Author: Staff Writer

Volvo Car South Africa has confirmed the new pure electric XC40 P6 Recharge will soon join its increasingly electrified range of vehicles. While the XC40 P8 Recharge AWD already available in South Africa employs twin electric motors (one on each axle), the P6 features a single unit – permanently sealed and maintenance free – mounted at the front. With peak outputs of 170 kW and 330 Nm, the new front-wheel-drive variant offers lively performance, completing the obligatory 0-100 km/h sprint in just 7.4 seconds. Thanks to a low-mounted, high-voltage 69 kWh lithium-ion battery, the P6 Recharge is able to travel…

ADP, a global technology company providing human capital management (HCM) solutions, has acquired Sage’s South Africa payroll outsourcing business. This acquisition marks a strong partnership between the two businesses in South Africa over the past 12 years. By integrating Sage South Africa’s local payroll expertise with ADP’s global reach and comprehensive human capital management (HCM) solutions, ADP can provide clients with an enhanced experience to help to grow and scale their business. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sage provides leading technology to small and medium businesses with the visibility, flexibility, and efficiency to manage their finances, operations and…

US-based data centre giant Equinix today announced it has completed its deal to acquire West African data centre and connectivity solutions provider MainOne for an enterprise value of $320 million, marking the beginning of its expansion into the African continent. The completion of this acquisition augments Equinix’s long-term strategy to become a leading African carrier-neutral digital infrastructure company by being able to bring a full range of transformative technologies and connectivity to Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. This acquisition will extend Platform Equinix into West Africa, giving organizations based inside and outside of Africa access to global and regional markets.…

IQ Logistica today announces the launch of Farmers Friend, a new companion Farming Operations Mobile Application. The app is a new tool for farmers to use in-field to manage their full farming operations straight from their phones or tablets. It offers a new way for farmers to easily view, manage and access all of their operational data to mitigate risks, successfully implement lucrative stakeholder relationships and optimize their yield opportunities. The app comes as a complementary tool against their successful web application which allows farmers to store, manage and access all of their agricultural operational data in order to amplify…

MTN SA is ramping up investment to modernise existing and deploy new network infrastructure across Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The R820 million investment will go toward MTN’s “Modernisation of Network South Africa project” (MONZA) as well as expanded rural reach, 5G expansion and restoration of vandalised network infrastructure. “Our aim is to significantly enhance access and open the door to new digital opportunities for many more people across the province. Our investment is specifically targeted at increasing network coverage, improving throughputs, and connecting the previously unconnected,” says Kagiso Moncho, General Manager: Northern Region from MTN South Africa. The MONZA rollout in…

SmartWage, an innovative HR and communications technology startup, has raised $2 million or R29 million. The oversubscribed seed funding round was raised to support SmartWage’s vision of transforming Africa’s workforce through digital inclusion, particularly for frontline employees like cashiers, restaurant staff, security personnel, and healthcare workers.  SmartWage is giving enterprises a simple yet effective way to digitise their most time-consuming HR processes, helping them save time and money in order to focus on what matters most – people. The product gives employees without email the ability to receive company-wide communication, access their payslips, request leave and get access to financial…

This past weekend, 25 – 28 March 2022, saw HQ Sandton ignite the Sandton property market with a 72-hour exclusive to Africa’s richest square mile. An incredible 48 Hospitality Studios were secured as 72 opportunities sold for R1 million, with a deposit of R10 000 only required. Even at a prime lending rate of 7.75%, we are still well below the level of 10% that existed when we entered the pandemic in early 2020, giving keen investors the perfect opportunity to add to their property portfolios. With estimated long-term rental yields in year one around 9% and short-term rental yields in year one around…

As worldwide adoption and usage of BNPL grows as the alternative payment method of choice for today’s young consumers, Codebase Technologies has responded by developing an innovative BNPL solution to help banks tackle the threat of rising BNPL brands. Leveraging Codebase Technologies’ award-winning digital banking platform, DigibancTM, the new BNPL component allows for banks, fintechs, lenders, retailers, and anyone in between to create and launch their own branded BNPL offering. Codebase Technologies has introduced the solution to the market after months of design, development, and robust testing. As people continue to deal with the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic…

RCS, the consumer finance arm of global bank BNP Paribas, has announced its acquisition of SA’s online credit provider Mobicred. RCS CEO, Regan Adams, states that there has never been a better opportunity to tap into the accessibility and convenience that the South African e-commerce environment has to offer. “Our acquisition of Mobicred enables us to better serve the needs of South African consumers who require a more diverse suite of credit solutions to help them access and manage their purchases,” he said. “The acquisition of Mobicred was the natural next step in RCS’s digital transformation strategy and complements…

Payment fraud is a nightmare scenario for any business. Irrespective of size, companies face substantial financial and reputational harm resulting from fraudulent activity. Depending on the severity of the crime and the losses incurred, the very survival of the business may be at stake. Ryan Mer, CEO at eftsure Africa,  a Know Your Payee™ (KYP) platform provider, says banking and payment fraud remains a serious concern as fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit process vulnerabilities and take advantage of human error. A 2021 TransUnion report noted a significant surge in fraud and criminal activity related to financial services in…