Revived Rand Water Services to accelerate innovation, sustainability locally and in the rest of Africa

Rand Water has re-established Rand Water Services to deliver a variety of services for the water sector in South Africa and across Africa as it works to accelerate innovation and sustainability.... 

Study highlights economic benefits of climate-resilient water systems

A multiyear hydroeconomic study, completed for the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS), confirms the economic benefits of reliable, climate-resilient water systems across cities in South... 

Pumps company targets expansion, bolsters skills training

As pumping applications solutions provider Integrated Pump Technology continues its growth story across the African continent, part of its success is attributed to the empowering of its local... 

Cell C completes migration to third-party networks ahead of end-of-2023 target date

Communications group Cell C has completed its network migration ahead of schedule, opening access to about 14 000 towers countrywide, 12 000 sites of which are fourth-generation and long-term... 

Final analogue switch-off postponed to end of 2024

The final switch off date for South Africa’s analogue frequencies has now been set for December 24, 2024. A two-step approach has been adopted for the long-delayed transition from analogue to... 

5G reaches 35% global penetration

As the adoption of fifth-generation (5G) technology accelerates, 5G population coverage has reached 35% globally, according to the latest Ericsson Mobility report. However, there are large regional... 

SA energy crisis opening up opportunities for innovation

As South Africa’s ongoing energy challenges unveils opportunities for innovations and solutions, small businesses have a major role to play in South Africa’s transition to renewable energy and... 

Partnership to bring affordable Internet services to township youth

Local viral consumer rewards application Maholla and Internet service provider (ISP) ikeja have partnered to deliver high quality, cost-effective Internet services to youth across South Africa’s... 

Microsoft Airband to connect nearly 40m to the Internet in Africa and Latin America

Microsoft has entered into new, and expanded existing, Airband partnerships to provide high-speed Internet access to nearly 40-million people across Africa and Latin America. The partnerships in... 

Namibia joins UN Water Convention

Namibia has become the first Southern African country, and the eighth in Africa, to accede to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Namibia... 

USAid commits $3m to African Water Facility

The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) has committed $3-million to the African Water Facility to help accelerate the preparation of water and sanitation investment projects... 

Reports highlight continuing deterioration in South Africa’s water sector

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has published the Green, Blue and No Drop “Watch Reports”, precursors to the full and interim reports to be released later this year, revealing that... 

New Luanda-Joburg fibre route established

Pan-African technology group Liquid Intelligent Technologies subsidiary Liquid Dataport and fixed network operator Angola Telecom have established a new terrestrial fibre route from Luanda, in... 

Body calls for immediate measures to arrest collapse of SA’s water treatment facilities

The Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) is recommending several urgent measures to prevent a widening collapse of South Africa’s water treatment facilities amid a cholera outbreak.... 

Digital platforms can significantly promote trade in Africa – YouTube executive

Digital platforms can play a significant role in promoting trade and commerce in Africa, says YouTube Europe, Middle East and Africa emerging markets MD Alex Okosi. Digital trade can transform... 

Municipalities owe Rand Water nearly R5bn

Municipalities across Gauteng owe water utility provider Rand Water just under R5-billion for water. While some municipalities have responded to Rand Water’s call for them to pay for the water... 

New AI industry association launched in South Africa

A new industry body focused on promoting the advancement of responsible artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa has been launched. The South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA)... 

Long-awaited R4bn Rooiwal wastewater plant rehab to start in September

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the City of Tshwane (CoT) have embarked on a partnership that will see the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) implement the urgent upgrade... 

Telecoms companies rank last in customer sentiment for third consecutive year

South Africa’s telecommunications industry has ranked last for consumer sentiment for the third consecutive year. The latest PwC South African Telecommunications Sentiment Index for 2022, conducted... 

Cloud 23 achieves 80% customer base growth

Enterprise software management firm Cloud23 has achieved an 80% increase in its local customer base over the last year. Founded in 2021 by global technology executive Ram Ramakrishnan as an... 

New body to champion interests of junior mining sector poised for August launch

In an effort to better support South Africa’s junior mining industry and assist junior miners, as well as their suppliers and contractors, a new voluntary entity is preparing to launch. The Junior... 

Construction starts on Phase 2 of Lesotho Highlands Water Project

Phase 2 of the long-awaited Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) has broken ground. LHWP Phase 2, building on Phase 1 that was completed in 2003, includes the construction of the Polihali dam and... 

Salga launches forum to drive growth and sustainability in Gauteng province

A new forum has been launched in a strategic initiative to empower municipalities through intergovernmental collaboration and drive inclusive growth and enhance economic prosperity for the Gauteng... 

Amplats hands over water projects to Thabazimbi communities

Mining group Anglo American Platinum has handed over three new water infrastructure projects to the residents of Thabazimbi, in Limpopo. As part of the company’s social and labour plan commitments... 

TCTA unpacks progress being made on key bulk water projects

The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) has come a long way since being established in 1986 to fund and implement the South African portion of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), gaining... 

Telecoms body concerned about prospect of worsening loadshedding in colder months

The Association of Comms and Technology (ACT) is calling for urgent regulatory and government action on the loadshedding crisis in South Africa, fearing that the impact on an already hard-hit... 

Bayobab, Microsoft embark on connectivity partnership

Pan-African digital connectivity solutions company Bayobab, formerly MTN GlobalConnect, has entered into a strategic pan-African connectivity partnership with Microsoft to accelerate digital... 

R6bn to be spent on national broadband project

As the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) works to complete its South Africa Connect (SA Connect) programme, it is preparing to direct the State Information Technology... 

Saudi-developed solution could broaden access to sanitised water in Africa

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in Saudi Arabia, is developing an energy efficient initiative that could assist hundreds of millions of people who lack access to clean,... 

Digital solutions key to improving service delivery in South Africa – Altron Karabina

Digital solutions can help South Africa improve service delivery and strengthen governance, says Altron Karabina senior specialist: key accounts manager Murunwa Mashamba. Critical to the success of... 

MTN GlobalConnect rebrands, partners for Pan-African terrestrial fibre project

Pan-African digital connectivity solutions company MTN GlobalConnect has rebranded as Bayobab to strengthen its commitment to digitally connecting Africa. In addition, the newly revamped company... 

Satellite services ‘primed’ to fill connectivity gap in Africa – Liquid

The role that satellite services can play in Africa’s journey to sustainable growth, inclusivity and economic prosperity cannot be understated, says Liquid Satellite CEO and Liquid Dataport chief... 

Social enterprise aims to equip 100 young people with water technology skills this year

Social enterprise Kusini Water is accelerating its Water Champions programme to train unemployed youth and unlock economic opportunities in communities, as it works to provide water access across... 

Mobile penetration approaching saturation point in most markets around the world – report

The latest GSMA Mobile Economy 2023 report reveals that the number of unique mobile subscribers will reach 6.3-billion by 2030, up from the more than 5.4-billion people globally that subscribed to... 

Mobile money accounts top 1.6bn, with 400m having been added during Covid pandemic

As the world moves towards a post-Covid era, mobile money services have continued to show resilient growth, with the number of registered mobile money accounts worldwide more than doubling to... 

Mine social labour plans embrace community cadet training

Many mines, continuously honing the skills development requirements of their Social Labour Plans, are partnering with the Murray & Roberts Cementation Training Academy to prepare unemployed youth... 

DWS to continue implementing interventions to ensure water security

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) will continue to progress many of its initiatives throughout 2023 to ensure South Africa gets back on track in terms of water security. Speaking during... 

Vodacom South Africa, WWF recommit to finding tech solutions to preserve oceans

Vodacom South Africa and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa has recommitted to its decade-long first-of-its-kind global partnership to leverage technology and education to protect... 

Minister emphasises need for speedy implementation of infrastructure projects

As the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) provides updates on the various infrastructure projects under way, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala says there is... 

MTN still South Africa’s most valuable brand

Telecommunications giant MTN has been named South Africa’s most valuable brand for the twelfth time in the past thirteen years, according to brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance’s latest...