DFA has committed more than R800 million to upgrading and future-proofing its national fibre network, reinforcing its status as a leading wholesale open-access connectivity provider in South Africa. This strategic investment aims to meet the growing demand for reliable, high-speed internet across the country. As part of the MAZIV group, DFA’s extensive national network plays a crucial role in providing connectivity and backhaul services for mobile operators, data centres, internet service providers, and public sector institutions. This investment follows the company’s R400 million Dry Underground Distribution Cabinet (DUDC) network enhancement initiative, launched in August 2023, which focused on stabilising and…
Author: Yanga Manci
In an exclusive event held alongside the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Whiteshield launched the 9th edition of the Global Labour Resilience Index (GLRI) in collaboration with Google Cloud. Developed in partnership with the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS), the report draws on a decade of data and over 70 indicators to assess how 118 countries respond and adapt their labour markets to external shocks, including the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The findings reveal that while some nations are poised to leverage AI for economic growth, many risk falling behind. The launch event, titled “The…
Menlyn Park Shopping Centre has redefined what it means to be a shopping destination, celebrating a remarkable eight Gold Footprint Awards at the prestigious South African Council of Shopping Centre awards ceremony. These awards, spanning categories such as Advertising, Digital Marketing, Public Relations, Visual Merchandising, Retailer Productivity, and Sales Promotions, spotlight Menlyn as a leader in creating meaningful experiences and driving innovation. These awards are not just a recognition of excellence but a testament to Menlyn’s commitment to creating memorable experiences, fostering community connections, and staying at the forefront of retail innovation. With award-winning campaigns like the Gift of Time, LEGO Brickfair and Rooms on View, Menlyn is…
A newly discovered cyber threat is preying on unsuspecting Android users through a deceptive scheme involving fake wedding invitations. Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) has identified a malicious campaign that employs social engineering tactics to trick victims into downloading malware disguised as an invitation. Dubbed “Tria Stealer,” this malicious application grants attackers extensive access to victims’ sensitive information, including personal messages, emails, and even online banking credentials. Tria Stealer is spread through APK installation files, which are shared via personal and group chats on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. These files bypass official app stores such as Google…
Vodacom Group has reported solid financial results for the third quarter, demonstrating resilience amid currency headwinds and a stronger rand. Group revenue increased by 1.6% to R39.5 billion, while service revenue grew by an impressive 11.6% on a normalised basis, surpassing the company’s medium-term targets. Key Financial and Operational Highlights CEO Commentary and Strategic Outlook Vodacom Group CEO, Shameel Joosub, remains optimistic about the company’s performance, reinforcing confidence in sustained growth for the second half of the financial year. “Despite currency fluctuations impacting several of our markets, the focused execution of our strategy has resulted in a resilient operational response.…
Float, Africa’s first credit card-linked instalment platform, announces its partnership with Peach Payments, a leading online payment solution provider. Now thousands of Peach Payments merchants can instantly integrate Float at checkout, broadening the reach of interest-free monthly instalments to more consumers across South Africa. This collaboration enhances the online shopping experience with an innovative and secure payment solution for consumers and merchants. Unlike regular buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) credit options, Float does not issue shoppers with new credit. Instead, Float offers shoppers a smarter way to pay with their credit card by splitting their purchases over multiple months interest free with no additional fees,…
South African fintech startup 6DOT50 has joined forces with BTS and Seriti Solutions to introduce cryptocurrency payments for vehicle purchases. This ground-breaking partnership enables customers to buy new and used cars at over 1,400 dealerships nationwide using eight different cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC). To address the volatility and complexity associated with cryptocurrency transactions, 6DOT50 utilizes a voucher-based system that seamlessly converts digital assets into fiat currency. This approach ensures that dealerships receive payments in local currency while allowing crypto holders to easily spend their assets without integration challenges. The company reports having processed cryptocurrency transactions worth approximately $1 million across…
Google has taken a subtle approach to unveiling its latest AI innovation, Gemini 2.0 Pro Experimental. Rather than a grand announcement, the tech giant introduced the model through a changelog update for its Gemini chatbot app. As the successor to the Gemini 1.5 Pro model, which debuted in February, the launch of Gemini 2.0 Pro Experimental arrives at a time when the industry’s attention is fixed on Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. DeepSeek’s latest models, which are freely accessible to companies, have demonstrated performance that rivals or surpasses some of the top models from major American tech firms. This has sparked…
The South African government’s new deployment of drones at five high-priority border crossings has already yielded significant results, preventing more than 2,000 illegal border crossings. This initiative, which includes the Beitbridge crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe, marks a major step forward in border security. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber highlighted the success of the drone program in a statement on Friday, crediting the technology for a 215% increase in prevented illegal crossings during the festive season compared to the previous year. The deployment of drones, along with body cameras, has played a crucial role in enhancing border security. “The…
Two cybersecurity researchers recently uncovered a critical vulnerability in a Subaru web portal that allowed unauthorized access to millions of vehicles. According to a Wired report, the flaw enabled remote unlocking, engine activation, and real-time tracking of driver locations, raising significant concerns about automotive cybersecurity. The researchers, Sam Curry and Shubham Shah, reported their findings to Subaru, which has since patched the security loophole. However, they caution that addressing individual vulnerabilities is merely a temporary fix to a much larger problem: the growing risks associated with connected car technologies. The breach was discovered through a web portal designed for Subaru…
