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BTA Influential youth leaving their mark
Even though youth month has passed, there are still influential figures who left their mark, and some stood for what they believed in. The month of June is dedicated to the youth of 1976, who stood up against the apartheid government. 45 years later, we celebrate youth who are still contributing to achieving a better
Google launches Android12L beta
Google has released the first beta of Android 12L, a version of its latest mobile operating system made for big-screen devices like tablets and foldables. Google claims the update improves the Android 12 experience on larger displays. “We’ve optimised and polished the system UI for large screens, made multi-tasking more powerful and intuitive, and improved our
Rand strengthens ahead of Q3 GDP data
The rand firmed early on Tuesday, ahead of the release of third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data that will show the economic impact from arson and looting in July. At 07:40, the rand traded at R15.86 against the dollar, around 0.4% stronger than its previous close. Statistics South Africa will release Q3 GDP numbers around
Big leadership shake-up at Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co. is combining two of its three business divisions and appointing new leaders to replace its three co-chief executive officers in its biggest management shakeup since 2017. The reorganization, decided under the oversight of de-facto leader and Samsung heir Jay Y. Lee, will see the consumer and mobile divisions merged into a newly
Tencent invests in TymeBank
Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings has invested in South African digital bank TymeBank. CDC Group has also invested, to take the bank’s series-B capital raise to US$180 million (R2.9 billion). The investments from Tencent and CDC are valued at an additional $70 million, TymeBank said in a statement on Tuesday. CDC Group is the UK’s
Apple Pay launched on Standard Bank
Standard Bank has started rolling out support for Apple Pay, the digital wallet that lets users load their bank cards and make tap payments using their compatible iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac. Several South African Twitter users reported the bank added Apple Pay support on Tuesday morning. Multiple MyBroadband forum members also confirmed they loaded their banking
MTN SA chief technology officer Giovanni Chiarelli resigns
MTN South Africa has bid farewell to chief technology and information officer Giovanni Chiarelli. Godfrey Motsa, the CEO of MTN SA, announced the news to staff in an email on Tuesday. MyBroadband understands that Chiarelli’s resignation was not sudden. “Giovanni joined MTN South Africa five years ago in November 2016, and he immediately set about
Why the metaverse is more than Mark Zuckerberg’s dream
The company formerly known as Facebook has bet big on the metaverse. CEO Mark Zuckerberg hyped the already popular term in October, when he changed the company’s name to Meta and led viewers through its dizzying vision of the future. But “the metaverse” is a much bigger — and more confusing — idea. From its
SA’s environment department rejects floating gas plant
South Africa’s Environment Department has turned down an application to moor a floating, gas-fired power plant in the eastern port of Richards Bay. Anchor Energy LNG Ltd.’s Nseleni power plant would have had the capability to produce 6 500 megawatts of electricity, according to Groundwork, an environmental activist organisation. “The proposed project is predicted to
South Africa to introduce new pension system
The National Treasury is expected to table proposed changes to South Africa’s pension system before the end of December for public comment, says the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). The country’s largest trade federation says it has held extensive engagements with Treasury around the proposed changes, with an official Amendment Bill expected to
Microsoft desperate to keep users on Edge
Microsoft has intensified its campaign to discourage Windows users from downloading Google’s Chrome browser, according to a Neowin report. Prompts have been observed on Microsoft Edge for both Windows 10 and 11 when a user navigates to the Chrome download page. Examples of these prompts include: “Microsoft Edge runs on the same technology as Chrome, with
Elon Musk sells another R16 billion in Tesla shares
Elon Musk offloaded another $1.01 billion worth of Tesla Inc. shares, advancing toward the goal of selling 10% of his stake in the electric-car maker. In the latest transaction, the world’s richest person got rid of about 934,000 shares, according to regulatory filings dated Thursday. The sales were to help him offset taxes on the
The DRC's dream of an Electric Battery Industry in the country takes flight
The DRC-Africa Business Forum 2021 started with a bang on Wednesday, November 24 in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. The theme of the forum was the "Economic Integration of the Congolese in the Value Chain of the Electric Battery Industry through Innovative Financial Solutions." A battery of firm commitments was signed by the various stakeholders to
Shoprite has a new standalone pharmacy store, Medirite Plus
"The new MediRite Plus is a one-stop health and wellness destination, with an affordable and accessible product range that includes collagen, almond milk, beauty, skincare, and baby brands, and the UK's popular Salt of the Earth natural deodorant," Shoprite said on Wedne Africa's largest retailer, Shoprite, which owns the Medirite chain of pharmacies, has just opened a
Amazon Alexa can now respond to running water and bleeping appliances
Amazon has expanded sound detection for routines, as well as made Alexa’s prescription refill skill available to Amazon Pharmacy customers. The company described the changes in its Alexa monthly roundup for November, which also includes mentions the US rollout of Conversation Mode, and that the wall-mountable Echo Show 15 will start shipping next week. Amazon
Uber starts taking ride bookings via WhatsApp
Uber Technologies Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc.’s WhatsApp have rolled out ride booking via the messenger service in India, a first for the U.S. ride-hailing giant and an expansion of WhatsApp’s capabilities in the country. The partnership allows access to Uber’s mobility services by sending a message to a WhatsApp chatbot, serving the northern city
How much South Africa’s top tech CEOs got paid
The best-paid tech executive in South Africa over the last year was Datatec CEO Jens Montanana, who earned R100 million in salary and bonuses. Two other executives — former MTN CEO Rob Shuter and Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub — earned R74 million and R55 million, respectively. While many business leaders highlighted that these competitive salaries
SpaceX starts testing Starlink Internet on planes
SpaceX’s Starlink unit is testing its space-based internet service with several aircraft and wants to offer in-flight connection to airlines “as soon as possible,” a company vice president said. Starlink is in talks with several airlines about offering in-flight broadband connections, Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of commercial sales, said Tuesday on a panel at the
Searches for private jet flights have increased to more than 600 inquires in one week
Southern Africa is among the latest Covid-19 hotspots following the detection of a new variant, named Omicron by the World Health Organisation, that has prompted new travel restrictions from countries including the US and the UK. And while the variant already has already been detected outside of southern Africa, travellers are looking to leave the
South Africa's tourism sector loses more than R1 billion due to recent travel bans
International bans imposed on travellers from South Africa as a result of the newly discovered Omicron Covid-19 variant have decimated the country's summer tourism prospects. Discriminatory, xenophobic, unjustifiable, unscientific, and unfair. This is how scientists, economists, and President Cyril Ramaphosa have described the flood of international travel bans inflicted on South Africa and its neighbours.