Breaking News Today - Thursday 10 September 2026

African Start-up News Headlines:

Nigerian credit and verification check platform Creditchek has acquired Algosys, a Uganda-based core banking and lending management system. This is set to strengthen the FinTech’s plans to expand its credit and lending infrastructure across East Africa. The acquisition is part of Creditchek’s broader strategy to bring multiple components of the lending lifecycle onto a more connected infrastructure layer. These include credit bureau data, income verification, identity verification, loan management and money collections.
Egyptian startup Velents, a specialist AI startup focussing on enterprise AI solutions, has continued its rapid expansion across the MENA region by launching in Bahrain. The expansion into Bahrain follows a strategic agreement signed with stc Bahrain, with the aim of launching an exclusive suite of Agentic AI product bundles tailored for enterprise customers across the country. Businesses in Bahrain will now be able to get autonomous AI agents in the same way they purchase connectivity via one local provider fully compliant with local regulations.

Headline News Today

New Crypto Industry Body Pushes Back on SARB Regulation

South Africa’s crypto sector has launched a new industry body - CATASTROPHE (Crypto Asset Taskforce for Advancing Sound, Technology-Neutral Regulation for Opportunity, Prosperity and a Healthy Economy), a coalition formed in early September 2026. Founding participants include VALR, Luno, AltCoinTrader, EasyEquities, MoneyBadger, Altify, Chainex, Block Markets Africa and the Freedom Foundation, together with lawyers, economists and academics.

The group was created to oppose draft Capital Flow Management Regulations and an accompanying Crypto Assets Manual published by National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank. Public comments close on 30 September 2026. The drafts would stop South African businesses using crypto rails or stablecoins for legitimate cross-border payments (treated as capital imports or exports), while equivalent bank transfers remain permitted.

CATASTROPHE argues this is not technology-neutral. It would put local firms at a global disadvantage, push activity offshore or unregulated, threaten thousands of industry jobs, affect millions of South African crypto holders and risk billions of rand in tax revenue.

Data Centre Partnership in Egypt Set to Grow Sovereign Ownership

Vodafone Business, in partnership with Cassava Technologies and Elsewedy Electric, have signed an agreement to create Africa Data Centers Egypt, developing Egypt's first sovereign AI data centre, powered by Nvidia technology. The Africa Data Centres Egypt project will draw on Vodafone Business' expertise in cloud and enterprise services, Elsewedy Electric's strengths in providing the energy required, infrastructure and project management, and Cassava Technologies' extensive experience in operating data centres across Africa.

According to Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hendy, the partnerships will help strengthen the country's digital infrastructure and support efforts to localize advanced technologies. The venture will begin with 20MW of capacity and could expand tenfold to 200MW, with a first phase looking to attract $200 million, while investment at full capacity could reach $1 billion.

Capet Town's Winelands Airport Set for Upgrade

A major airport upgrade in Cape Town is set to transform the Cape Winelands airport into a modern Airline facility. Upgrade plans include lengthening the primary runway to 3,500 m. The airport currently has four runways, with two unused, with the other two under 1 kilometre in length. Modern commuter and regional aircraft typically require a runway length of between 1,200 and 2,000 meters. Boeing's 747-8 needs about 3,090 metres for take-off, while the Airbus A380-900 needs 3,100 metres

The Cape Winelands Airport will also build a new, state-of-the-art boutique terminal building and processing facilities. Development of greater cargo facility and upgraded fuelling facilities are additional key parts of the development. The airport will further be investing in modern new aircraft hangers suitable to serve a wider aviation, business aviation and airline sector.

Breaking Business and Market News Shorts:

African online retailer Takealot is highlighting product listings with shorter delivery turnarounds, in a move to counter Chinese online majors and local retailers selling Chinese products who focus on price but have longer delivery times. This is seen as a win for local sellers competing with an increase in Chinese importers on the platform.

Brent crude has moved above $100 per barrel, hitting its highest level since May 2026, as the growing conflict between the US and Iran raised concerns over further disruptions to energy supplies from the Middle East. Iran said it was ready for a more intense conflict, vowing to resist the US naval blockade and warning that it would intensify its attacks.

South African power utility Eskom, has extended its rooftop solar registration deadline, dropped its threats of fines and cut-off for non-registration, and scrapped the requirement for costly professional compliance certificates. However, it says it can cut supply to any solar or battery installation deemed ‘unsafe’. This has been disputed by consumer interest organisation Outa who says that Eskom do not have the legal framework to do so

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says SARS is working to expand South Africa’s tax base, with the informal economy and taxi industry now key targets for improved tax compliance. The informal economy has specifically been identified by SARS as an area with significant potential for tax base expansion.

Copper futures traded around $6.76 per pound on Thursday, holding close to record highs as ongoing supply concerns and tariff uncertainty continued to support prices. Traders have continued redirecting shipments toward US warehouses, contributing to sharply declining inventories at warehouses tracked by the London Metal Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange.

Markets by Numbers

Currencies:

Currency markets indicate the US dollar marginally softer today. The Greenback is trading against the Euro at 1.16397 while trading against the Pound at 1.35574. The Yen is currently trading at 153.58 to the US dollar. The rand (ZAR), is currently losing momentum, and trading above the key R16.00 mark, trading at the 16.02 against the US dollar this morning.

Commodities:

Gold futures have gained around 0.71% this morning, and currently trading at around $4429.08 per ounce.
Copper prices are -0.3% lower today after peaking earlier, with prices currently around $6.7807 per pound
Silver futures are up over 0.8% today, and currently trading at around $67.845 per ounce.
Platinum futures are down around -1% this morning, and currently trading at $1899.90, While Palladium is around -0.69% lower today, and currently trading around $1371.50 per ounce.
Lithium is trading -0.69% lower today and currently at CNY/T 144 750
Brent crude oil prices are trending over -0.8% lower today, and currently trading around $100.31, with WTI trading at $95.41 currently
Cocoa futures are up 0.6% today, and currently trading at $5951 per ton.
Coffee futures are up 0.2% today, and currently trading at around $2.9205 per pound

Crypto Currencies:

Bitcoin prices are up around 021% today, and trading at around $78 426 per coin currently
Ether prices are 0.46 higher this morning, and currently trading around $2478.51

(All prices quoted at approximately 08H00 Central African Time)

African General News Briefs:

A new study focussing on AI created, information warfare in Mali, Titled "Algoritms at War" was released on Wednesday by the Timbuktu Institute, a Dakar-based think tank. The study found that generative AI was being used to "amplify and accelerate" existing fault-lines within the west African country, which is serving as an "open-air laboratory" for the technology's use in Info-warfare. The report noted that in 2024, Meta and OpenAI identified a Russian operation using AI models to produce commentary, articles and images in English and French aimed at audiences in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the analysis, Africa Corps possesses the resources and expertise to integrate AI into more structured operations that combine AI content, fake accounts and dissemination strategies.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa, has gazetted new stringent regulations regarding the spreading and responding to disinformation by political parties in the country. With Regional municipal elections to be held in November this year, misinformation by political opponents has been placed in the regulatory spotlight. The Electoral Code of Conduct Countering Disinformation in the Local Government Elections (disinformation code) was introduced by the IEC as part of the electoral code of conduct. “The Disinformation Code is part of the Electoral Code of Conduct. Any contravention of the Code is therefore treated as a breach of the Electoral Code of Conduct and is subject to sanction under the Act,” the IEC said.