IT – found herself having to fend off an unwanted takeover bid from Huge Group. Dunsdon did not feel the deal made much sense for Adapt IT – a fast-growing enterprise software services provider whose share price, like many others at the time, had been knocked lower by the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The Huge Group approach was opportunistic, said Dunsdon. So, instead of entertaining the approach from Huge Group, she set about engineering a very different deal: one involving Canadian-listed Constellation Software: Constellation subsidiary Volaris Group would buy out Adapt IT and delist it from the JSE. Dunsdon, who was recently appointed as acquiring group leader at Omegro – a portfolio company within Volaris Group that houses Adapt IT – joins Duncan McLeod on the TechCentral Show for an update following the conclusion of the sale. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Dunsdon also discusses: • Adapt IT's performance since its acquisition and delisting; • The Huge Group hostile approach and how that played out inside Adapt IT; • The timeline of events that led to the acquisition by Volaris Group; and • What's next for Adapt IT and Omegro. Don't miss the conversation! TechCentral
New GX Capital, one of the principal investors in Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa parent CIVH, recently announced it was launching a R2.4-billion clean-tech investment fund in partnership with RMB Ventures. To unpack the details of the new fund and why it's being established, New GX Capital founder and CEO Khudusela Pitje joined TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod in the latest episode of the TechCentral Show for a wide-ranging conversation. In the interview, Pitje chatted about the fund – called the Airnegize Capital Fund – and its plans to invest in renewable energy and water and gas infrastructure across Africa. New GX Capital and RMB Ventures have described the fund as “one of the largest of its kind on the continent”. The fund has secured R2.4-billion in initial commitments, with the companies targeting a further R1.6-billion before financial close in the coming months. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Pitje expands on: • His career background and the formation of New GX Capital; • The role his father, the late HM Pitje, a businessman and former mayor of Mamelodi, played in his life and career choices; • His role in helping build Dark Fibre Africa and CIVH; • Why he feels the decision by the competition authorities to block the acquisition by Vodacom of a 30% co-controlling stake in Maziv – a subsidiary of CIVH that houses Vumatel and DFA – was wrongheaded; • The role New GX Capital plays today, as well as its investment philosophy; • What led to the creation of the Airnegize Fund with RMB Ventures; and • The role and future of black economic empowerment in South Africa. Don't miss a fascinating conversation! TechCentral
Yosheen Padayachee, group IT director at Tsebo Solutions Group, is our guest in this episode of TechCentral's Meet the CIO. -- Yosheen Padayachee was named as one of the top 100 most influential women in technology in 2024 and has been recognised among the Cyber 50 leaders in cybersecurity in Africa. Padayachee, who serves as group IT director at workplace management solutions company Tsebo Solutions Group, is TechCentral's guest in this episode of Meet the CIO. Previously CIO for Africa at Momentum Metropolitan Holdings, Padayachee is pursuing a doctorate in technology innovation. She shares her story in this interview. She unpacks: • How her career pivoted from healthcare into IT and IT management; • Her career journey so far, which has included roles in the banking sector at Nedbank and FNB, and important lessons she's learnt along the way; • The role of IT at Tsebo Solutions Group; • The big technology projects she's currently helping lead; • Her insights on cybersecurity in modern organisations, and why security must be embedded at the foundation of all digital innovation; • The impact of AI on the ability of companies to protect themselves from cyber adversaries; and • Why gender diversity in the male-dominated technology industry is vital – and what needs to be done to encourage more young women to choose technology as a career. Don't miss this insightful conversation. TechCentral
The Better Connection. Everywhere You Go. Or simply just Y'ello. Brand identity matters, and MTN South Africa – one of South Africa's most valued brands – is keenly aware of that fact. Indeed, when a big consumer brand changes its brand positioning, it's always a big deal – not only because of the work involved behind the scenes but also because it helps shift the narrative for that brand in small but important ways in the public consciousness. For a handful of times in its storied, 31-year history, MTN has refreshed its brand image. And it's just hit the “play” button on the latest overhaul. In this episode of TechCentral's TCS+ business technology podcast, MTN South Africa GM for residential and post-paid services Bertus van der Vyver unpacks the company's latest brand identity and why it made the decisions it did. In the podcast, Van der Vyver chats about: • Whether brand ends up influencing strategy, or the other way around; • How the new brand positioning – the payoff line is Together We Make Moves – aligns with MTN's ongoing efforts around customer experience, network innovation and its service offerings; • How consumers will experience the brand refresh; • How the changes tie into MTN's social and business commitments; and • How MTN's new brand identity will allow the company to differentiate itself in the market, including in relation to its competitors. Don't miss this fascinating conversation about the value and importance of branding. TechCentral
A company with its headquarters in Pretoria has designed and built an advanced drone that can attain speeds of 250km/h, reach altitudes of up to 30 000ft and travel more than 4 000km before having to return to its base. The company, Milkor, is a South African defence equipment and cybersecurity specialist that was founded all the way back in 1981. Its newly developed Milkor 380 System unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – in essence, a giant drone – has a cruising altitude of 10 000ft, a wingspan of 18m and a maximum payload of 220kg. The drone has a flight time of up to 35 hours and can be used for border surveillance, maritime surveillance, strategic reconnaissance and information gathering operations, among other things. To talk about the UAV, Milkor communications director Daniel du Plessis sat down with Duncan McLeod on the TechCentral Show recently and shared more details about its capabilities. Other than the Milkor 380, the interview also covers topics including: * Milkor's founding in the 1980s, and how the company shifted focus in the democratic era – it got its start, and may still be best known for, manufacturing the world's first six-shot 40mm grenade launcher, which is widely used around the world; * The company's other products – for land, air and sea operations – as well as what's involved in conducting advanced R&D and manufacturing in a market like South Africa; * The people who work for Milkor, and the sort of skills the company is looking for (and how it's finding them); * The role of UAVs in modern warfare and defence operations; and * Why Milkor has entered the cybersecurity space. Don't miss a fascinating interview! TechCentral
Discovery Bank CEO Hylton Kallner believes technology is fundamental to the company's success. Kallner, an actuary who joined Discovery in its early days as a medical insurance company and who has held various senior leadership roles over the years, tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about the group's decision to launch a bank when it did. He shares how the business is doing – spoiler: it's trending well ahead of schedule – and what comes next. He tells the TechCentral Show about: • How Discovery Bank is doing financially and how it's tracking against its business plan; • Its client base – who they are and who the bank is targeting as its clientele (the answer may surprise you); • Why Discovery launched a bank into what was already a competitive market and what it's doing differently to its rivals to attract people to switch; • The learnings from Discovery Health and Discovery Vitality, and how Discovery Bank has leveraged these in its products and services; • Discovery Bank's technology stack, why it chose the IT solutions it did, and why it built much of its banking solution in-house; • What's next from Discovery Bank in terms of solutions; and • The bank's plans with AI – and why it believes AI could be a gamechanger. Lastly, Kallner, a prolific reader, shares two of his favourite non-fiction books with the TechCentral audience. Don't miss a great discussion! TechCentral
Shaun Maidment crossed South Africa in an electric car, a BMW i3, before there was a network of charging infrastructure along the national routes – and he has a heck of a story to tell about his adventure. Charging infrastructure along South Africa's national routes is now so commonplace that a cross-country trip in an EV is a daily occurrence. But this was not always the case, and drivers in the early days of EVs in South Africa often had to rely on their wits and the kindness of strangers to keep their batteries charged on long-distance trips. Maidment is one of South Africa's original EV enthusiasts. As the proud owner of what was once officially recognised as the highest-mileage BMW i3 in Africa – it now has 365 000km on the clock – he dared to travel across the length and breadth of South Africa long before charging infrastructure was commonplace. Maidment tells the TechCentral Show's Nkosinathi Ndlovu about: • What inspired him in 2017 to take his first drive from Johannesburg to Cape Town in an EV; • How he planned the trip, knowing that at the time there were not enough charging stations along the way; • Some anecdotes from his travels, including the interesting people he met along the way; • What his travels have taught him about the best way to drive an EV; • How much mileage he is getting out of his i3 compared to when it was new; and • His thoughts on the future of electric mobility in South Africa. Maidment's insights on EVs are based on years of personal experience. This episode of the show is not to be missed. TechCentral
Being a chief information security officer (CISO) in 2025 is a daunting role, but one that TechCentral's guest in this episode of the Meet the CIO relishes. Kerissa Varma, who was recently appointed as chief cybersecurity advisor in Africa for Microsoft, previously served as group CISO at Vodacom and before that as group CISO at Old Mutual. She understands what it takes to be a leading CISO. She tells Meet the CIO about what's involved in being a leader in enterprise cybersecurity, why she is passionate about developing female talent in the industry – she heads the South African chapter of Women in Cybersecurity – and what it takes to “make it” in what is very much still a male-dominated industry. Varma chats about her experience as group CISO at Old Mutual and Vodacom. She also unpacks: • How she became a leader in the enterprise security space; • The role of a CISO in the modern enterprise – and why interpersonal skills are just as key as understanding technology; • The top functions and priorities of today's CISO; • Strategies to fight the cybercrime scourge – including a look at how South African companies should be dealing with ransomware; • Artificial intelligence and how it is transformation the infosec space – the impact, the threat and the opportunity; • Quantum computing and the impact it could have in years to come; • The gender imbalance in the infosec space and why it's a concern to her; • Skills development in cybersecurity in South Africa; and • Her new role at Microsoft. Don't miss a fascinating conversation. And if you missed any of the previous episodes of Meet the CIO, you can find them here. TechCentral
Nithen Naidoo, founder and CEO of Snode Technologies, shares valuable insights on Snode and the cybersecurity space with TechCentral's TCS+. -- Snode evolved from a consultancy to a product-focused company almost by accident. The product was developed on the ground, which led to the philosophy of customer-led design, emphasising solutions that directly addresses the problems customers are experiencing. In this episode of TechCentral's TCS+, founder and CEO Nithen Naidoo unpacks the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and not letting fear dictate decisions. He believes South Africans are more than capable of building world-class technology and that the cyber landscape offers opportunities to innovate without requiring large investments. He stresses the importance of adopting technology securely to propel businesses forward. Nithen has learnt the importance of collaboration and acknowledges that there are still many problems in the cybersecurity industry that are yet to be solved. What Snode does today Snode has grown to cover over eight million devices and protect systems and companies across six continents with a team of 60 staff. The company's mission is to “solve cyber”. It has developed a platform that is highly automated and is moving towards autonomous security operations. This platform is designed to address the high costs of managing cybersecurity and the need for better automated solutions. Snode's technology uses metadata around packets instead of the data packets themselves for threat detection, which allows for privacy preservation. It leverages advances in machine learning and AI for innovation-driven security solutions. They also use mathematics as a fast and accurate method for threat detection. Furthermore, they use digital twin technology to simulate different types of scenarios, enabling predictive and prescriptive analytics for customers. This technology automatically classifies assets and understands their value to a business by using data from both internal and external sources. The company's solutions extend to both IT and OT (operational technology) environments, with a focus on the convergence of the two. Snode's technology is protocol-independent and can eavesdrop on communications without needing proprietary information, which is beneficial in environments like industrial IoT and medical IoT. Snode's focus on continuous threat exposure management (CTEM) moves beyond traditional risk and vulnerability management. It looks at a company's security through the lens of the asset, enriching available siloed data with the much-needed context to manage a company's exposure holistically. What the future holds Snode aims to be a leader in the cybersecurity industry, acknowledging that the sector still has valuable problems to solve. Its vision is not just for South Africa, but for the whole of the African continent. Naidoo says he wants to create a secure environment for African entrepreneurs to drive innovation. Snode already has a global reach, with a presence across six continents, and is working with the defence and critical national infrastructure sectors in a number of countries. Snode plans to expand its approach to cybersecurity, using predictive capabilities for broader applications such as preventative maintenance in the OT environment and improving safety in various industries. It aims to change the traditional view of cyberthreats, moving towards a unified approach across threat management, vulnerability management and penetration testing. Read more on techcentral.co.za. -- This episode is sponsored. TechCentral
The Competition Commission is girding itself for a fight with Big Tech companies like Google and Meta Platforms after publishing its provisional findings in its investigation into the impact that Big Tech has had on the South African news media sector. To unpack the provisional report, which was published on Monday, Competition Commission senior analyst and technical lead Donnavan-John Linley joined the TechCentral Show to discuss the findings. He chats about how the commission is attempting to assist local publishers deal with the rise of competing social media platforms owned by US tech giants and why the regulator is determined to intervene in the market to support the funding of journalism in South Africa in the digital age. Linley tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about: • Why the Competition Commission decided to initiate its probe into digital platforms and the impact these platforms are having on South Africa's news media; • The findings contained in the provisional report and why the commission reached the conclusions it did – including its recommendation that Google pay as much as R500-million/year in “compensation” over a three- to five-year period in an effort to level the playing field; • The likely reaction from Big Tech to the commission's proposals, and what might happen if they don't agree to play ball; • The risk of provoking a backlash from the Donald Trump administration – already Trump has accused the EU of using antitrust fines levied on US tech companies as a form of taxation and threatened retaliation in response; • How the proposed compensation of the local news media might work, and who would be eligible to receive the funding from Google; • The impact of artificial intelligence on the South African media industry and how the commission has dealt with this in its provisional report; and • Whether the commission's findings amount to regulatory overreach – are the proposals it has made really warranted, or is the media industry simply experiencing capitalism's “creative destruction” that will ultimately drive innovation in news media? Don't miss a great interview! TechCentral
South Africa has a new player chasing the township fibre broadband market: Wire-Wire Networks has deployed fibre to 15 800 homes in Thembisa (previously Tembisa), a sprawling township in central Gauteng. CEO JP Schmidtke joined the TechCentral Show earlier this week to share exclusive details about the company's growth plans and to talk about the business opportunity for fibre companies in South Africa's vast township economy. Schmidtke said Wire-Wire Networks – like other industry players such as Vumatel, Fibertime and Frogfoot – believes townships present the next big expansion opportunity for fibre network operators, though the business model is rather different to the one used to deploy infrastructure in the suburbs. Wire-Wire is offering uncapped fibre – delivered over a meshed Wi-Fi network from fibre endpoints in each home or dwelling, starting at R5 for an hour of uncapped internet access at 100Mbit/s (limited to a single device). Other price plans, which are all uncapped and offer 100Mbit/s, include: • R9 for a one-day plan that connects one device • R39 for a one-week plan that connects one device • R119 for a one-month plan that connects one device • R449 for a one-month plan that supports eight devices • R1 120 for a one-month plan that supports 12 devices Subscribers can connect anywhere in Thembisa where Wire-Wire has coverage and so are not confined to connecting to the network in the vicinity of their own homes. There are no contracts or connection charges, and Wire-Wire provides a “free-to-use” Wi-Fi router and UPS (designed to keep the internet working even during load shedding and other power outages). The fibre is trenched, not delivered aerially, as it the case in many township deployments. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Schmidtke unpacks how Wire-Wire was formed, talks about its future plans and explains how it hopes to make low-cost fibre broadband profitable in township settings. Wire-Wire's leadership team consists of Schmidtke as well as fibre industry expert Hendrik Opperman, head of projects (external) Succeed Bvuma, head of technical David Radebe and head of projects (internal) Susan Hattingh. Don't miss the discussion! TechCentral
South African logistics firm Bakers SA recently deployed the first electric trucks to its fleet of more than a thousand vehicles. Working with Stellenbosch-based EV charging and software company Zimi Charge, Bakers' deployment points a potential future in South Africa in which planet-warming trucks are replaced with electric alternatives. Michael Maas, CEO of Zimi Charge, recently joined Duncan McLeod on the TechCentral Show to talk about the company's solutions, its deployment for Bakers SA and its expansion plans. In this episode of the show, Maas unpacks: • The projects with Bakers SA, what Zimi Charge supplied and how it works in practice; • The background to Zimi Charge and its focus on deploying both EV charging stations and building the software stack around them; • The current state of EV charging infrastructure in South Africa and what more needs to be done to support the growing number of EVs on South African roads; and • The market opportunity for Zimi Charge. Don't miss a great discussion! TechCentral
China's DeepSeek rocked US technology stocks last month after the company appeared to have developed an artificial intelligence model akin to OpenAI's most advanced ChatGPT models at a tiny fraction of the cost. Stocks like Nvidia, Google and Microsoft cratered on the news as it raised serious questions about whether the tens of billions – if not hundreds of billions of dollars – that Big Tech is pouring into AI infrastructure makes sense and whether China is further ahead than many people had realised. To unpack the potential implications of DeepSeek and the rise of Chinese AI models, TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod spoke to South African AI expert and keynote speaker Dean Furman to unpack the subject is greater detail – including what it could mean in the South African context. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Furman discusses: • Whether China – and DeepSeek specifically – just upended the economics of AI; • Whether American Big Tech firms should be worried; • DeepSeek's strengths and weaknesses in relation to AI tools from the likes of Google, Meta Platforms and OpenAI; • Chinese government censorship of DeepSeek's results and whether this matters to users outside China; • The significance of DeepSeek's models being released using an open-source licence and what this means for the future development of AI; and • How far the world is from AGI, or artificial general intelligence. It's a fascinating discussion – be sure not to miss it! TechCentral
Enviro Automotive has launched South Africa's most affordable electric car yet, the Dayun S5 Mini SUV – and TechCentral has taken the vehicle for a test drive. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, we are joined by Environ Automotive executives Gideon Wolvaardt and Francois Malan to unpack the new Chinese EV and why they believe the S5 Mini is a gamechanger for South Africa's motoring industry. The four-seater compact SUV features a 31.7kWh ternary lithium battery, offering a range of about 300km and a top speed of 115km/h, making it ideal for urban commuting. The vehicle has a modern interior equipped with a touchscreen infotainment system, multifunction steering wheel and a digital instrument panel. Convenience features include central locking, electric windows and air conditioning that can be operated remotely via an app, allowing drivers to start the vehicle before entering. In this episode of TCS, TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod takes the car for a test drive and shares his views on the build and ride quality – and much more! TechCentral
Adam Craker has strong views on what's needed to turn around South Africa's fortunes and fix its biggest city, Johannesburg, which has fallen into a state of disrepair. The CEO of iqbusiness, a digital integrator in the Reunert stable formed recently though the merger of IQbusiness and +OneX, is our guest in this episode of the TechCentral Show. Craker – whose career has seen him working for the likes of Accenture, Merchants, Dimension Data and Super Group – tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about his plans for iqbusiness post-merger, how it fits in with Reunert's overall growth plans and why the transaction made sense. He also unpacks: • His take on the government of national unity and why he remains bullish about South Africa's prospects; • The news that government is considering listing some of South Africa's state-owned enterprises on the JSE; • His biggest concerns about the country's future; and • What needs to be done to save Joburg – and the role of the Jozi My Jozi initiative. Don't miss a great conversation! TechCentral
Microsoft Azure SQL is a fully managed and scalable cloud database service – and its myriad benefits mean your company should be considering it if it isn't already using it. To unpack this in more detail, Preegan Chetty, Microsoft Azure product manager at First Distribution, and Silicon Overdrive Microsoft business executive Jody Roberts join TechCentral's business technology show TCS+. In the episode, they unpack: • The relationship between First Distribution and Silicon Overdrive; • Silicon Overdrive's market focus; • What Azure SQL is and how it's helping companies with their digital transformation initiatives; • Why many South African businesses run SQL Server databases, usually on-premises, and what the advantages are of moving these databases into the Microsoft Azure cloud; • The cost advantages of shifting, and what's involved in doing so; • The security considerations of shifting from on-premises SQL Server to Azure SQL; • The features that make Azure SQL particularly secure; • Use cases of businesses leveraging Azure SQL; and • Azure SQL Database vs SQL Managed Instance vs SQL Service on Azure virtual machines – the differences between these options, and why businesses should choose one over another. Don't miss the discussion. -- TCS+ episodes are sponsored. TechCentral
In the second episode of this series about migrating to Microsoft Azure SQL, the focus turns to what's involved in moving from SQL Server to Azure SQL, and First Distribution's Preegan Chetty returns to unpack the key priority of securing databases in the cloud. If you missed episode 1 in the series, you can find it here – or dive straight into this interview. Preegan Chetty, who is Microsoft Azure product manager at First Distribution, unpacks: • What makes Azure SQL a secure choice for companies today, including features such as data encryption (when data is at rest or in transit), threat detection and firewall protection; • Why companies shouldn't simply assume that the cloud is secure because it's being managed by a hyperscale cloud services provider; • Azure SQL's performance, and the optimisations that can be done to make the system fly; and • The role of AI in cloud database management. Don't miss any of the episodes in this insightful series. TechCentral
Is your company thinking about modernising its IT infrastructure? Is it planning to migrate from an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database to the cloud-based Azure SQL solution? Then this podcast is for you. In this two-part series, we delve into greater detail on what's involved in a cloud database migration. First Distribution's Microsoft Azure product manager Preegan Chetty is our guest in the studio for this episode. He unpacks: • The risks and opportunities involved in the migration; • What companies need to be aware of before they even embark on a migration to Azure SQL; • How Microsoft helps companies with their migration projects; and • The top motivating factors driving companies to migrate away from an on-premises SQL Server solution to Azure SQL. Don't miss this informative discussion – and be sure to catch episode 2 in this series with First Distribution. TechCentral
Matric Live is a study tool to help students in grades 10-12 supplement their in-class learning with additional exercises – and even get exam practice via a digital platform. And it recently won the FNB App of the Year award amid stiff competition from the likes of Checkers Sixty60 and TFG's Bash. In this episode of the TechCentral Show, Matric Live CEO Kagisho Masae and chief technology officer Lesego Finger tell TechCentral's Nathi Ndlovu about their journey as a start-up and the growth Matric Live has gone through in the last few years. They delve into: • The inspiration behind the Matric Live app and the problem it seeks to solve for students; • The journey from app idea to full-fledged live system and the challenges faced along the way; • How the application is being monetised while keeping access to the platform free for its users; • The impact Matric Live has had on South African students; • Some success stories about students who have used the app; • Upcoming features to look forward to on the application; • The vision Masae and Finger have for the future of their business; and • The significance of winning the App of the Year award. Masae and Finger tell an inspiring story of battling against the odds and succeeding at solving one of the most foundational problems confronting South African society: the dissemination of quality education to all corners of the country. Don't miss a great conversation! TechCentral
The operating environment in South Africa for ride-hailing services like Bolt is fraught with complexity, while the country's crime problem only contributes to the challenge of getting passengers safely from A to B. This complexity is compounded by the nuances of operating in different areas. Municipal districts have different permitting requirements, while competitive elements from other transport sector players, like taxi associations, presents further challenges. Fulfilling a ride request in the Cape Flats at 11pm is a different proposition to one in Sandton at 2pm. Simo Kalajdzic, senior operations manager at Bolt South Africa, tells TechCentral's business technology show, TCS+, about how Bolt is approaching these challenges. He delves into: • The overall problem that Bolt is trying to solve for South Africans; • Bolt's strategic approach to safety on the platform; • The £100-million investment into safety Bolt has pledged at a global level; • The technological solutions baked into the Bolt app for both drivers and passengers; • The industry-wide collaborations Bolt has undertaken to address safety from an ecosystem perspective; • How drivers and riders are empowered to be safe on the platform; • Feedback from a recent stakeholder engagement meeting held in Cape Town; and • Bolt's long-term vision for safety in the South African context. This episode is not to be missed! TechCentral
Well-known South African technology entrepreneur Stafford Masie is one of the key backers behind an audacious bid to buy a stake of up to 40% in the South African Rugby Union (Saru)-owned entity that owns the commercial rights to the Springboks brand. Masie, who chairs JSE-listed Altvest Capital – a key player in the consortium making the bid – joins the TechCentral Show with Altvest CEO Warren Wheatley to unpack the plan and what spurred it, and to explain why tech is central to the bid. The bid comes after member unions of SA Rugby last week rejected a plan to sell a 20% in the commercial rightsholder to US-based Ackerley Sports Group for US$75-million. Ackerley has until the end of the year to submit a revised offer, but Wheatley and Masie told TechCentral that they do not expect a deal with the American firm will succeed. The South African consortium is made up of Altvest as well as EasyEquities, RainFin and 27four Investment Managers. In a statement, the consortium explained that if its bid is successful, it will list the special purpose vehicle that has been created to do the deal on the JSE and allow investors to buy shares. This is not dissimilar to Altvest's business model, which sees it taking stakes in companies on behalf of public shareholders who participate in the economic benefits thereof. “Worth thinking about for the tech community is that our platform allows for ‘crowdfunding' in a regulated environment that allows for participation in a funding round to anybody with disposable income – from first-time users or customers, all the way through to regulated institutions and pension funds,” Wheatley explained. In this episode of TCS, Masie and Wheatley unpack: • The background to their consortium's Springboks bid – and why the consortium members came together; • How the bidders will work with SA Rugby to commercialise the rights, assuming their bid is successful; • How the deal could affect broadcast partners; and • Why they believe the deal could be used as a platform for technology innovation in South Africa. It's an interesting discussion – don't miss it! TechCentral
The South African Reserve Bank is working with its peers in the Southern African region to drive financial inclusion by digitising cash and making instant payments across borders an everyday reality. In this episode of the TechCentral Show (TCS), Tim Masela, head of the National Payments System department at the Reserve Bank – he has been with the Bank for the past 30 years – tells TechCentral's Nathi Ndlovu about the efforts it is making to create a “cash smart” society not only in Southern Africa but across the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region. Masela unpacks: • Why the introduction of non-bank fintechs into the national and regional clearance and settlements systems is important; • The importance of designing “fit for purpose” regulations that allow fintech to remain nimble and innovative; • A detailed explanation of how the payments and settlements system worked historically, including how it has evolved in the digital era; • The efforts the Reserve Bank and its regional counterparts are undertaking to standardise financial legislation and regulation across Sadc; - The importance of the Transactions Cleared on an Immediate Basis (TCIB) platform, which facilitates PayShap-style instant payments across borders; - The challenges that currency conversion poses in facilitating instant payments across borders; - Findings from the National Payments Study conducted by the Reserve Bank and released in September; - What a “cash light” and “cash smart” society are and why the Reserve Bank believes this is desirable; and - Where the Reserve Bank stands on crypto assets and the road to their incorporation into South Africa's National Payments System. Do not miss this insightful and informative episode. TechCentral
Companies moving to the cloud – and those already there – need to be aware of the Toxic Cloud Trilogy, three pitfalls in cloud computing that must be avoided. Bernard Montel, technical director at exposure management company Tenable for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, recently unpacked this for TechCentral's audience in an episode of TCS+ (watch or listen to the interview below). Montel unpacked what the three risk factors are that make up the Toxic Cloud Trilogy – critical vulnerabilities, excessive permissions and public exposure – and how to deal with each of them effectively. Tenable recently published its 2024 Tenable Cloud Risk Report, which examines findings by the Tenable Cloud Research team based on telemetry from millions of cloud resources across multiple public cloud repositories. In this episode of TCS+, Montel discusses: • Tenable, its history and its focus areas in the information security industry; • Why companies should take the Toxic Cloud Trilogy seriously, and how it amplifies risk for organisations; • The key findings in Tenable's Cloud Risk Report and what they mean in practice, including addressing the Toxic Cloud Trilogy; and • How Tenable Cloud Security can help companies overcome the Toxic Cloud Trilogy. If you're involved in protecting your organisation's data and assets in the cloud, don't miss this important discussion. TechCentral
Trace Network Operations, founded in 2016, provides bespoke network solutions in network management and network monitoring. Company founder Darryl Theron saw a gap in the market for a company that provides leading solutions in this space, stemming from his many years of experience in the pan-African infrastructure market. This episode of TechCentral's TCS+ business technology podcast, hosted by Jaydev Chiba, delves into how Trace Network Operations supports its customers in the areas of network management and network monitoring as a service (NMaaS) with Theron and his colleague, Gert van Deventer. The company's solutions are built around a product called StableNet, a carrier-grade network management and monitoring system that is built from the ground up. Trace Network Operations also uses other technologies, including the Red Hat Ansible automation platform, Cubro, Sophos, NetWitness and FNT. The company's solutions are designed to help businesses solve problems such as: • Lack of visibility into network activity: Many businesses lack the tools and expertise to monitor their networks effectively. This can lead to problems such as security breaches, performance issues and outages. • Difficulty in troubleshooting problems: When problems do occur, it can be difficult to identify the root cause and resolve them quickly. • Lack of automation: Many network management tasks are still performed manually, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. Trace Network Operations addresses these issues by providing a comprehensive suite of NMaaS solutions that includes: • Network monitoring: StableNet provides real-time visibility into network activity, allowing businesses to identify and resolve problems quickly. • Network management: The company's solutions help businesses to automate many network management tasks, such as configuration management, change management and fault management. • Security monitoring: It integrates solutions such as NetWitness and Cobra to provide comprehensive security monitoring and management. Trace Network Operations offers its solutions on a flexible basis, allowing businesses to tailor the level of service that best meets their needs. The interview also includes a few case studies of how Trace Network Operations' solutions have been used to provide value and benefits for companies. TechCentral
Information technology service management (ITSM) is more than another buzzword. It's a concept that helps organisations design and deliver IT services to customers and, when well executed, it can have a huge impact on productivity as well as customer and employee experience. But too often companies don't do it right, leading to headaches and lost productivity. To unpack the topic, Muggie van Staden, MD at open-source enterprise software specialist Obsidian Systems, joins TechCentral's TCS+ to discuss the latest trends in ITSM and what they mean for South African organisations. Van Staden unpacks: • The concept of ITSM and what it involves; • How successful companies utilise ITSM to better manage customer experience, free up IT resources, align IT with business goals, enhance security and risk mitigation, foster scalable growth, and accelerate digital transformation; • The emerging trends in ITSM that are shaping how organisations manage their IT services and IT infrastructure; • The role of artificial intelligence and automation in ITSM; • The shift to Agile and DevOps integration; and • Where Obsidian fits into the ITSM picture. Don't miss a fascinating conversation with a leader in the ITSM space in South Africa. TechCentral
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