Beware unverified claims of degradable plastics
South Africa generates 2,4-million tons of plastic waste every year, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This means that every South African contributes about 41kgs of plastic waste per year and about 14% is recycled. The South African Bureau of...
PMI fell sharply in February
The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell sharply to 48.8 index points in February from 53.0 in January. This was the first time since September 2022 that the headline index fell below the neutral 50-point mark, pointing to a marked...
Most people care about protecting their gadgets
A new Kaspersky survey exploring the use of smart home devices and attitudes toward their security reveals more than half (68%) of consumers surveyed in South Africa who own this equipment feel responsible for its cybersecurity. Millennials aged 25-34 care most about...
MTN expects to post increased earnings
MTN has issued a trading statement for the year ended 31 December 2022, alerting shareholders to substantial changes from the previous year. The group expects to report an increase in earnings per share (EPS) of between 35% and 45% (or 267 cents to 343 cents). The EPS...
What Spotify playlists tell us about the national mood
For many South Africans, 2023 New Year's resolutions may already be a thing of the past. But new Spotify data shows the prevailing moods of the playlists South Africans are making, revealing a little bit about how 2023 is shaping up so far. Using playlists which have...
Cisco adds inclusivity to skills development
Cisco has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) outlining key areas of cooperation for the development of skilled South Africans to participate in the digital economy. Francine Katsoudas,...
Google opens applications for Black Founders Fund
Google has announced that applications for the third cohort of Black Founders Fund for Startup opened in Africa and Euroupe in line with its commitment to digital transformation and support to black-founded startups. This year, Google has committed $4-million to...
WhatsApp the favourite social media platform
While WhatsApp may differ in certain aspects from other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, the cross-platform has more than 2-billion monthly active users worldwide and ranks high among social media users. According to data presented by...
Bitcoin has facilitated $100trn of value since inception
Research conducted by BitcoinCasinos.com reveals the value of all-time Bitcoin transactions is about $100-trillion. Despite the dismal market performance in 2022, BTC miners kept validating transactions on the blockchain, generating $10-billion in revenue. Edith...
Cloud migration and workload modernisation critical in 2023
More than 95% of digital workloads will be deployed on cloud-native platforms by 2025. This is hardly surprising given how rapidly companies, both locally and abroad, have had to adapt to a new operating environment resulting from the pandemic. By Adrian Hollier,...
5G could curb cyberattacks at financial institutions
In the 2023 Budget Report, it was revealed that there has been a marked increase in cyber-attacks against financial institutions, the implications of which include business disruption, lost productivity, legal repercussions, and lasting financial consequences. "To...
Smart and intelligent: payments redefined
The global fintech market is currently expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% over the next few years, achieving an impressive $305-billion by 2025. The Global Fintech Market Report also pointed out that low-cost, personalised, and intelligent...