# Tech Insights Africa
> Bridging Boundaries, Unveiling Innovations.
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### About this site
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/about/
Last updated: 2026-08-11T09:03:09.000Z
.TECH INSIGHTS AFRICA

**Tech Insights Africa** is a new-generation technology and business publication dedicated to exploring the people, companies, ideas and innovations shaping Africa’s digital future.

Published by **Africa Talks Business**, the platform looks beyond technology headlines to examine how innovation is transforming the way Africa does business — from artificial intelligence and fintech to cybersecurity, telecommunications, digital banking, healthtech, mining technology, e-commerce and emerging technologies.

Tech Insights Africa brings together **founders, CEOs, technology leaders, investors, policymakers, innovators and industry experts** to share the ideas and solutions driving Africa forward.

The publication is built around one central belief: **Africa should not simply consume the technologies of the future — it should help build them.**

Through exclusive interviews, industry analysis, company profiles, thought-leadership pieces and original stories, Tech Insights Africa provides a window into the continent’s rapidly evolving technology ecosystem while connecting African innovation with a global business audience.

**This is where Africa’s technology story gets told.**
### Magazines
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/magazines/
Last updated: 2026-08-12T16:39:55.000Z
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## Posts
### MTN Bets on AI-Ready Data Centres as South Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Race Accelerates
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/mtn-bets-on-ai-ready-data-centres-as-south-africas-digital-infrastructure-race-accelerates/
Last updated: 2026-08-31T06:33:25.000Z
# 

MTN Group is stepping deeper into South Africa’s artificial intelligence infrastructure market with plans to develop AI-ready data-centre capacity as demand for cloud computing, enterprise technology and data-intensive services accelerates.

The telecommunications group has entered into a strategic partnership with a UAE-based data-centre investment platform to develop and scale digital infrastructure across Africa, with **South Africa and Nigeria identified as the initial priority markets**.

The venture, **Africa Data Hub Holding Limited**, is expected to provide the platform through which future data-centre opportunities will be developed and expanded. MTN says the initiative forms part of its broader Ambition 2030 strategy.

The first phase could target approximately **150MW of capacity across South Africa and Nigeria**, with further development dependent on demand.

For South Africa, the move comes as the country seeks to strengthen its position as one of the continent’s leading digital infrastructure markets.

The growth of generative AI and other computationally intensive technologies is creating demand for data centres capable of handling high-density workloads. These facilities require significant amounts of reliable electricity, sophisticated cooling systems, high-speed connectivity and access to large-scale computing capacity.

MTN's strategy is therefore moving beyond traditional telecommunications infrastructure towards the physical infrastructure required to power the next generation of digital services.

“Africa’s digital economy is entering a new era, driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, cloud adoption and digital innovation,” said Mazen Mroué, CEO of MTN Group Digital Infrastructure.

“Realising this opportunity requires more than connectivity. It requires the infrastructure platforms that will power the next generation of digital services, businesses and innovation.”

The partnership will also draw on MTN’s broader connectivity footprint. Bayobab, MTN’s digital connectivity business and a shareholder in the partnership, is expected to provide open-access connectivity and support customers through its pan-African network.

This combination of data centres and connectivity could become increasingly important as enterprises move AI applications closer to the markets where data is generated and consumed.

For South African businesses, locally hosted computing infrastructure could support applications ranging from financial services and healthcare to manufacturing, retail, telecommunications and government services.

The development also reflects a broader shift in the telecommunications industry. Operators are increasingly looking beyond connectivity revenues and positioning themselves as providers of digital infrastructure, cloud services and platforms supporting enterprise technology.

MTN has already been exploring how AI can be applied within its own network operations. The company is particularly interested in using AI to improve network energy efficiency, including dynamically reducing power consumption.

The company's approach also appears designed to limit the amount of capital MTN itself has to deploy. By partnering with specialist investors and data-centre operators, MTN can combine its telecommunications infrastructure and African market presence with external capital and technical expertise.

For South Africa, the stakes extend beyond MTN.

The development of AI-ready data centres could strengthen the country's digital ecosystem by providing the infrastructure needed by cloud providers, technology companies, startups, enterprises and public-sector organisations.

However, the success of the strategy will depend on several factors, including electricity availability, grid reliability, fibre connectivity, data-centre construction timelines, customer demand and the ability to scale capacity economically.

What is becoming clear is that **South Africa's AI race will not be fought only in software and applications. It will increasingly be fought in data centres, fibre networks, electricity infrastructure and computing capacity.**

MTN's Africa Data Hub could become one of the major infrastructure platforms shaping that next phase of South Africa's digital economy.
### Ramaphosa Places Infrastructure, Digital Connectivity and Project Delivery at the Centre of South Africa’s Growth Drive
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/ramaphosa-places-infrastructure-digital-connectivity-and-project-delivery-at-the-centre-of-south-africas-growth-drive/
Last updated: 2026-08-27T02:44:15.000Z
# 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a faster, more coordinated approach to infrastructure development, highlighting digital connectivity, data centres and technology-enabled infrastructure as increasingly important to South Africa’s economic growth and regional integration.

Addressing the sixth Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium of South Africa on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, Ramaphosa said infrastructure investment was central to the country’s efforts to drive inclusive economic growth and create jobs.

He also placed infrastructure development within the broader ambition of connecting African economies, pointing to the need for roads, railways, ports, power infrastructure and digital networks that can support increasingly integrated markets.

“We must link mines to factories and farms to markets,” Ramaphosa said. “We must link mobile phones to data centres. We must link businesses to customers.”

The reference to mobile connectivity and data centres underscores the growing importance of digital infrastructure alongside traditional physical infrastructure.

For South Africa’s technology sector, this includes the infrastructure needed to support cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data-intensive services, telecommunications and digital businesses.

Ramaphosa said South Africa’s ability to grow depends on securing reliable energy, sufficient water, efficient ports and railways, functioning roads, digital connectivity and cities and towns that work.

The President acknowledged that the country’s infrastructure system had historically been fragmented, resulting in delays, rising costs and projects that failed to reach implementation.

Government has sought to address this through stronger coordination under the Infrastructure Development Act and through Infrastructure South Africa’s role in preparing and advancing the country’s strategic infrastructure pipeline.

The scale of that pipeline has grown significantly.

The estimated capital value of South Africa’s Strategic Integrated Projects has increased from approximately R340 billion in 2020 to more than R1.67 trillion today.

The portfolio currently includes 195 public and private-led infrastructure projects across priority sectors. Thirty-two projects valued at approximately R48 billion have been completed, while 55 projects worth more than R407 billion are under construction.

Ramaphosa said the next priority was converting the growing pipeline into investment and physical delivery.

“We need to convert plans into prepared projects, convert prepared projects into investment, and convert investment into construction,” he said.

“Most importantly, we need to convert construction into infrastructure that supports economic activity and improves the lives of our people.”

Project preparation is emerging as a major focus of the government’s strategy.

Infrastructure South Africa’s R600 million project preparation facility has supported or is supporting 26 projects, while its Adopt-a-Municipality pilot programme is preparing projects designed to unlock R7 billion of investment in municipal trading services.

One example is the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, where R1.8 million was spent preparing and packaging a project to replace more than 1,700 kilometres of water pipes. The preparation helped unlock an R800 million debt financing facility from the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

For technology and infrastructure companies, the broader project pipeline could create opportunities across areas including digital connectivity, smart infrastructure, telecommunications, energy technology, data infrastructure, engineering software and infrastructure management systems.

Ramaphosa also stressed that infrastructure investment cannot be separated from institutional capability.

He said simply providing additional funding would not solve municipal infrastructure challenges if the institutions responsible for managing those assets lacked capacity.

“Building a new asset without making provision for its operation and maintenance is not sustainable,” he said.

The government is also seeking to give investors greater visibility over projects coming to market.

The third edition of the Construction Book, released at the symposium, showcases more than R350 billion worth of projects across water and sanitation, transport and logistics, energy and electricity, and municipal infrastructure.

The latest edition contains more than 170 projects valued at approximately R264 billion that are expected to enter procurement over the next 12 to 18 months.

Government plans to publish quarterly performance reports on the Construction Book, providing greater visibility into progress from project preparation through to procurement and construction.

Ramaphosa further connected South Africa’s infrastructure programme to the continent’s digital and economic integration agenda.

The country needs infrastructure capable of crossing national borders, but also greater alignment in policies, regulations, standards and institutional arrangements.

That could become increasingly important as African economies expand cross-border digital services, data infrastructure, fintech, cloud platforms and digitally enabled trade.

The President said the infrastructure challenge would require partnerships between government, business, development finance institutions, commercial lenders, state-owned companies, implementing agencies and technical professionals.

Universities and training institutions will also be required to develop the skills needed to support the next generation of infrastructure projects.

For Africa’s technology industry, the message from the symposium is clear: digital infrastructure is increasingly becoming part of the continent’s core economic infrastructure.

As South Africa moves to turn its R1.67 trillion Strategic Integrated Projects pipeline into investment and construction, connectivity, data infrastructure and technology will increasingly sit alongside roads, railways, energy and water as foundations of economic growth.
### Standard Chartered Backs Egypt’s Next Generation of Women Tech Founders
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/standard-chartered-backs-egypts-next-generation-of-women-tech-founders/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T07:40:10.000Z
# 

**Standard Chartered Foundation has launched the second edition of its Women in Tech Accelerator in Egypt, targeting 12 women-led technology startups with business development, mentorship, investment-readiness support and access to entrepreneurial networks.**

The 2026 programme is being delivered in partnership with entrepreneurship platform Entlaq and impact investor Village Capital, with three participating startups set to receive **equity-free grants from a combined US$35,000 pool** at the end of the programme.

## Accelerating women-led technology businesses

The accelerator is aimed at women-led, technology-enabled startups in Egypt that have already demonstrated market validation and are preparing to scale.

Entlaq will deliver the local programme, providing specialised training and mentorship to help founders strengthen their businesses, refine growth strategies and prepare to engage with investors.

The initiative also seeks to address some of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, particularly limited access to finance, professional networks and specialised business support.

Mohamed Gad, CEO and Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Egypt, said women-led technology businesses have an important role to play in Egypt’s innovation economy.

He said the programme would give founders access to skills and networks that can help them strengthen their businesses and prepare for expansion.

## Building on the first cohort

The 2026 accelerator follows the programme’s first Egyptian cohort, which attracted **240 applications** and supported **11 startups** through more than 35 training sessions and over 40 mentorship sessions and roundtables.

This year’s programme will place increased emphasis on business development and investment readiness.

Running from **September to December 2026**, the programme will culminate in a final Demo Day, giving participating founders an opportunity to showcase their businesses and progress.

According to Village Capital, businesses supported through the 2025 cohort collectively reached almost **16,000 new customers**, created more than **430 jobs** and generated an additional **US$2.7 million in revenue**.

Village Capital Senior Programme Manager Yazmin Jumaali said the organisation will support the new cohort through its wider network and experience helping early-stage businesses improve access to financial and social capital.

## Closing Egypt’s women-founder funding gap

The accelerator also responds to findings from Entlaq’s **Women in Entrepreneurship Report 2025**, which highlighted significant funding and support challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Egypt.

The report estimates a **US$2.2 billion funding gap for women-led startups**, alongside limited access to specialised mentorship and professional networks.

Entlaq Co-Founder and Programmes Director Aya Ismail said the accelerator aims to translate those findings into practical support that helps women founders build competitive, scalable and investment-ready businesses.

## A wider push for women in technology

The Egypt programme forms part of Standard Chartered’s wider **Women in Tech initiative**, which has supported more than **4,000 women across 17 markets** since its establishment.

Standard Chartered said more than **US$600,000 in grant funding** has been allocated to entrepreneurs across 12 markets this year.

In Egypt, three of the 12 participating startups will receive equity-free grants at the conclusion of the accelerator.

Applications are currently open to eligible women startup founders based in Egypt, with the programme scheduled to run from September through December 2026.

For Egypt’s technology ecosystem, the programme represents another effort to strengthen the pipeline of women-led businesses while improving access to the capital, expertise and networks needed to move promising startups from market validation to scale.
### Absa Africa Financial Markets Index 2026 to Put Digital Innovation at the Heart of Africa’s Financial Future
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/absa-africa-financial-markets-index-2026-to-put-digital-innovation-at-the-heart-of-africas-financial-future/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:41:08.000Z
# 

Africa’s financial markets are approaching a significant milestone as the **Absa Africa Financial Markets Index (AFMI) 2026** prepares to mark its 10th edition, with digital innovation emerging as one of the key themes shaping the continent’s next phase of financial-market development.

The 2026 edition will be launched on **14 October 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand**, during the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings. The milestone edition will examine a decade of changes across African financial markets while looking ahead at the technologies, regulatory reforms and financial products that could influence the continent’s investment ecosystem.

## Ten years of tracking Africa’s financial markets

The AFMI assesses financial-market development across **29 African countries**, using quantitative analysis and survey information from more than 50 organisations operating across the region.

Produced by OMFIF and sponsored by Absa, with support from the **United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)**, the index measures areas including market accessibility, openness and transparency.

For technology companies and financial institutions, the index provides an important view of how infrastructure, regulation and innovation are influencing the ability of African markets to attract investment.

The 2026 edition will take the analysis beyond the previous 12-month period by looking back across the full decade to identify how individual countries have progressed in developing and deepening their financial markets.

## Digital innovation becomes a financial-market issue

Technology is increasingly becoming inseparable from financial-market development in Africa.

Digital platforms, mobile financial services, electronic trading infrastructure, data technologies and emerging financial technologies are changing how consumers, businesses and investors interact with financial institutions.

The AFMI 2026 will examine advances in digital innovation alongside the diversification of financial products, ESG frameworks and efforts to strengthen legal and regulatory systems.

For Africa’s technology sector, this creates an important connection between fintech innovation and the broader development of capital markets.

Greater digitalisation could help financial institutions reduce transaction friction, expand access to financial products and improve the availability of information to market participants. At the same time, regulators will need to ensure that technological development is accompanied by appropriate safeguards, transparency and market oversight.

## Technology and investment attractiveness

The evolution of digital financial infrastructure is also becoming increasingly relevant to investment decisions.

A market with stronger digital systems, transparent regulatory processes and diversified financial products can potentially offer investors more efficient ways to access opportunities.

This makes financial technology more than a consumer-services story. It is increasingly part of the infrastructure supporting Africa's wider investment and economic ecosystem.

The index's decade-long perspective could therefore provide insight into whether countries that have invested in financial-market infrastructure and digital transformation are also strengthening their ability to attract capital.

## What the 2026 edition could reveal

The 10th edition comes at a time when African financial systems are being reshaped by rapid technological change, growing demand for digital financial services and the emergence of new approaches to financial regulation.

The report's focus on digital innovation is particularly relevant as African countries seek to balance financial inclusion with market sophistication.

Its findings will also provide policymakers, regulators, investors and technology companies with an opportunity to compare developments across markets and identify areas where further reform or investment may be required.

The Bangkok launch will bring together policymakers and financial-market participants from Africa and beyond to discuss the findings and opportunities for strengthening the continent's financial markets.

## A decade of transformation

For Africa's technology industry, the significance of AFMI 2026 extends beyond another annual financial-market ranking.

The 10th edition provides a decade-long snapshot of how financial infrastructure, regulation, technology and investment conditions have evolved across the continent.

As digital innovation increasingly becomes part of the foundation of modern financial markets, the findings could offer an important indication of which African economies are best positioned to build deeper, more accessible and technology-enabled financial ecosystems.

The **Absa Africa Financial Markets Index 2026** will be launched on **14 October 2026 in Bangkok** during the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings.
### EcoCash targets 15,000 new agents as Zimbabwe turns to digital finance for returnees
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/ecocash-targets-15-000-new-agents-as-zimbabwe-turns-to-digital-finance-for-returnees/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:41:41.000Z
Zimbabwe’s Econet Wireless is planning to appoint 15,000 new EcoCash agents by Christmas, in a major expansion of its mobile-money network aimed at creating income opportunities for citizens returning from South Africa.

The initiative follows a directive from Econet founder and Group Chairman Strive Masiyiwa, who has called on the group to identify practical ways of supporting Zimbabweans returning home amid a growing need for employment and economic reintegration.

Econet Zimbabwe CEO Douglas Mboweni said the company had held several meetings with Masiyiwa to identify projects that could complement government efforts to support returnees.

EcoCash at the centre of the employment push

The biggest immediate opportunity is expected to come from EcoCash, Econet's mobile-money platform.

Mboweni said the company intends to appoint 15,000 additional agents before Christmas, with each agent potentially supporting at least two jobs.

«“Each time we appoint a new agent, that results in at least two jobs. So this is one way we think we can help,” Mboweni said.»

That means the proposed agent expansion could support income opportunities for around 30,000 people, although the figure represents direct and indirect opportunities rather than 30,000 new Econet employees.

EcoCash agents operate as local access points for mobile financial services, including cash-in, cash-out and payments. The expansion could therefore create opportunities for returnees to establish or operate small businesses while simultaneously extending EcoCash's digital-financial infrastructure across Zimbabwe.

Digital finance as an economic platform

The plan highlights a broader role for mobile-money platforms in emerging markets: they can function not only as payment systems but also as small-business infrastructure.

For Zimbabweans returning from South Africa with experience in retail, sales, construction or other sectors, an agency model could provide a route into self-employment and local commerce.

EcoCash already maintains an extensive agent network across Zimbabwe. Its official agent locator provides customers with access to agents by region and area, while the company's services allow customers to deposit money into their wallets through EcoCash agents and other channels.

Econet expands beyond mobile money

The employment initiative is not limited to digital financial services.

Econet is also looking at accelerating construction activity at Econet Tech City, with Mboweni saying the work could create approximately 2,000 short-term jobs as construction is ramped up.

The group is additionally considering an expansion of its AgriTech operations, including agricultural initiatives producing fruit for export to China.

Mboweni said agriculture was being considered because it can provide employment relatively quickly, with the planned expansion expected to create hundreds of additional opportunities across farming, packing, transport and logistics.

Zimbabwe's returnee challenge

The private-sector initiative comes as Zimbabwe works to reintegrate a large number of citizens who have returned from South Africa.

Government figures reported in July indicated that more than 108,000 Zimbabweans had returned from South Africa, with 15,065 returnees registered across 52 occupations as authorities sought to match skills with employment opportunities.

The skills registered include domestic work, construction, bricklaying and farming, creating a potential pool of workers for sectors such as construction and agriculture.

For Econet, the response combines telecommunications, digital finance, construction and agriculture rather than relying on traditional corporate hiring alone.

What it means for Zimbabwe's digital economy

The EcoCash expansion could have implications beyond job creation.

Adding 15,000 agents would substantially increase the number of physical access points connecting Zimbabweans to mobile financial services. For communities with limited access to conventional banking infrastructure, agents can provide a local bridge into the digital economy.

The initiative also demonstrates how telecom companies are increasingly positioned as financial and economic infrastructure providers, with mobile networks supporting payments, commerce, entrepreneurship and access to financial services.

However, the success of the programme will depend on how quickly new agents can be approved and established, as well as the ability of individual outlets to generate sustainable transaction volumes and income.

For Zimbabwe's returnees, the immediate opportunity is therefore not simply a job with Econet. It is potentially participation in a wider digital-finance ecosystem, where mobile money, retail commerce and entrepreneurship intersect.

As Zimbabwe searches for ways to absorb returning workers, EcoCash's planned 15,000-agent expansion could become one of the country's largest private-sector experiments in using digital financial infrastructure to create livelihoods.
### Microsoft and SABC Plus: AI skills initiative enters a new phase in South Africa
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/microsoft-and-sabc-plus-ai-skills-initiative-enters-a-new-phase-in-south-africa/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:42:12.000Z
Microsoft South Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) are using the broadcaster’s SABC Plus streaming platform to widen access to artificial intelligence (AI) and digital-skills education, creating a new digital learning channel aimed at millions of South Africans.

The partnership, announced at the Microsoft AI Tour Johannesburg on 29 January 2026, remains part of Microsoft's broader push to build AI fluency as the country moves towards an increasingly AI-driven economy. Microsoft has described the SABC Plus collaboration as a way of taking AI and digital-skills learning beyond traditional training environments and putting it on a platform with national reach.

From announcement to accessible AI learning

The initiative is being driven through Microsoft's Elevate skills-development programme and builds on its AI Skills Initiative, launched in 2025.

Microsoft originally committed to training one million South Africans by 2026\. By the time the SABC Plus partnership was announced, the company said its AI Skills Initiative had engaged about 4 million learners, trained 1.4 million people and credentialed nearly 500,000 South Africans.

The SABC Plus partnership is designed to extend that reach through on-demand learning.

Learners can access AI-focused modules, work through assessments and earn digital badges or credentials, giving the programme a practical employment and skills-development dimension rather than functioning simply as an awareness campaign.

Why SABC Plus matters

The significance of the partnership lies in distribution.

Instead of requiring every learner to find a separate training website or attend a physical programme, Microsoft is placing AI learning within an existing South African digital platform.

SABC has positioned SABC Plus as more than a conventional video-streaming service, with ambitions to develop it into a broader digital ecosystem.

SABC COO Lungile Binza described the partnership as helping transform SABC Plus into a capability-building platform rather than simply a video-on-demand service.

That approach could be particularly important for young South Africans, job seekers and people entering sectors where AI tools are becoming part of everyday work.

AI literacy is becoming a workplace skill

Microsoft's initiative comes as AI moves from experimentation into mainstream business use.

The company has continued expanding its own AI ecosystem during 2026\. Microsoft says its first-party Copilot family had surpassed 150 million monthly active users, while its AI features across products had reached about 900 million monthly active users.

Microsoft's focus has also shifted from simply teaching people about AI towards demonstrating practical AI capabilities.

In June 2026, the company announced new developments in its Microsoft Credentials ecosystem, including Microsoft Pro Badges and an evolution of Microsoft Applied Skills, aimed at recognising practical, real-world skills.

That evolution is relevant to the SABC Plus initiative because the value of AI education increasingly depends on whether learners can demonstrate what they can actually do with AI.

From basic AI awareness to employability

The South African programme is therefore potentially more significant than simply teaching users what generative AI is.

The learning pathway can help introduce concepts such as AI literacy, prompting, responsible AI use and digital productivity before learners progress towards more specialised technical skills.

Microsoft has also continued developing AI-focused credentials. Its 2026 Microsoft Credentials AI Challenge, for example, included practical Applied Skills covering AI-enabled business workflows, research agents and building agents with Copilot Studio.

This reflects a broader change in the skills market: employers are increasingly interested not only in whether someone has studied technology, but whether they can demonstrate the ability to use AI productively.

A public-service role for AI education

For the SABC, the partnership also gives its public-service mandate a new digital dimension.

SABC News reported at the launch that the initiative was intended particularly to help young South Africans understand the fundamentals of AI and prepare for workplaces and industries increasingly shaped by the technology.

The broadcaster therefore becomes part of a wider national conversation around the digital divide: access to AI is not only about having an internet connection or an AI application, but also having the skills to use the technology effectively.

The challenge beyond 2026

The next question is how far the partnership can scale beyond its original announcement.

Microsoft's stated ambition was to train one million South Africans by 2026, while the company had already reported substantially exceeding that figure in terms of people trained under the wider AI Skills Initiative.

The SABC Plus model could help Microsoft move from targeted skills programmes towards mass-market AI literacy.

However, access remains a critical issue. South Africa continues to face disparities in connectivity, devices and digital skills. Recent research on self-paced digital learning in a South African public-access centre has highlighted the continuing impact of connectivity problems, outdated infrastructure and usability challenges on digital education.

This means that putting AI courses on a streaming platform is only one part of solving the skills gap. The next challenge is ensuring that learners have affordable connectivity, suitable devices and enough foundational digital knowledge to benefit from the training.

What comes next

As of August 2026, the Microsoft-SABC partnership remains best understood as part of a much bigger transition: AI education is moving from specialist technology communities into mainstream public digital services.

SABC Plus provides the distribution platform, while Microsoft's AI-skills programmes provide the learning content and credentialing infrastructure.

If the model scales successfully, the partnership could help make AI literacy as accessible as other forms of digital media — giving millions of South Africans an opportunity to move from simply consuming AI-enabled technology to understanding, using and ultimately building with it.

For South Africa's emerging digital economy, that shift could prove as important as the technology itself.
### Amazon Leo’s evry set to bring satellite internet to South African homes in 2027
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/amazon-leos-evry-set-to-bring-satellite-internet-to-south-african-homes-in-2027/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:42:37.000Z
# 

Amazon is preparing to take its satellite internet ambitions deeper into Africa, with its Amazon Leo low-Earth-orbit (LEO) network expected to connect residential customers in South Africa through a new service called **evry** from 2027.

The service is being developed through a partnership between Amazon Leo and South African internet service provider **Herotel**, which will act as an authorised residential distributor of Amazon Leo in the country. Amazon described the agreement as its first partnership of this kind in Africa.

Herotel said it is targeting 2027 for the commercial launch, although an exact launch date has not yet been announced.

## Satellite broadband for areas beyond fibre

The partnership is aimed particularly at households and small businesses where traditional connectivity infrastructure has been difficult or uneconomical to deploy.

For communities in rural areas, farms and smaller towns, the challenge is often not demand for internet access but the cost and practical difficulty of extending fibre, fixed wireless networks and other terrestrial infrastructure over long distances.

Evry will use Amazon Leo's satellite network to address that gap.

Herotel CEO Van Zyl Botha has said the company has historically faced challenges reaching customers in areas without fibre backhaul or reliable power, with Amazon Leo technology potentially giving it broader reach beyond existing telecommunications infrastructure.

The significance is that satellite broadband can bypass much of the terrestrial "last mile". Instead of waiting for a fibre network or cellular infrastructure to reach a property, a compatible terminal can establish a connection with satellites operating in low Earth orbit.

## Amazon Leo takes on Starlink

The South African agreement also places Amazon Leo in direct competition with **SpaceX's Starlink**, which has become a major global player in satellite broadband.

Amazon's strategy in South Africa, however, differs from a purely direct-to-consumer model.

Rather than building an entirely new consumer distribution operation, Amazon Leo is working with an established local internet provider. Herotel will provide the local customer-facing service through evry, while Amazon supplies the satellite connectivity technology.

The arrangement could prove important in markets where telecommunications regulation, local licensing and local distribution are as important as satellite technology itself.

Amazon Leo's Trevor Vieweg has said the company is working towards connecting South Africa in 2027 through its partnership with Herotel.

## A new option for underserved households

Herotel already has an established presence across South Africa, giving Amazon Leo an existing local distribution and support network as it enters the country's residential broadband market.

For consumers, the key attraction of evry could be availability rather than simply faster speeds. In areas where fibre is unavailable, satellite connectivity could provide households with an alternative broadband route.

The companies have not yet disclosed final consumer pricing, meaning affordability will be one of the critical questions ahead of the 2027 launch. South African consumers will also have to weigh the cost of the satellite terminal and service against fibre, fixed wireless and mobile broadband alternatives.

## Amazon’s broader African connectivity strategy

South Africa is becoming an important market in Amazon Leo's African expansion.

The company has also selected Kenya for its first African satellite gateway, signalling that Amazon is building the ground infrastructure needed to support its growing satellite constellation across the continent.

The South African agreement is therefore about more than one broadband product. It represents Amazon's attempt to establish a position in Africa's rapidly evolving satellite connectivity market.

For telecommunications operators, the development could eventually change the economics of rural connectivity. Satellite networks could complement mobile and fibre infrastructure, allowing operators and internet service providers to reach locations where conventional infrastructure remains expensive.

## The 2027 connectivity race

Amazon Leo's arrival through evry could make 2027 an important year for South Africa's broadband market.

The country's consumers will potentially have another satellite-based broadband option, while traditional operators will face increasing pressure to connect underserved areas.

For Amazon, the Herotel partnership provides a route into the South African market through a company with existing customers and local operations.

For Herotel, evry offers a way to extend its reach beyond the physical limits of its terrestrial networks.

And for households that remain outside reliable broadband coverage, the central question is whether satellite technology can make high-quality internet access practical in places fibre and fixed networks cannot reach.

Amazon and Herotel are betting that the answer will be yes.

Commercial availability of evry is currently targeted for **2027**, with the exact launch date expected to be communicated closer to the rollout.
### Vodacom’s Safaricom takeover: What it means for Africa’s fintech and telecoms future
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/vodacoms-safaricom-takeover-what-it-means-for-africas-fintech-and-telecoms-future/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:43:04.000Z
Vodacom Group’s decision to take control of Kenya’s Safaricom is more than a change in shareholding. It marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape of African telecommunications and fintech, bringing one of the continent’s most successful mobile-money businesses deeper into Vodacom’s regional growth strategy.

On 30 June 2026, Vodacom completed the acquisition of an additional 20% effective stake in Safaricom, increasing its ownership from 35% to 55%. The US$2.1 billion transaction allows Vodacom to consolidate Safaricom as a subsidiary. The Kenyan government retains 20%, while public investors hold the remaining 25%.

For consumers and businesses, however, the bigger question is what this means for mobile money, digital banking, connectivity and technology services across Africa.

From telecoms operator to fintech powerhouse

The most immediate impact is likely to be felt in financial services.

Safaricom is not simply Kenya’s dominant mobile-network operator. Its M-Pesa platform has become one of Africa’s most influential digital financial ecosystems, providing mobile payments and other financial services to millions of customers.

Vodacom already operates M-Pesa businesses across several African markets. By taking control of Safaricom, it gains greater scale and access to the company behind one of the continent’s most mature mobile-money markets.

Vodacom itself says the transaction materially expands its financial-services footprint, with financial services increasing from 13% to more than 22% of group service revenue following the consolidation of Safaricom. Financial-services revenue rose 17.8% to R4.5 billion in Vodacom’s quarter ended June 2026.

This gives the group a much stronger position to compete in Africa’s growing digital-finance market.

M-Pesa becomes a strategic technology asset

The acquisition also changes the strategic importance of M-Pesa within Vodacom.

Rather than operating Safaricom alongside its other businesses as an associate investment, Vodacom can now consolidate the company and potentially use its experience, technology and expertise across a broader African footprint.

Vodacom’s acquisition documents specifically identify opportunities to consolidate capabilities in mobile payments, lending and digital wallets, while sharing best practices between Safaricom and other businesses in the group.

That could accelerate the development of products such as digital credit, savings, payments, insurance and merchant services.

The bigger opportunity is interoperability: African consumers increasingly want to move money, make payments and access financial services across borders without depending entirely on traditional banks.

The telecoms side is equally important

The deal also strengthens Vodacom’s telecommunications footprint in East Africa.

Safaricom brings a powerful Kenyan network, extensive customer base and infrastructure assets, while its Ethiopian operation provides Vodacom with exposure to one of Africa’s largest untapped telecoms markets.

Vodacom has described Safaricom’s Ethiopian operation as a growth opportunity, while Safaricom itself has been expanding beyond traditional connectivity into cloud, IoT and enterprise services.

This means Vodacom is gaining more than mobile subscribers. It is gaining an established technology platform spanning mobile connectivity, financial services, enterprise technology and digital infrastructure.

A bigger African digital-services company

The acquisition fits directly into Vodacom’s Vision 2030 strategy.

Following the Safaricom transaction, Vodacom increased its Vision 2030 revenue ambition from more than R200 billion to more than R300 billion. It also upgraded its medium-term EBITDA and operating free-cash-flow growth targets to early-teens growth.

The message is clear: Vodacom increasingly sees its future growth coming from a combination of connectivity and higher-value digital services rather than traditional mobile voice and data alone.

Safaricom is particularly valuable because it combines both.

What could change for customers?

For ordinary customers, the impact may not be immediate. Vodacom has not announced a wholesale restructuring of Safaricom’s consumer products as a direct consequence of the acquisition.

But over time, greater integration could result in:

- More sophisticated mobile-money products.
- Greater use of digital wallets and mobile payments.
- Expanded digital lending and financial services.
- More opportunities for cross-border payments.
- Greater investment in mobile and digital infrastructure.
- More enterprise cloud, IoT and digital services.
- Greater sharing of technology and fintech expertise across Vodacom’s African markets.

The potential is particularly significant for customers who are underserved by traditional banking systems.

A challenge to traditional banks

The transaction also highlights how Africa’s telecoms companies are increasingly competing with banks.

M-Pesa demonstrated that a mobile phone number can become the gateway to payments and financial services without customers necessarily needing a conventional bank account.

With Safaricom now under majority Vodacom ownership, that model becomes an even more important part of a multinational telecommunications group's strategy.

This could increase competitive pressure on banks and other financial-technology companies to develop cheaper, faster and more accessible digital financial products.

What it means for Africa’s telecoms industry

The Safaricom takeover reflects a broader transformation of African telecommunications.

Telecoms companies are increasingly becoming digital platforms, combining networks with payments, financial services, cloud computing, enterprise software, IoT and digital identity.

Vodacom’s strategy illustrates this shift particularly clearly.

The company reported that its mobile-money platforms, including Safaricom, processed US$547.9 billion in transactions over the previous 12 months.

That scale makes financial technology a core part of the telecoms business rather than a side offering.

The bigger picture

For Vodacom, the Safaricom acquisition is ultimately about scale.

For Safaricom, it means becoming the centrepiece of Vodacom’s East African strategy.

For fintech, it creates the possibility of a much larger African financial-services platform built around mobile technology.

And for telecommunications, it reinforces a fundamental change in the industry: the future telecoms company is increasingly not just selling connectivity — it is providing the digital infrastructure through which people communicate, pay, borrow, save, trade and run businesses.

That is why Vodacom’s move to 55% of Safaricom could prove to be much more significant than a conventional telecoms acquisition. It potentially gives Vodacom one of Africa’s strongest technology and fintech platforms at a time when the boundaries between telecommunications, banking and digital services are rapidly disappearing.
### Botswana to Host Pan-African Gaming Taxation and Revenue Summit 2026
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/botswana-to-host-pan-african-gaming-taxation-and-revenue-summit-2026-2/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:43:32.000Z
Botswana is set to become a focal point for Africa’s rapidly evolving digital gaming economy when it hosts the Pan-African Gaming Taxation & Revenue Summit (PAGTR) 2026, bringing together regulators, tax authorities, policymakers, technology companies and gaming-industry executives to examine how governments can modernise taxation and oversight of the sector.

The summit is scheduled for 9–10 September 2026 at the Grand Palm Hotel Casino & Convention Resort in Gaborone, under the theme “Shaping Smart Tax Policy for a Sustainable Gaming Economy.” Organisers recently adjusted the dates to align the event with the wider African gaming-regulation calendar.

For the technology sector, PAGTR 2026 is significant because gaming taxation is increasingly becoming a data and digital-compliance challenge rather than simply a question of tax rates.

AI, data and real-time compliance

A key focus of the summit will be the use of technology to strengthen gaming regulation, including artificial intelligence, data analytics and real-time monitoring systems.

As online betting and digital gaming platforms expand across African markets, regulators face the challenge of monitoring transactions and operators that can operate across multiple jurisdictions. Technology could provide authorities with more sophisticated tools to identify suspicious activity, improve reporting and increase visibility over taxable gaming revenues.

The summit's agenda includes discussions around AI, data and digital compliance, with the technology component expected to examine how digital tools can modernise tax administration and regulatory oversight.

This places gaming within a broader African technology trend in which governments are increasingly looking at automated systems, analytics and digital platforms to improve revenue collection.

Tackling the digital gaming black market

Another major issue is the growth of unlicensed gaming operators.

The expansion of online betting has made it increasingly difficult for regulators to rely solely on traditional enforcement methods. Digital platforms can reach consumers across borders, while payments and customer activity can move through increasingly complex digital channels.

PAGTR 2026 is expected to explore how stronger regulatory cooperation, technology-enabled monitoring and more effective taxation systems can help governments address the illegal gaming market.

The summit agenda also includes the question of whether existing tax models remain suitable for Africa's expanding digital gaming economy and how tax structures can be redesigned to support sustainability, competitiveness and investment.

Botswana's opportunity

For Botswana, hosting the summit provides an opportunity to position the country as a venue for conversations around digital regulation, fintech, gaming technology and the future of Africa's technology-driven economy.

The country's gaming industry is increasingly connected to wider developments in digital payments, mobile technology, online platforms and data-driven services. These developments create opportunities for economic growth while also presenting regulators with new challenges around taxation, consumer protection and compliance.

Emolemo Peter Kesitilwe, CEO of the African iGaming Alliance, has stressed the importance of coordination between stakeholders, arguing that alignment on taxation and regulation can support sustainable tax frameworks and strengthen market integrity.

From taxation to technology policy

The significance of PAGTR 2026 therefore extends beyond the gaming industry.

For African governments, the debate is increasingly about how to build smart digital regulation that can keep pace with technology while still protecting consumers and ensuring that economic activity contributes to public revenue.

That means technologies such as AI, automated monitoring, data analytics and digital identity could increasingly become part of the regulatory infrastructure supporting Africa's gaming markets.

With regulators and industry stakeholders from across the continent expected in Botswana, PAGTR 2026 could provide a useful platform for examining whether African countries can move towards more coordinated approaches to digital gaming taxation.

The summit is expected to serve as one of the continent's key discussions on the intersection of gaming, technology, taxation and digital regulation in 2026.
### GCI report exposes 174 billion illegal World Cup streams and the gambling economy behind them
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/gci-report-exposes-174-billion-illegal-world-cup-streams-and-the-gambling-economy-behind-them/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:44:01.000Z
The scale of illegal streaming during the 2026 FIFA World Cup has highlighted a growing connection between digital piracy and unregulated online gambling, with Gaming Compliance International (GCI) estimating 174.3 billion qualifying illegal stream views globally across the tournament.

GCI’s first complete global measurement of illegal World Cup streaming found that 95% of those qualifying views carried advertising for unregulated gambling, turning pirate sports streams into a major customer-acquisition channel for gambling operators outside regulated markets.

The findings add another dimension to GCI’s broader research into Africa’s online gambling market, where the company estimates that unregulated operators accounted for the majority of online gambling activity in 2025.

174.3 billion illegal views

GCI defines a qualifying illegal stream view as a stream watched for at least 90 seconds, describing it as a “committed view”. The measurement counts stream views rather than unique viewers and accounts for interruptions, forced refreshes, reloads, mirror switches and channel resets.

The tournament generated an estimated 1.68 billion qualifying illegal stream views per match, while the Spain-Argentina final alone generated approximately 6.2 billion qualifying illegal views.

For the technology and media industries, the figures demonstrate how digital piracy has evolved beyond the unauthorised distribution of copyrighted content. Illegal streaming platforms have become part of a wider commercial ecosystem in which audiences are monetised through advertising, referrals and gambling.

Gambling advertising dominates pirate streams

GCI found that 95% of qualifying illegal World Cup stream views carried advertising for unregulated gambling.

The company says illegal streaming sites can receive affiliate payments for referring viewers to unregulated gambling operators. According to GCI, observed affiliate arrangements can provide streamers with between 25% and 50% of the net gaming revenue generated by customers they refer.

That creates a commercial relationship between sports piracy and offshore gambling: premium sporting content attracts a large audience, illegal streaming captures that audience and gambling operators pay for access to potential customers.

GCI CEO Matt Holt described the scale as evidence that illegal streaming is no longer a marginal problem for sports.

«“When 95% of qualifying illegal stream views carry advertising for unregulated gambling, illegal streaming is not simply stealing content. It is providing one of the world's largest sporting audiences as an acquisition channel for the unregulated gambling economy.”»

A $593 billion online betting market

The illegal-streaming figures sit within an even larger World Cup gambling economy.

GCI estimated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup generated approximately $593 billion in global online betting handle. Of that amount, the company estimates $409 billion, or 69%, flowed through unregulated channels, compared with about $184 billion through regulated operators.

GCI does not attribute the entire $409 billion directly to illegal streaming. Instead, it identifies pirate broadcasts as one important customer-acquisition channel within the wider unregulated gambling ecosystem.

The combination of illegal streaming and gambling therefore presents regulators with a problem that extends beyond copyright enforcement.

Technology becomes a regulatory battleground

The report points towards a growing role for technology in tackling the illegal digital economy.

Traditional enforcement focused on shutting down individual websites or domains. GCI argues that regulators and rights holders increasingly need to monitor the broader ecosystem connecting illegal content, advertising, affiliate networks, payment systems and unregulated gambling operators.

GCI President Ismail Vali said the World Cup demonstrated the relationship between illegal streaming and unregulated gambling at an unprecedented global scale.

«“The World Cup showed us the dark nexus between illegal streaming and unregulated gambling at a scale we have never measured before.”»

Vali argues that targeting individual URLs alone amounts to a cycle of replacing one blocked site with another.

Instead, he says regulators need to understand the entire marketplace, monitor the illegal ecosystem and its supply chain, enforce proportionately and strengthen the legal market so consumers have compelling reasons to remain within it.

Implications for Africa

The findings are particularly relevant to African markets, where rapid smartphone adoption, mobile connectivity and digital payments are creating a larger online audience for both regulated and unregulated gambling.

GCI’s separate research estimates that Africa’s regulated online gambling revenue increased from $4.4 billion in 2024 to $5.2 billion in 2025, while unregulated operators generated an estimated $17.8 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2025.

The World Cup data suggests that sports piracy could further expose African consumers to unregulated gambling advertising, particularly where illegal streaming services are easily accessible through mobile devices.

For regulators, this creates a convergence of issues involving gambling compliance, cybersecurity, intellectual property, digital advertising, consumer protection and taxation.

It also creates an opportunity for technology companies specialising in artificial intelligence, market intelligence, content monitoring, domain tracking and regulatory technology to help authorities identify illegal operators and advertising networks at scale.

From piracy problem to digital-economy problem

GCI's World Cup research ultimately reframes illegal streaming as more than a copyright issue.

The company argues that the same digital infrastructure that enables consumers to access unauthorised sports broadcasts can also funnel those audiences towards unregulated gambling platforms.

As Vali puts it, illegal operators do not need to produce the football or own the broadcasting rights. Their business model is built around capturing the audience and monetising it.

With 174.3 billion qualifying illegal stream views recorded during the tournament and gambling advertising present in 95% of those views, the figures suggest that the fight against digital piracy and the fight against unregulated online gambling are increasingly becoming the same regulatory challenge.
### AiA CEO Peter Kesitilwe And Kenya Gambling Discuss Responsible iGaming and Illegal Operators
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/aia-ceo-peter-kesitilwe-and-kenya-gambling-discuss-responsible-igaming-and-illegal-operators/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:44:23.000Z
NAIROBI, Kenya — African iGaming Alliance (AiA) Chief Executive Officer Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe has held a high-level engagement with Peter Maina Karimi, Director General of Kenya’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), with discussions centred on responsible gambling, consumer protection and the fight against illegal gambling.

The meeting, held in Nairobi, comes at an important time for Kenya's gambling industry as the country implements a new regulatory framework under the Gambling Control Act, 2025\. The legislation replaced the former Betting Control and Licensing Board with the GRA and introduced a new regulatory structure for the sector.

According to a statement attributed to Kesitilwe following the meeting, the engagement was intended to strengthen dialogue between industry stakeholders and regulators across Africa.

«“I had the pleasure of paying a courtesy visit to Mr. Peter Maina Karimi, Director General of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) of Kenya. We had a valuable discussion on responsible gambling, consumer protection, combating illegal gambling and strengthening collaboration between regulators and industry.”»

Focus on consumer protection

The discussions highlight the growing importance of consumer protection as African gambling markets become increasingly digital.

For regulators, online betting and gaming present challenges that extend beyond licensing. They include protecting minors, ensuring responsible gambling practices, monitoring advertising, safeguarding player funds and preventing unlicensed operators from accessing consumers.

Kenya has already moved to strengthen these areas under its new regulatory regime. Recent regulatory measures include mandatory age verification, self-exclusion mechanisms and requirements around the protection of customer funds. The framework also introduces tighter rules governing gambling advertising and responsible-gambling messaging.

For the AiA, closer cooperation between regulators and legitimate operators is particularly important in tackling operators that operate outside established licensing and compliance systems.

Combating the illegal market

Illegal gambling was another central issue raised during the Kesitilwe-Karimi engagement.

The expansion of digital platforms has made it easier for consumers to access gambling services across borders, creating enforcement challenges for national regulators. Cooperation between regulators and industry bodies can therefore play a role in identifying illegal operators and improving compliance.

The AiA represents licensed online betting and gaming operators across multiple African jurisdictions, with Kesitilwe working with regulators, governments and international organisations on issues including responsible gaming, taxation, integrity and player protection. He is also a former head of Botswana's gambling regulator.

Kenya enters a new regulatory era

The meeting also comes as Karimi leads the GRA through the implementation of Kenya's new gambling framework.

Karimi was appointed the Authority's inaugural substantive Director General in February 2026 following a competitive recruitment process. The GRA says his mandate includes overseeing the Authority's operations and implementing the regulatory framework established under the Gambling Control Act 2025.

The regulator's transition is significant for one of Africa's most established betting markets. Kenya's new framework is intended to modernise gambling regulation while giving authorities stronger tools to supervise operators and protect consumers.

The GRA has also been publicly emphasising technology-enabled oversight and stronger compliance. Recent reforms include digital systems aimed at improving monitoring and preventing underage participation.

A broader African regulatory conversation

The Kesitilwe-Karimi meeting points to a wider conversation taking place across Africa about how gambling markets should develop as technology changes the industry.

For operators, regulatory certainty is increasingly important as governments introduce new licensing, taxation, advertising and consumer-protection requirements. For regulators, cooperation with legitimate industry stakeholders can provide additional insight into emerging technologies and new forms of digital gambling.

The AiA's engagement with Kenya's regulator therefore signals an effort to build stronger channels of communication between the private sector and regulators as African jurisdictions develop their respective iGaming frameworks.

Kesitilwe and Karimi's discussions ultimately centred on a shared challenge: how to allow a legitimate digital gaming industry to grow while ensuring that consumers are protected and illegal operators are pushed out of the market.

As Kenya continues implementing its new gambling legislation, the balance between industry growth, technological innovation, responsible gambling and regulatory enforcement is likely to remain one of the most important issues shaping Africa's iGaming sector.
### Aerobotics and the Advent of Smart Farming in South Africa
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/aerobotics-and-the-advent-of-smart-farming-in-south-africa/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:45:35.000Z
*How drones, artificial intelligence and agricultural data are transforming the way South African farmers monitor crops and make decisions*

For generations, farming has depended on the farmer's experience, eyesight and knowledge of the land. But increasingly, another set of eyes is watching the fields — drones and satellites, backed by artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics.

In South Africa, Cape Town-based agritech company **Aerobotics** has emerged as one of the notable companies driving this shift towards precision and smart farming.

Founded in 2014 by James Paterson and Benji Meltzer, Aerobotics developed technology that uses aerial imagery and software to identify crop problems at an increasingly granular level. The company's approach has been particularly focused on tree crops and vineyards, where individual trees can be monitored as separate data points.

For Paterson, the connection between agriculture and technology is personal.

“I grew up on the farm and got to know the risks and the problems on the farm growing up,” he said in a 2018 interview with BizNews, explaining that his background in farming eventually intersected with his studies in aeronautics and astronautics at MIT.

That combination of farming experience and engineering became central to Aerobotics' proposition: use technology to give farmers a more detailed understanding of what is happening across their fields.

## Seeing the farm from above

The company's technology uses drone and satellite imagery, with AI and machine learning applied to the resulting data.

Instead of simply producing aerial photographs, the system can turn individual trees into data points that can be monitored over time for changes in growth and health. Paterson explained that the technology could track the health of individual trees and compare them with other trees in an orchard.

That changes the way farmers can approach crop management.

Rather than treating an entire orchard as a uniform environment, growers can identify specific areas requiring investigation or intervention.

In 2018, Aerobotics launched a series of precision-agriculture innovations designed around early pest and disease detection. The company's Drone Scouting Application used AI to identify stressed trees and help generate scouting routes for drones.

Paterson described the ambition behind the technology in stark terms:

> “We have been working extremely hard over the past few years with growers and industry partners to create technology that will completely change how farmers manage their crops, identify stressed trees and spot individual pests and diseases without stepping foot on the farm.”

He described the technology at the time as something that had been “the stuff of agritech legend”, arguing that the company was beginning to make that future a reality.

## From images to intelligence

The significance of Aerobotics is not the drone itself.

The real value lies in converting imagery into actionable information.

A drone can capture thousands of images, but a farmer does not need thousands of photographs. What the farmer needs is an indication of where a problem exists, what may be causing it and where attention should be directed.

Aerobotics' system was designed to analyse imagery using AI and machine learning and alert farmers to potential problems. The technology could identify individual trees showing signs of stress and then direct further investigation towards those locations.

Paterson explained the concept in an interview with BizNews by describing the transformation of imagery into individual data points that could be tracked over time.

This is the essence of precision agriculture: replacing broad assumptions with increasingly precise information.

## Towards the autonomous farm

Paterson's vision goes beyond drones being manually operated by pilots.

In his 2018 interview with BizNews, he outlined a future in which automated systems could monitor crops, detect pests and disease, count fruit and estimate yields before sending information to the farmer.

“I see it becoming more and more autonomous where the farmer doesn't even have to go out there and put the drone down,” Paterson said. “They just get a dashboard of information and the drones are going out to collect the required information automatically.”

That vision captures the broader direction of smart farming.

The farm becomes increasingly connected, with drones, satellites, sensors, software and AI feeding information into digital platforms. The farmer remains at the centre of the operation, but decisions can increasingly be supported by real-time and historical data.

## A farmer-first approach

Aerobotics' development also illustrates an important lesson about agricultural technology: technology alone is not enough.

In a 2021 interview with AgFunderNews, Paterson described Aerobotics as a farming company enabled by technology rather than simply a technology company operating in agriculture.

That distinction is significant.

Agriculture is highly specialised. A system may be technically impressive, but it has to work within the realities of weather, pests, disease, labour, irrigation, crop cycles and farm economics.

Paterson's own background in a farming family has helped shape that perspective.

The objective is therefore not simply to put more technology on farms. It is to make technology useful to farmers.

## Why smart farming matters in South Africa

South African agriculture faces a combination of pressures that make precision farming increasingly relevant.

Water availability, input costs, climate variability, labour requirements and the need to maintain export-quality crops all place pressure on growers to become more efficient.

For high-value crops, being able to identify a problem early can be particularly important.

A pest or disease issue identified at the individual-tree level gives the farmer an opportunity to investigate and respond before the problem becomes more widespread.

The same principle applies to yield forecasting.

Better information about crop development can help farmers plan harvesting, labour, logistics and market supply.

## From precision to prediction

The evolution of agricultural technology is now moving beyond simply asking **“What is happening in my field?”**

The bigger question is becoming **“What is likely to happen next?”**

AI-powered analysis can potentially help farmers identify patterns in crop health and development, while historical data can provide a basis for comparing current conditions with previous seasons.

This is where smart farming becomes predictive agriculture.

The long-term ambition is a farm where information flows continuously between the physical environment and digital systems — where machines collect data, AI interprets it and farmers receive information that helps them decide where to act.

## The challenge of accessibility

The rise of smart farming also raises a difficult question for Africa: who gets access to the technology?

Advanced drones, high-resolution imagery, connectivity, software subscriptions and skilled operators can be expensive. Much of the early adoption of sophisticated precision-agriculture technology has therefore been concentrated among commercial growers and high-value crops.

For South Africa, the next phase of the smart-farming revolution will need to address affordability, skills and access if the benefits are to extend beyond large commercial farms.

The opportunity, however, is substantial.

Technology that helps farmers use water, fertiliser, chemicals, labour and machinery more efficiently could become increasingly important as agriculture faces greater pressure to produce more with fewer resources.

## The future is already above the orchard

Aerobotics' story illustrates how quickly agriculture is becoming a data-driven industry.

The drone flying over an orchard may look like the most visible symbol of this transformation. But behind it is a much larger technological ecosystem — satellite imagery, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cloud software, mobile applications and increasingly automated decision-making.

Paterson's early vision of a farmer receiving a digital dashboard while automated drones gather information points towards a future in which the farm is continuously monitored without requiring every problem to be physically discovered by walking through the rows.

For South Africa, that represents more than the adoption of another piece of technology.

It signals a fundamental change in how farming can be understood.

The farm of the future may still have tractors, workers, irrigation systems and farmers walking its fields.

But increasingly, it will also have a digital intelligence layer — constantly watching, analysing and learning.

And in that transformation, companies such as Aerobotics are helping South African agriculture move from **precision farming towards a more predictive, connected and intelligent agricultural future**.
### Khula's next move: How AI could reshape the future of African farming
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/khulas-next-move-how-ai-could-reshape-the-future-of-african-farming/
Last updated: 2026-08-24T16:54:08.000Z
South African agritech company **Khula** is positioning itself for a bigger role in the future of African agriculture, with artificial intelligence, digital finance, market access and smart farming increasingly becoming central to its strategy.

The company's latest direction suggests that the next phase of Khula's growth could be less about simply connecting farmers with agricultural products and more about creating a **digital operating system for farming businesses**.

Khula currently describes itself as a smart-farming platform designed to help farmers “trade smarter, fund faster, and grow bigger”. Its platform brings together farmers, traders and partners, while its inputs marketplace offers access to more than 4,000 agricultural products alongside smart recommendations, quotations and delivery services.

## AI moves closer to the farm

One of the most significant areas of potential growth is artificial intelligence.

Reporting on Khula's technology shows that the company is already using AI to analyse factors such as soil conditions, weather and crop types to provide recommendations on seeds, fertiliser and pesticides. AI is also being used to help connect farmers with buyers and financing opportunities.

That creates the possibility of a future in which a farmer could use one digital platform to make decisions about what to plant, which inputs to purchase, where to sell the harvest and how to access funding.

The technology could also become increasingly important for crop-health management. Khula has been associated with AI-powered crop-disease diagnostics, an area that could become increasingly valuable as climate change alters disease and pest patterns across African agriculture.

## From 50 farmers to a scalable model

The **R7.5 million Bayer-Khula Farmer Accelerator**, which is supporting 50 emerging farmers, provides an important testing ground for this broader model.

The programme is designed around skills development, finance readiness and access to formal markets rather than simply distributing grants.

If the accelerator can demonstrate that digital tools combined with business development can help farmers become more productive and finance-ready, the model could potentially be expanded to thousands of farmers.

That would give Khula a much larger role in agricultural transformation — moving from a technology marketplace to a platform that helps farmers build commercially sustainable enterprises.

## The global ambition

Khula's ambitions are also becoming increasingly international.

A 2026 profile of founder and CEO **Karidas Tshintsholo** describes Khula as a rapidly growing African agritech company working with farmers, input suppliers, funders and bulk food buyers, with its sights set on **global markets**.

The company's R126 million Series A funding announced in 2025 was intended to help it scale its impact among South African farmers and begin work in other markets.

That makes international expansion one of the most interesting potential next chapters for the company.

For Khula, the opportunity is significant. Across Africa, farmers face many of the same structural problems — fragmented markets, limited access to finance, expensive inputs, logistics challenges and insufficient access to agricultural expertise.

A digital platform that can solve several of those problems simultaneously could potentially be adapted to different agricultural markets.

## Building an agricultural data network

Perhaps the most important long-term asset Khula could build is not simply an online marketplace, but an agricultural **data network**.

As farmers use the platform to purchase inputs, access financing, sell crops and receive recommendations, the ecosystem can generate increasingly valuable information about farming activity.

Used responsibly, that data could help improve risk assessment, connect farmers with appropriate financial products and allow buyers to better understand supply.

For financiers, better agricultural data could potentially reduce uncertainty around emerging farmers.

For farmers, it could eventually mean faster access to finance and more personalised agricultural recommendations.

For major food companies, it could provide greater visibility over agricultural supply chains.

## PepsiCo and Bayer point to a wider ecosystem

Khula's partnerships provide clues about where this model could go.

PepsiCo's Kgodiso Development Fund is among Khula's investors, alongside Absa, AECI and E Squared Investments. Khula's relationship with PepsiCo also creates an important connection between technology, emerging farmers and a major food buyer.

The Bayer partnership adds another component — agricultural science, farmer development and technology.

Together, these relationships point towards an ecosystem in which **technology companies, financiers, input suppliers, global food companies and farmers increasingly operate through connected digital platforms**.

## The next big test

Khula's future success will ultimately depend on whether it can turn technology into measurable improvements in farmers' incomes and productivity.

The company's challenge now is to demonstrate that AI recommendations, digital marketplaces, finance connections and market access can work together at scale.

The Bayer accelerator's 50 farmers could become an important early demonstration of that model.

If successful, Khula's next chapter could be significantly bigger than an agritech marketplace.

It could become a technology platform helping to determine **how African farmers access capital, buy inputs, manage crops and reach global food markets**.

And that could make Khula one of the more important African technology stories to watch as smart farming moves from experimentation into mainstream agriculture.
### Telcolink’s next phase: from South Africa’s broadband infrastructure to AI-ready digital connectivity
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/telcolinks-next-phase-from-south-africas-broadband-infrastructure-to-ai-ready-digital-connectivity-2/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:48:52.000Z
**Johannesburg-**South African ICT and telecommunications company Telcolink is entering a potentially important new phase as its established focus on connectivity and network infrastructure increasingly intersects with cloud networking, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Founded in 2013, the wholly black-owned company has built its business around telecommunications, network connectivity, IT support, data backup, network security and consulting. Telcolink describes itself as a provider serving small, medium and large organisations across the public and private sectors.

But its recent activities suggest the company is looking beyond conventional connectivity.

### Fibre remains the foundation

In June 2026, Telcolink promoted the **Fuzion FTP 300**, positioning the fibre connectivity solution as a way of extending reliable connectivity to homes, small businesses and underserved communities.

The company said the initiative was aimed at helping bridge the digital divide in rural communities and expanding access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities.

That focus is significant as South Africa's digital economy becomes increasingly dependent on reliable, high-speed infrastructure.

Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, remote collaboration and data-intensive applications all require dependable connectivity. For ICT companies, the network is increasingly becoming the foundation on which more sophisticated digital services are delivered.

### Moving towards smarter networks

Telcolink's recent engagement with **Cisco Meraki** provides another indication of where enterprise networking is heading.

The company recently attended a Westcon-Comstor Cisco Meraki Licensing Clinic, saying the session provided insights into licensing developments, best practices and strategies for creating greater value for customers.

Meraki's cloud-managed networking approach is part of a broader shift in enterprise IT towards networks that can be centrally managed, monitored and optimised.

For Telcolink, this creates an opportunity to move beyond installing connectivity infrastructure towards providing technology environments that are increasingly intelligent and easier for organisations to manage.

### AI enters the conversation

Telcolink has also been actively exposing its team to artificial intelligence.

The company recently attended a **GitHub Microsoft Copilot workshop** at Microsoft's Johannesburg office, describing the session as an opportunity to understand how AI is changing software development, productivity and business operations. Telcolink said it intended to apply the knowledge gained to delivering smarter technology solutions for its customers.

The development should not be interpreted as an announcement that Telcolink has launched a dedicated AI business. Rather, it indicates that AI is becoming part of the company's technology engagement and professional development.

That distinction is important.

The immediate opportunity for a company such as Telcolink may not necessarily be to develop its own foundation AI models. Instead, it can help businesses connect, secure and deploy AI-enabled technologies across existing IT environments.

### Cybersecurity becomes increasingly important

The AI transition also brings greater security requirements.

Telcolink has previously highlighted cybersecurity training and participated in a “Security with AI” industry event, where it explored how artificial intelligence is changing security operations and the response to evolving cyber threats.

This places cybersecurity alongside connectivity as another potentially important component of Telcolink's next phase.

As businesses connect more devices, applications and cloud services, the value of the underlying network increasingly depends on how securely it can operate.

### From broadband contractor to digital infrastructure partner?

Telcolink's history provides a foundation for this evolution.

The company has worked across network connectivity, telecommunications infrastructure, IT support, security and consulting. Its current public activity adds fibre expansion, cloud-managed networking and exposure to AI-enabled development tools to that technology mix.

Together, these developments point towards a broader role in the digital infrastructure ecosystem.

The opportunity is particularly relevant in South Africa, where the next stage of digital transformation will require more than simply connecting organisations to the internet.

Businesses will increasingly need networks capable of supporting cloud applications, AI tools, cybersecurity systems, connected devices and real-time data services.

### The road ahead

For Telcolink, the challenge will be converting technology exposure and infrastructure experience into scalable commercial solutions.

Its recent public activities show a company continuing to invest in connectivity while exploring technologies that are reshaping enterprise IT.

The combination of **fibre, cloud networking, cybersecurity and AI** could provide Telcolink with a platform for its next stage of growth.

The company has not publicly announced a formal “AI-first” strategy, and it would be premature to suggest that it has already transformed into an AI company.

What is clear, however, is that the definition of telecommunications is changing.

The network that once primarily carried voice and internet traffic is becoming the infrastructure supporting cloud computing, AI, digital services and increasingly data-driven businesses.

For Telcolink, the next phase may therefore be less about moving away from its telecommunications roots and more about **making those connections intelligent, secure and ready for the AI economy**.
### Mukuru brings cashless spending to Botswana with new Visa Companion Card
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/mukuru-brings-cashless-spending-to-botswana-with-new-visa-companion-card/
Last updated: 2026-08-25T00:44:50.000Z
*Gaborone launch gives Wallet customers a new way to pay for everyday goods and services without a traditional bank account*

**GABORONE, Botswana —** Mukuru has expanded its financial-services offering in Botswana with the launch of a Visa-branded Companion Card linked directly to the Mukuru Wallet, giving customers a new way to spend their money without relying on cash or a traditional bank account.

The launch, announced on August 18, comes as Botswana's consumers increasingly adopt digital financial services while a significant proportion of adults remain outside the formal banking system.

The Companion Card allows customers to use their existing Mukuru Wallet balance for everyday purchases at merchants that accept Visa. Customers do not need to transfer money between accounts before making a payment because the card is connected directly to their Wallet.

For consumers in Gaborone and across Botswana, the service is intended to reduce reliance on cash-out points and make digital payments more practical for routine expenses such as groceries, transport, utilities, school fees and online shopping.

The company says both the Mukuru Wallet and Companion Card operate across all mobile networks.

### Targeting Botswana's financial-inclusion gap

Mukuru's move comes against a backdrop of high mobile connectivity in Botswana but continuing gaps in access to formal financial services.

The company cites mobile penetration of about 166%, representing approximately 4.21 million mobile connections in a population of around 2.54 million. At the same time, it estimates that about 38% of adults remain unbanked.

That combination has created an opportunity for financial-technology companies to offer services that sit between traditional banking and mobile-based money management.

The Mukuru Wallet was initially designed to give customers a way to manage money from their phones. The Companion Card extends that functionality into physical retail environments.

“Our customers already trust the Mukuru Wallet to manage their money. The Companion Card gives them a new, practical way to use it; so paying for groceries or topping up airtime is as easy as swiping a card, without ever needing to visit a branch or carry cash,” said **Thembani Moyo, Country Manager for Mukuru Botswana**.

### Security built into everyday spending

Security is another major component of the new offering.

Mukuru says customers will use a PIN to protect card transactions, while online purchases are supported by Visa's 3D Secure authentication.

Customers can also block or stop a card from their phones if it is lost or misplaced.

The company operates as a registered Electronic Payment Service Provider in Botswana, positioning the card as part of a regulated financial-services ecosystem rather than simply another prepaid payment product.

### Mukuru sees broader financial-services opportunity

For Mukuru, the Botswana card launch forms part of a broader strategy to evolve beyond its traditional remittance business.

The company says it now serves more than 17 million customers and processes more than 100 million transactions across Africa and key international corridors.

Group CEO **Andy Jury** said the Companion Card was about expanding what customers can do within the Mukuru ecosystem.

“This is about strengthening what the Mukuru Wallet can do for our customers. We’re building a financial services brand around real, everyday needs, helping customers manage, move, and spend their money securely, and on their own terms,” Jury said.

The strategy reflects a wider shift in African financial technology, where mobile wallets, digital payments, remittances and card services are increasingly being brought together within single platforms.

### Visa and Access Bank back Botswana expansion

Visa is providing the card network behind the new offering, while Access Bank is also supporting the initiative.

**Amon Magunje, Country Manager for Visa Botswana**, said the partnership could help connect more consumers to the digital economy.

“Visa is committed to expanding access to the digital economy through secure and innovative payment solutions,” Magunje said.

He described the launch as an important step towards financial inclusion in Botswana, combining Visa's international payments infrastructure with Mukuru's local presence.

**Shathiso Choto, Head of Retail Banking at Access Bank**, said the bank was proud to support initiatives aimed at widening access to financial services.

“At Access Bank, we are proud to champion initiatives that expand access to safe and reliable financial services. Supporting the Mukuru Companion Card allows us to empower more customers to actively and confidently engage in Botswana’s digital economy,” Choto said.

### How customers can get the Mukuru Card

Customers can sign up for a Mukuru Wallet through WhatsApp on **+267 7718 4600**, or at a Mukuru booth, branch or accredited agent in Botswana.

Once the Wallet has been funded with a minimum of **P50**, customers will be issued with a Mukuru Card.

The physical card is designed to complement the digital Wallet, allowing customers to use their Wallet balance for purchases wherever Visa is accepted.

For Botswana's increasingly digital consumer market, the significance of the launch may ultimately lie less in the card itself than in what it represents: an attempt to make digital money usable in more parts of everyday life.

In Gaborone's supermarkets, shops, transport networks and online marketplaces, the ability to move directly from a mobile wallet to a card payment could make cashless spending more accessible to consumers who have historically operated outside conventional banking.

**Tech Insights Africa** will continue tracking how Mukuru, banks, mobile-money providers and fintech companies reshape Botswana's rapidly evolving digital-payments landscape.
### Somu Papanna’s InfyStrat targets Africa’s next generation of digital enterprise
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/somu-papannas-infystrat-targets-africas-next-generation-of-digital-enterprise/
Last updated: 2026-08-24T16:59:55.000Z
# 

**By Tsaone Segaetsho**

Somu Papanna, founder, CEO and managing director of InfyStrat Software Services, is positioning the South African technology company as a strategic partner to African businesses navigating the rapid convergence of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and digital transformation.

Papanna’s strategy, profiled by *Tech Insights Africa magazine*, centres on helping enterprises modernise their technology environments while identifying new opportunities for growth and value creation.

“We not only meet the need for next-generation services through our cloud and cyber security solutions, but we are also busy with projects relating to artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IOT) and legacy migration,” Papanna said.

The comments underline the breadth of InfyStrat’s technology strategy as companies increasingly move away from traditional IT infrastructure towards cloud-based and AI-enabled business models.

### Building the next-generation enterprise

InfyStrat’s portfolio spans cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI, Internet of Things, legacy migration, application development, DevOps, testing and enterprise IT infrastructure.

In the *Tech Insights Africa* magazine feature, the company is presented as moving beyond the traditional role of an IT services provider, with an emphasis on helping businesses build resilience and identify new sources of value.

Papanna has previously said the company works across a wide range of industries.

“More to the point, InfyStrat operates across multiple business sectors, from finance to telecoms and from education to manufacturing and on to the public sector, meaning our offerings are suitable for multiple markets,” he said.

That cross-sector approach could become increasingly important as African organisations seek technology partners capable of deploying solutions across different operating environments.

### Cloud as the foundation

Papanna has identified cloud computing as a critical component of enterprise transformation.

“The cloud is a critical first step,” he said in the ITWeb interview, describing it as the foundation for ongoing digital transformation and highlighting its potential to provide agility, flexibility, scalability and cost savings.

InfyStrat has partnered with Huawei Cloud as part of this strategy. Papanna said the partnership was intended to help the company build a secure and sustainable cloud model for its customers.

“When it comes to the cloud, we have chosen to partner with Huawei,” Papanna said, pointing to Huawei’s infrastructure and cloud capabilities.

According to the same published interview, InfyStrat said its cloud work could deliver infrastructure-cost savings of up to 40% for customers. That figure is a company claim rather than an independently verified industry benchmark.

### The “hands dirty” philosophy

One of the clearest expressions of Papanna’s management philosophy is his description of what constitutes a genuine technology partner.

“Anyone can provide a service, but only a genuine partner gets their hands dirty and gets involved alongside you,” he said.

The philosophy is also highlighted in *Tech Insights Africa magazine,* which describes InfyStrat’s model as one focused on deep customer engagement and tangible business outcomes.

For African enterprises, that approach reflects a growing expectation that technology providers should be accountable not simply for installing systems but for helping customers achieve measurable improvements in efficiency, security and competitiveness.

### AI and Africa’s digital opportunity

Papanna’s more recent public commentary points to AI-led transformation as another major component of InfyStrat’s growth strategy.

In a LinkedIn post about his *Tech Insights Africa* feature, Papanna said the discussion covered **“AI-led transformation, the evolving GCC landscape, and the digital accelerators that are shaping the future of global enterprises.”** He added that InfyStrat was focused on bringing **“innovation, resilience, and scalable digital capabilities”** to customers across markets.

The focus on global capability centres, or GCCs, is particularly relevant as African economies seek to attract technology investment, create high-skilled employment and establish themselves as destinations for technology-enabled business services.

InfyStrat’s *Tech Insights Africa* feature also highlights its work around GCCs, including application development, cloud engineering, cybersecurity, DevOps, automation and AI.

### Expanding the African footprint

InfyStrat was established in South Africa but has pursued a broader international footprint.

Papanna previously told Brainstorm that the company operated across Asia, Africa, the Americas, the UK and Middle East, with regional capacity intended to provide clients with local access to technology skills.

The company's African expansion reflects a market in which businesses and governments are investing increasingly in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital identity, AI and modern enterprise platforms.

For Papanna, the opportunity is not simply to sell technology but to help African organisations use it to compete.

The challenge will be converting the continent’s growing appetite for digital transformation into sustainable, measurable business outcomes.

For InfyStrat, Papanna’s message remains consistent: technology transformation must be closely connected to business value, while the next generation of African enterprises will need partners capable of combining global technology capabilities with an understanding of local market realities.
### Macrocomm AI moves from pilot projects to smart utility deployments at Enlit Africa 2026
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/ai-moves-from-pilot-projects-to-smart-utility-deployments-at-enlit-africa-2026/
Last updated: 2026-08-24T16:56:36.000Z
**By Tsaone Segaetsho**

Artificial intelligence by Macrocomm s moving beyond experimentation in Africa’s electricity sector, with utilities and technology companies showcasing deployments of smart metering, predictive analytics, intelligent substations and real-time grid monitoring at Enlit Africa 2026 in Cape Town.

The conference highlighted how AI is increasingly being positioned as an operational tool for utilities and municipalities seeking to improve efficiency, strengthen revenue collection and manage increasingly complex electricity networks.

Sivi Moodley, chief executive officer, emphasised the importance of integrating AI and predictive analytics into energy management, arguing that the technology can help municipalities and private enterprises optimise energy consumption while securing revenue.

The focus reflects a broader shift in the utilities market, where large volumes of data from smart meters, network equipment and customers are creating opportunities for organisations to make faster and more informed operational decisions.

### Smart meters become the eyes of the grid

Advanced metering infrastructure emerged as one of the most immediate applications of AI-driven utility technology.

Eskom has deployed more than two million smart meters, generating continuous streams of operational data. At Enlit Africa, utility executives highlighted the growing importance of turning that data into actionable intelligence as rooftop solar, electric vehicles and other distributed energy resources introduce greater complexity into electricity networks.

AI can help utilities identify consumption patterns, detect abnormalities and improve demand forecasting. For municipalities, the technology also offers potential benefits in identifying losses and improving revenue management.

### Intelligent substations target manual processes

Huawei showcased its Intelligent Power Substation Solution for Sub-Saharan Africa, combining intelligent video, AI algorithms and secure wireless networks to automate monitoring, inspection, meter reading and analysis.

The deployment illustrates how AI is moving closer to physical electricity infrastructure rather than remaining confined to analytics platforms.

For African utilities managing geographically dispersed networks, automation could reduce the time required to inspect infrastructure and identify abnormal conditions while allowing technical teams to focus on higher-value interventions.

### Predictive analytics and the revenue equation

Moodley's emphasis on predictive analytics also underlines an important commercial dimension of the AI transition.

Energy optimisation is not only about reducing electricity consumption. For municipalities and private-sector utilities, better visibility of consumption can help improve billing accuracy, identify potential losses and protect revenue.

Predictive systems can analyse historical and real-time data to anticipate demand, identify unusual consumption patterns and support preventative maintenance before equipment failures become costly outages.

This creates a direct link between digitalisation and financial performance: the more accurately an organisation understands how energy is being consumed, the greater its ability to manage costs and protect revenue.

### Grid protection gets a digital upgrade

AI and digitalisation are also changing grid protection.

Modern protection systems can provide information across much larger geographical areas and in much shorter timeframes than traditional systems. Such visibility creates the possibility of wide-area protection, where an event in one part of the network can inform a protection decision elsewhere.

This becomes increasingly important as African electricity systems become more interconnected and incorporate larger amounts of distributed renewable generation.

### AI creates a new electricity challenge

The growth of AI is simultaneously creating additional demand for electricity.

The expansion of data centres and AI infrastructure is expected to become an increasingly important new load for African power systems, creating pressure for reliable generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.

This gives utilities a dual role in the AI economy: deploying artificial intelligence to make their own operations smarter while preparing networks to supply the additional electricity required by AI-driven businesses.

### From technology showcase to business imperative

The significance of Enlit Africa 2026 was therefore less about demonstrating that AI can be used in utilities and more about showing how it can be connected to measurable operational and commercial outcomes.

Smart meters are generating continuous streams of data. Predictive analytics can turn that information into forecasts and warnings, while intelligent substations can automate monitoring and inspection.

For municipalities and private enterprises, the opportunity extends beyond operational efficiency. As Moodley highlighted, AI can help organisations optimise energy consumption while strengthening the systems used to secure revenue.

The next challenge is scaling these deployments across Africa's fragmented and often ageing electricity infrastructure.

Utilities will still need to address data quality, cybersecurity, skills, legacy systems and investment. But the direction emerging from Enlit Africa 2026 is clear: the future smart utility will depend not only on generating and distributing electricity, but on its ability to understand its data and act on it in real time.
### Hollywoodbets ramps up August promotions across betting, casino and sport
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/hollywoodbets-ramps-up-august-promotions-across-betting-casino-and-sport/
Last updated: 2026-08-14T09:17:53.000Z
South African betting operator Hollywoodbets is stepping up its promotional activity in August, rolling out campaigns across online gaming, sports betting and live sporting events as competition for customers intensifies in the country's gambling market.

The operator's August programme spans its Spina Zonke gaming platform, casino products and sports-related campaigns, with incentives including free spins, betting vouchers, cash prizes and match-day experiences.

Among the promotions is the Spina Zonke Mystery Parcel, which runs on Sundays and Wednesdays through August 30\. Customers can qualify for rewards including free spins and bonus funds, according to Hollywoodbets' promotional terms.

The company is also using sport to deepen customer engagement, with promotions linked to rugby and cricket.

At Hollywoodbets Kingsmead on Aug. 16, spectators attending the Hollywoodbets Dolphins-Sharks FIN Cup T20 match can participate in a one-handed catch competition carrying a potential R50,000 cash prize.

The promotional push comes as South Africa's online betting market becomes increasingly competitive, with operators seeking to attract and retain customers through mobile platforms, casino products, sports sponsorships and rewards.

Hollywoodbets has built a substantial sports footprint through sponsorships and naming-rights deals, including its association with the Durban July and other major sporting properties.

Its wider business strategy also increasingly combines betting, gaming and entertainment, allowing the company to use its sports partnerships as a channel for customer engagement across its digital platforms.

But the promotional expansion comes against growing attention on responsible gambling.

Hollywoodbets says it is “committed to ensuring a safe and responsible gambling environment”, adding that its responsible-gambling initiatives are aimed at empowering customers to make informed choices.

The operator also warns customers that gambling can be addictive and says no person under 18 is permitted to gamble.

The company has previously described its responsible-gambling work as including access to information on the warning signs of problem gambling and resources for customers who need assistance.

For Hollywoodbets, the August campaign represents another effort to turn its extensive sporting presence into digital customer engagement while broadening its appeal across betting and online gaming.

The approach reflects the increasingly competitive nature of South Africa's gambling industry, where operators are investing heavily in digital products, sponsorships and promotional campaigns to maintain market share.
### Telkom puts voice back at the centre of its data strategy
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/telkom-puts-voice-back-at-the-centre-of-its-data-strategy/
Last updated: 2026-08-24T17:03:22.000Z
**By Tsaone Segaetsho**

Telkom is sharpening its prepaid offering with a new push around voice bundles under its **“Data Talks”** campaign, seeking to give customers more flexibility as the boundary between traditional voice calls and data-based communication continues to blur.

The campaign positions connectivity as more than simply having gigabytes available for browsing, with Telkom combining data-led services with voice benefits aimed at customers who still rely on conventional calls.

Telkom’s current prepaid portfolio includes all-network voice bundles ranging from **10 to 1,000 minutes**, while its WhatsApp-plus-voice products combine messaging, voice and video calling with all-network minutes. The latter are available across daily, weekly and monthly validity periods.

The strategy comes as South Africa’s mobile market becomes increasingly competitive, with operators under pressure to offer customers more value while protecting revenue from traditional voice services.

For Telkom, the “Data Talks” proposition is therefore less about treating voice and data as separate products and more about presenting connectivity as a single service — whether customers are making a conventional call, sending a WhatsApp message or making an internet-based voice or video call.

The company’s broader prepaid portfolio continues to span short-term and longer-duration data products, giving customers the option to match bundles to their usage patterns.

The new voice push could help Telkom strengthen its position among price-conscious prepaid users, particularly those looking for predictable spending and all-network connectivity.

*Exact launch prices and minute allocations should be inserted from Telkom’s campaign tariff sheet before publication.*
### September Deadline Puts South Africa’s AI Policy Under the Microscope
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/september-deadline-puts-south-africas-ai-policy-under-the-microscope/
Last updated: 2026-08-13T12:18:11.000Z
*Seven-member specialist panel tasked with delivering a revised artificial intelligence policy draft to Minister Solly Malatsi*

**By Tsaone Segaetsho**

By September 2026, South Africa’s AI policy process is expected to reach a key milestone, with a seven-member specialist panel working to produce a consolidated draft for the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies.

The panel’s appointment aims to move the country from consultation to a clearer national framework for governing artificial intelligence.

The timing is critical as AI adoption accelerates across business, government, and education, while global policymakers grapple with issues like data use, transparency, accountability, and job impacts.

South Africa faces a dual challenge: enabling innovation and investment while ensuring safeguards keep pace with rapid AI deployment.

The panel is expected to do more than edit existing inputs. Its mandate is to produce a clean, revised policy draft that consolidates competing proposals and recommendations.

## From consultation to implementation

The next phase of AI policy is practical: defining accountability for automated systems, data protection rules, transparency requirements, and how government should use AI.

It must also balance opportunity and risk, as AI could boost efficiency and innovation but also disrupt jobs and widen inequality if access to skills and infrastructure remains uneven.

The draft will be closely watched by industry, government, and civil society.

## Why the September deadline matters

A finalised draft would give government a shared reference point for regulation and provide certainty for companies investing in AI.

Startups need clarity to scale, while larger firms require predictable rules on data and system use. Government agencies also need consistent principles for deploying AI in public services.

## The balancing act

The panel must avoid both overregulation, which could stifle innovation, and weak rules, which could undermine accountability and trust.

It must also align South Africa’s approach with global developments, including stricter EU regulation and emerging African frameworks, without simply copying them.

## A policy test for the AI economy

The success of the September draft will depend on whether it turns broad principles into a workable framework.

As AI reshapes industries and public services, the panel’s work could mark South Africa’s shift from debating AI to formally defining how it will be governed.
### The Tesla Pi Phone: How a tech fantasy became an internet farce
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/the-tesla-pi-phone-how-a-tech-fantasy-became-an-internet-farce/
Last updated: 2026-08-13T05:40:22.000Z
Viral claims about a futuristic Tesla smartphone expose a growing problem in the technology age — where speculation, AI-generated images and clickbait can look remarkably like news The Tesla Pi Phone does not exist. Yet across social media, technology blogs and video platforms, it has been presented as though it were the next major product from Elon Musk's technology empire. For years, the internet has been flooded with claims that Tesla is preparing a smartphone — variously called the Tesla Pi, Model Pi or Tesla Phone — capable of connecting directly to Starlink satellites, charging from sunlight, controlling Tesla vehicles and even interacting with Neuralink. There is just one problem: Tesla has never officially announced such a device. The story is a striking example of how technology misinformation has evolved. Unlike traditional hoaxes, today's technology rumours often arrive wrapped in convincing product photographs, elaborate specifications, purported launch prices and polished videos that make fictional products appear almost ready for the shelves. The Tesla Pi Phone has become one of the most persistent examples. From speculation to supposed product The idea of a Tesla smartphone is not entirely absurd. Musk controls companies involved in electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, satellite communications and space technology. Tesla vehicles are highly connected, while SpaceX's Starlink network is increasingly moving into mobile communications. That technological convergence has provided fertile ground for speculation. Online posts have claimed that a Tesla phone would use Starlink for global internet access, operate without conventional mobile networks, feature solar charging and integrate with Tesla vehicles. Some versions have even assigned the imaginary phone a specific price and release date. But none of those claims amount to a Tesla product announcement. Musk has previously dismissed the idea of Tesla developing a phone, although he has suggested that circumstances could theoretically change if Apple or Google imposed severe restrictions on Tesla's access to their platforms. That distinction is important. Discussing a hypothetical product is not the same as developing one. The AI-powered rumour machine The Tesla Pi story also illustrates a broader challenge confronting the technology industry: artificial intelligence has dramatically lowered the cost of manufacturing convincing misinformation. A decade ago, a fake product story might have required crude Photoshop work and a poorly written blog post. Today, generative AI can produce a sophisticated-looking smartphone, a fictional specification sheet, a promotional video and a persuasive voice-over within minutes. The result is an information environment in which consumers increasingly struggle to distinguish between an official product announcement and an imaginative rendering. The Tesla Pi Phone fits perfectly into this ecosystem. A futuristic-looking handset appears on a social-media feed. A headline announces a price of $789\. A video claims the device is “finally launching”. Another website repeats the claim. Soon, repetition itself begins to look like confirmation. It isn't. Why the story keeps coming back The durability of the Tesla phone rumour says as much about the internet economy as it does about Tesla. Tesla is one of the world's most recognisable technology brands, while Musk has cultivated an enormous online following. Any suggestion of a new Tesla product is therefore highly clickable. A fictional phone can generate advertising revenue, social-media engagement and YouTube views even when there is no underlying product. The economics are simple: attention is valuable, and technology rumours attract attention. That creates an incentive for publishers and content creators to turn speculation into apparent fact. Starlink adds fuel to the fire The expansion of Starlink's mobile connectivity has made the Tesla-phone narrative even more believable
### Tiktok owner ByteDance takes AI arms race to trillion-parameter scale
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/tiktok-owner-bytedance-takes-ai-arms-race-to-trillion-parameter-scale/
Last updated: 2026-08-12T18:44:41.000Z
TikTok owner bets on massive new model as China’s technology groups race to close the gap with US AI leaders ByteDance, the Chinese technology group behind TikTok, is escalating its artificial-intelligence ambitions with plans to train a model on a scale that could reshape the competitive landscape between China and the US. The company is reportedly working towards an AI model with as many as 10-trillion parameters, according to the Financial Times, putting ByteDance among the technology companies pursuing the most resource-intensive systems in the rapidly expanding AI industry. The move represents a significant shift for ByteDance, whose global success has largely been built around TikTok and its recommendation algorithms. AI is increasingly becoming a strategic business in its own right, with the company investing heavily in foundation models, generative video, image creation and AI agents. ByteDance's AI research is being driven by its Seed division, which has emerged as one of China's more prominent AI research operations. The company has been releasing increasingly sophisticated models while competing with Chinese rivals such as Alibaba, Tencent and DeepSeek, as well as US technology companies including OpenAI, Google, Meta and Anthropic. The scale of ByteDance's latest project illustrates the enormous computing requirements of the AI race. Training frontier models requires vast amounts of advanced processors, data-centre capacity and electricity, turning access to computing infrastructure into a strategic business issue. For Chinese technology companies, that challenge has been compounded by US restrictions on exports of advanced AI chips to China. Those restrictions have forced companies to find ways of extracting greater performance from available hardware while developing domestic alternatives. The result has been a parallel race in China to improve model efficiency and reduce the amount of computing power required to deliver increasingly capable AI systems. ByteDance's strategy is particularly significant because of its access to one of the world's largest digital consumer ecosystems. The company can potentially deploy its AI technology across TikTok, advertising, search, e-commerce, content creation and other services, giving it multiple routes to monetise the substantial investment required to develop frontier models. Its Seed division has already moved aggressively into generative video. ByteDance's Seedance technology is aimed at producing increasingly sophisticated video content from text, images and other inputs, positioning the company to compete in one of the most commercially promising areas of generative AI. The company is also reportedly encouraging researchers to develop its models independently rather than relying heavily on techniques that allow smaller systems to learn from competing AI models. That reflects a broader change in the AI market. The competitive advantage is shifting from simply having access to generative AI tools to owning the underlying models, computing infrastructure and research capabilities. For ByteDance, the investment carries substantial financial and strategic risks. The cost of training and operating frontier models is rising even as competition pushes down the price of AI services. Companies must therefore demonstrate that increasingly expensive models can generate sufficient revenue through advertising, subscriptions, enterprise services, cloud infrastructure or AI-powered consumer products. ByteDance has one advantage that many AI start-ups lack: scale. Its experience processing enormous volumes of consumer data and operating algorithm-driven platforms provides a potentially powerful foundation for deploying AI products to hundreds of millions of users. But the company is also operating under intense geopolitical pressure. TikTok's future in the US remains politically sensitive, while Washington's restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports continue to complicate the ability of Chinese technology companies to access the latest AI hardware. ByteDance's AI investment therefore sits at the intersection of two races — a commercial battle for leadership in generative AI and a broader technological contest between China and the US. The company that succeeds will not necessarily be the one with the largest model. Increasingly, the advantage may belong to companies that can combine powerful models with affordable computing, proprietary data, distribution and commercially viable applications. ByteDance is betting that its experience building TikTok's recommendation engine gives it a head start. The next test will be whether it can turn that algorithmic advantage into a profitable AI business capable of competing at the global frontier.
### ZARU puts the rand on-chain as regulation tests its business case
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/zaru-puts-the-rand-on-chain-as-regulation-tests-its-business-case/
Last updated: 2026-08-12T18:40:03.000Z
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s digital-asset market has gained a new rand-to-dollar trading route, but the timing could prove challenging for the businesses ZARU is targeting. BlockTower, the issuer of the rand-backed ZARU stablecoin, announced that Luno has listed ZARU/USDT and ZARU/USDC, giving the rand a continuous order-book market against major dollar stablecoins. The pairs are initially available to customers in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda. For businesses, the significance goes beyond cryptocurrency trading. BlockTower is positioning ZARU as infrastructure for corporate treasuries, trading desks and cross-border payments, allowing rand-denominated value to move on blockchain rails around the clock. But South Africa’s evolving exchange-control framework could limit that opportunity. A draft Crypto Asset Manual published by National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank on 3 August proposes restrictions on resident companies conducting certain cross-border crypto transactions. That creates a regulatory tension: the market infrastructure is becoming more sophisticated just as the rules governing its use are being tightened. ZARU’s market maker, Currency Hub, will provide two-way liquidity for the new trading pairs, while ZARU reserves are managed by Sanlam Specialised Asset Management and independently attested monthly. The bigger test now is whether South African companies will be allowed to use this emerging digital FX infrastructure for international trade and treasury management — or whether regulation will confine the rand stablecoin largely to the domestic market.
### Philippi East: Can technology turn a crime hotspot into an industrial lifeline?
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/philippi-east-can-technology-turn-a-crime-hotspot-into-an-industrial-lifeline/
Last updated: 2026-08-11T07:53:17.000Z
*The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry is betting that surveillance technology, business collaboration and stronger public-private partnerships can help reclaim Philippi East’s industrial economy from crime — but the experiment raises bigger questions about policing, inequality and who gets to feel safe in Cape Town.*

By Staff Reporter

For decades, Philippi East has occupied an uncomfortable position in Cape Town’s economic geography: strategically located, surrounded by major transport routes and close to the airport, yet burdened by poverty, inadequate infrastructure and persistent crime.

Now the area’s business community is attempting something different.

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry has established the Philippi East Industrial Chapter, bringing businesses together in an attempt to make the industrial area safer, more functional and attractive to investment.

The chapter grew out of the former WOSA Philippi Business Association, which represented 19 of roughly 37 businesses in the area. The Chamber says the industrial and commercial zone has existed for more than 70 years, with its proximity to major roads, the airport and a large potential workforce making it an area with significant economic potential.

But potential is not enough.

For businesses operating in Philippi East, security has become an economic issue as much as a policing issue. Crime affects employees travelling to work, the movement of goods, customers, operating hours and ultimately the willingness of companies to invest.

The challenge is broader than the industrial properties themselves. Philippi is surrounded by communities facing high levels of unemployment, poverty and inadequate services, while gang violence and extortion have repeatedly disrupted economic and public life.

The Mail & Guardian has previously reported on how crime and extortion in Philippi have affected businesses and even prevented municipal workers from entering parts of the area.

Against this backdrop, the Chamber’s latest intervention is placing technology at the centre of its strategy.

A high-tech response to an old problem

Through the “From Fear to Flourish” initiative, the Chamber is working with Business Against Crime and other stakeholders to introduce a technology-driven approach to policing and crime prevention.

Artificial intelligence-assisted facial recognition and automatic number plate recognition systems have been deployed in the Philippi East industrial area. The systems are intended to support policing operations by identifying vehicles and people of interest and allowing information to be shared more rapidly between stakeholders.

The project has also incorporated drone surveillance, including aerial monitoring using thermal imaging.

At the centre of the initiative is a control-room model intended to bring together CCTV feeds, intelligence, analytics and operational responses. The project team has also committed to establishing a “Fusion Centre” where information can be shared between different agencies and stakeholders in real time.

It represents a significant shift in the way business-led crime prevention is being approached.

Instead of relying exclusively on conventional patrols and reactive policing, the initiative seeks to build an information network in which technology identifies threats and helps direct human intervention.

But technology cannot, by itself, fix a broken urban environment.

The geography of insecurity

The industrial area’s location should make it an obvious candidate for investment.

City planning documents have identified Philippi’s proximity to the Cape Town International Airport, the N2, R300, Sheffield Road and Govan Mbeki Road as important economic advantages. The area also contains industrial land with development potential.

Yet the same planning documents acknowledge the contradiction at the heart of Philippi’s development story.

Crime, poor infrastructure, inadequate lighting, illegal dumping and weak urban management have contributed to the area’s reputation as a difficult place in which to operate.

That creates a vicious cycle.

Crime discourages investment. A lack of investment limits employment opportunities. Poor economic conditions contribute to social instability. And instability makes it harder to attract the businesses and infrastructure capable of transforming the area.

The Chamber’s approach therefore extends beyond cameras and surveillance.

Its stated priorities include bringing government and other stakeholders together, improving roads, supporting business retention and expansion, and connecting local businesses to wider regional and value-chain development initiatives.

The numbers tell another story

The latest available crime data suggest that there has been some movement in the right direction, although the situation remains severe.

The Philippi East police precinct recorded 3,543 reported crimes between April 2025 and March 2026 — a 7.4% decline compared with the previous year. Murder declined by 14.7%, while aggravated robbery fell substantially.

But the absolute numbers remain troubling.

The precinct recorded 197 murders during the period, while aggravated robbery accounted for 642 cases and drug-related crime for 716.

A reduction in crime does not necessarily translate into a perception of safety for residents, workers or businesses. For companies deciding whether to expand, perceptions of risk can matter almost as much as the statistics.

That is why the Philippi East experiment is significant.

If the technology-led model can demonstrate that faster detection, better intelligence and coordinated responses produce measurable improvements, it could offer a template for other industrial areas struggling with crime.

From cameras to economic recovery

The Chamber and its partners describe Philippi East as a proof-of-concept project.

The objective is not simply to install surveillance equipment but to build a model that can eventually be replicated elsewhere.

The project team has said it intends to measure system alerts, response times, interventions and arrests linked to verified triggers. This evidence could eventually be used to determine whether the investment produces tangible crime-prevention results.

That emphasis on measurement is important.

South Africa has no shortage of security initiatives. What is often missing is a clear assessment of which interventions actually reduce crime, improve response times and restore public confidence.

Philippi East provides an opportunity to test that proposition.

But it also presents a warning.

A sophisticated surveillance system cannot substitute for functioning public institutions, adequate policing, reliable municipal services, good roads, lighting and meaningful economic opportunities.

Nor can industrial security be separated from the communities surrounding the factories and warehouses.

Workers do not disappear when they leave the industrial zone. Neither do the social conditions that produce vulnerability to crime.

A test of public-private policing

The most consequential aspect of the Philippi East initiative may therefore be less about facial recognition or drones than about cooperation.

The project brings together business, community stakeholders, SAPS, Business Against Crime and other partners in an attempt to create a shared response to a problem that no single institution has been able to solve.

That is both its strength and its greatest test.

Public-private security partnerships can bring resources, expertise and technology into areas where government capacity is stretched. But they must also remain accountable to the communities they are intended to protect.

The challenge is to ensure that Philippi East does not simply become an island of heavily protected businesses surrounded by communities that remain excluded from the benefits of economic development.

The real measure of success will be whether workers can travel safely to their jobs, whether businesses can operate without paying protection money, whether roads and public spaces become functional again, and whether investors begin to see Philippi East not as a risk but as an opportunity.

For now, the Cape Chamber’s message is clear: Philippi East cannot wait for crime to disappear before economic development begins.

The gamble is that economic activity, better urban management, community participation and technology-enabled policing can instead reinforce one another.

If that works, Philippi East could become more than a crime-prevention project.

It could become a test of whether Cape Town can reclaim an industrial economy from the conditions that have held it back for generations.

**By Staff Reporter**

For decades, Philippi East has occupied an uncomfortable position in Cape Town’s economic geography: strategically located, surrounded by major transport routes and close to the airport, yet burdened by poverty, inadequate infrastructure and persistent crime.

Now the area’s business community is attempting something different.

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry has established the Philippi East Industrial Chapter, bringing businesses together in an attempt to make the industrial area safer, more functional and attractive to investment.

The chapter grew out of the former WOSA Philippi Business Association, which represented 19 of roughly 37 businesses in the area. The Chamber says the industrial and commercial zone has existed for more than 70 years, with its proximity to major roads, the airport and a large potential workforce making it an area with significant economic potential.

But potential is not enough.

For businesses operating in Philippi East, security has become an economic issue as much as a policing issue. Crime affects employees travelling to work, the movement of goods, customers, operating hours and ultimately the willingness of companies to invest.

The challenge is broader than the industrial properties themselves. Philippi is surrounded by communities facing high levels of unemployment, poverty and inadequate services, while gang violence and extortion have repeatedly disrupted economic and public life.

The Mail & Guardian has previously reported on how crime and extortion in Philippi have affected businesses and even prevented municipal workers from entering parts of the area.

Against this backdrop, the Chamber’s latest intervention is placing technology at the centre of its strategy.

## A high-tech response to an old problem

Through the “From Fear to Flourish” initiative, the Chamber is working with Business Against Crime and other stakeholders to introduce a technology-driven approach to policing and crime prevention.

Artificial intelligence-assisted facial recognition and automatic number plate recognition systems have been deployed in the Philippi East industrial area. The systems are intended to support policing operations by identifying vehicles and people of interest and allowing information to be shared more rapidly between stakeholders.

The project has also incorporated drone surveillance, including aerial monitoring using thermal imaging.

At the centre of the initiative is a control-room model intended to bring together CCTV feeds, intelligence, analytics and operational responses. The project team has also committed to establishing a “Fusion Centre” where information can be shared between different agencies and stakeholders in real time.

It represents a significant shift in the way business-led crime prevention is being approached.

Instead of relying exclusively on conventional patrols and reactive policing, the initiative seeks to build an information network in which technology identifies threats and helps direct human intervention.

But technology cannot, by itself, fix a broken urban environment.

## The geography of insecurity

The industrial area’s location should make it an obvious candidate for investment.

City planning documents have identified Philippi’s proximity to the Cape Town International Airport, the N2, R300, Sheffield Road and Govan Mbeki Road as important economic advantages. The area also contains industrial land with development potential.

Yet the same planning documents acknowledge the contradiction at the heart of Philippi’s development story.

Crime, poor infrastructure, inadequate lighting, illegal dumping and weak urban management have contributed to the area’s reputation as a difficult place in which to operate.

That creates a vicious cycle.

Crime discourages investment. A lack of investment limits employment opportunities. Poor economic conditions contribute to social instability. And instability makes it harder to attract the businesses and infrastructure capable of transforming the area.

The Chamber’s approach therefore extends beyond cameras and surveillance.

Its stated priorities include bringing government and other stakeholders together, improving roads, supporting business retention and expansion, and connecting local businesses to wider regional and value-chain development initiatives.

## The numbers tell another story

The latest available crime data suggest that there has been some movement in the right direction, although the situation remains severe.

The Philippi East police precinct recorded 3,543 reported crimes between April 2025 and March 2026 — a 7.4% decline compared with the previous year. Murder declined by 14.7%, while aggravated robbery fell substantially.

But the absolute numbers remain troubling.

The precinct recorded 197 murders during the period, while aggravated robbery accounted for 642 cases and drug-related crime for 716.

A reduction in crime does not necessarily translate into a perception of safety for residents, workers or businesses. For companies deciding whether to expand, perceptions of risk can matter almost as much as the statistics.

That is why the Philippi East experiment is significant.

If the technology-led model can demonstrate that faster detection, better intelligence and coordinated responses produce measurable improvements, it could offer a template for other industrial areas struggling with crime.

## From cameras to economic recovery

The Chamber and its partners describe Philippi East as a proof-of-concept project.

The objective is not simply to install surveillance equipment but to build a model that can eventually be replicated elsewhere.

The project team has said it intends to measure system alerts, response times, interventions and arrests linked to verified triggers. This evidence could eventually be used to determine whether the investment produces tangible crime-prevention results.

That emphasis on measurement is important.

South Africa has no shortage of security initiatives. What is often missing is a clear assessment of which interventions actually reduce crime, improve response times and restore public confidence.

Philippi East provides an opportunity to test that proposition.

But it also presents a warning.

A sophisticated surveillance system cannot substitute for functioning public institutions, adequate policing, reliable municipal services, good roads, lighting and meaningful economic opportunities.

Nor can industrial security be separated from the communities surrounding the factories and warehouses.

Workers do not disappear when they leave the industrial zone. Neither do the social conditions that produce vulnerability to crime.

## A test of public-private policing

The most consequential aspect of the Philippi East initiative may therefore be less about facial recognition or drones than about cooperation.

The project brings together business, community stakeholders, SAPS, Business Against Crime and other partners in an attempt to create a shared response to a problem that no single institution has been able to solve.

That is both its strength and its greatest test.

Public-private security partnerships can bring resources, expertise and technology into areas where government capacity is stretched. But they must also remain accountable to the communities they are intended to protect.

The challenge is to ensure that Philippi East does not simply become an island of heavily protected businesses surrounded by communities that remain excluded from the benefits of economic development.

The real measure of success will be whether workers can travel safely to their jobs, whether businesses can operate without paying protection money, whether roads and public spaces become functional again, and whether investors begin to see Philippi East not as a risk but as an opportunity.

For now, the Cape Chamber’s message is clear: Philippi East cannot wait for crime to disappear before economic development begins.

The gamble is that economic activity, better urban management, community participation and technology-enabled policing can instead reinforce one another.

If that works, Philippi East could become more than a crime-prevention project.

It could become a test of whether Cape Town can reclaim an industrial economy from the conditions that have held it back for generations.
### Samsung’s Foldable Revolution Enters a New Era
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/samsungs-foldable-revolution-enters-a-new-era/
Last updated: 2026-08-11T07:53:07.000Z
Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra leads a powerful trio, while the Fold8 offers a lighter approach and the Flip8 makes the flip phone smarter

By Technology Desk

Samsung has once again put foldable phones at the centre of the smartphone conversation, unveiling a three-device Galaxy Z range that attempts to answer three very different questions: How much technology can fit into a foldable? How practical can a large folding phone become? And can the traditional flip phone still feel exciting in 2026?

The answer comes in the form of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8.

With the devices now on sale following their global launch, Samsung is no longer treating foldables as experimental luxury gadgets. The company is positioning them as serious alternatives to conventional flagship smartphones.

And, after looking closely at the three models, there is a clear hierarchy.

The Fold8 Ultra is the technological heavyweight, the Fold8 is arguably the most balanced of the three, while the Flip8 remains the fashion-conscious choice for consumers who value portability and personality.

Fold8 Ultra: Samsung throws everything at the problem

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the headline act.

Open the device and users are greeted by an enormous 8-inch main display, paired with a 6.5-inch cover screen. Samsung has also managed to make the Ultra considerably thinner, measuring just 4.1mm when unfolded and weighing 215 grams.

That is important because the biggest criticism of foldable phones has traditionally been their size and weight.

Samsung appears determined to eliminate that objection.

The Ultra's large display is not merely a gimmick. It transforms the handset into something approaching a miniature tablet, particularly when running several applications simultaneously. Documents, video calls, email, spreadsheets and web pages all benefit from the additional screen real estate.

Samsung has also upgraded the camera system substantially. The Ultra carries a 200-megapixel main camera alongside a 50MP ultra-wide camera and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.

The battery receives another major upgrade, with a 5,000mAh capacity and 45W wired charging. Samsung has also expanded the cooling system to help the processor cope with demanding workloads.

The verdict

The Fold8 Ultra is impressive, but its greatest strength is not any single specification.

It is the combination of a huge screen, flagship processing power, improved cameras and a thinner body that makes the Ultra feel like a genuine mobile workstation.

There is, however, a catch: this is an expensive phone, and reviewers have noted that the Ultra branding promises more than the device delivers in some areas compared with Samsung's conventional Ultra flagship.

Rating: 4.5/5

---

Galaxy Z Fold8: The sensible foldable

If the Ultra is Samsung showing off, the standard Galaxy Z Fold8 is Samsung thinking practically.

At 201 grams, the Fold8 is the lightest Galaxy Z Fold Samsung has produced. It features a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch internal screen, giving users a considerably larger workspace when the device is opened.

That reduction in weight makes a difference.

The Fold8 feels less like carrying a small tablet in your pocket and more like carrying an unusually versatile smartphone.

Inside is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, supported by either 12GB or 16GB of RAM depending on configuration. The phone also has a 4,800mAh battery.

Samsung has clearly concentrated on usability.

The wider display proportions make reading, browsing and watching videos more comfortable, while the large internal screen provides plenty of room for multitasking.

For consumers who have always been intrigued by foldables but worried that they were too bulky, this could be the model that changes their minds.

The verdict

The Fold8 does not have the camera bragging rights of the Ultra, nor does it attempt to.

Instead, it makes a persuasive argument that the best foldable may be the one that users can comfortably carry every day.

Rating: 4.7/5

---

Galaxy Z Flip8: Small phone, big personality

Then there is the Galaxy Z Flip8.

Unlike the Fold models, the Flip8 is not trying to replace a tablet. Its mission is much simpler: take a full-sized smartphone and make it dramatically smaller when you are not using it.

The phone folds into a compact square, making it particularly attractive to consumers who dislike increasingly large smartphones.

Samsung has upgraded the Flip8 with a 6.9-inch internal display and a 4.1-inch FlexWindow cover display.

The result is a device that is as much about convenience and style as it is about raw specifications.

The cover screen becomes increasingly useful for checking notifications, controlling functions and interacting with the phone without opening it.

Samsung is also pushing artificial intelligence and photography features, including tools designed to make taking and editing photographs easier.

For younger consumers and social-media users, the Flip8 arguably has the strongest personality of the three.

It is not the most powerful phone in Samsung's foldable family.

It does not need to be.

Its appeal lies in the experience.

The verdict

The Flip8 remains the fun one.

It is compact, distinctive and considerably easier to slip into a pocket than a conventional large-screen flagship.

For users who want a foldable primarily because it is enjoyable to use rather than because they need a mobile productivity machine, the Flip8 is the obvious choice.

Rating: 4.4/5

---

The bigger picture

Samsung's 2026 foldable strategy is perhaps more interesting than any individual specification.

The company has effectively divided the market into three groups.

The Fold8 Ultra is for professionals and power users.

The Fold8 is for consumers who want productivity without carrying the biggest possible foldable.

The Flip8 is for users who want portability, style and a more playful smartphone experience.

That approach makes sense.

Instead of attempting to convince everyone that they need the same type of foldable, Samsung is giving consumers different reasons to make the switch.

There are still compromises. Foldables remain more expensive than many conventional smartphones, and durability, battery life and the long-term reliability of moving components remain considerations for buyers.

But Samsung's latest generation demonstrates just how far the technology has progressed.

The crease is less distracting, the bodies are thinner, the displays are brighter and the software is increasingly designed around flexible screens rather than simply adapting conventional smartphone applications.

Final verdict

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the technological showcase — ambitious, powerful and designed for people who want the most capable foldable Samsung makes.

The Galaxy Z Fold8, however, may be the star of the range. Its lighter design and large screens strike a compelling balance between smartphone convenience and tablet-style productivity.

And the Galaxy Z Flip8 remains the most accessible expression of the foldable idea: stylish, compact and genuinely different.

Samsung's message with the Galaxy Z8 generation is clear: foldable phones are no longer a futuristic curiosity.

They are becoming mainstream smartphones — just with a hinge.

Overall verdict: Samsung's most convincing foldable generation yet.
### Ramaphosa: Africa Must Shape the Future of Cloud and AI
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/ramaphosa-africa-must-shape-the-future-of-cloud-and-ai/
Last updated: 2026-08-11T07:52:54.000Z
### President tells inaugural Google Cloud Summit in Johannesburg that the continent can no longer afford to play “digital catch-up” as technology reshapes economies

**JOHANNESBURG —** President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africa and the rest of the African continent to take a leading role in the global digital economy, saying cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) will be among the defining forces shaping economic growth in the 21st century.

Addressing the inaugural Google Cloud Summit in Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said the gathering was about more than technology, arguing that it was an opportunity to determine where Africa positions itself in a rapidly changing global economy.

“Today is about far more than a technology conference,” Ramaphosa said. “It is about where Africa chooses to position itself in the defining technological revolution of our lifetime.”

The summit, held under the theme **“Google Cloud is building for Africa”**, brought together government leaders, technology innovators, business executives and industry experts to discuss the growing role of cloud computing, AI and digital transformation on the continent.

More than 2,500 business leaders, developers, public-sector representatives and partners attended the event, according to Google Cloud. The summit also saw the announcement of a number of new initiatives covering AI research, digital skills, start-up funding, infrastructure and connectivity.

## Africa moving beyond ‘digital catch-up’

Ramaphosa used his address to challenge the long-standing perception of Africa as a continent that primarily consumes technology developed elsewhere.

He said Africa was increasingly becoming a place where new digital solutions are developed, tested and scaled.

“Africa is no longer simply adopting technologies developed elsewhere,” the President said. “We are becoming a place where new digital solutions are imagined, tested and scaled.”

The comments come as governments and businesses across the continent increasingly turn to AI and cloud-based services to improve productivity, expand access to services and develop new digital products.

Ramaphosa compared the importance of cloud computing and AI to earlier technological breakthroughs that transformed economies.

“Railways powered the Industrial Revolution. Electricity powered the twentieth century. Cloud computing and artificial intelligence will power the economies of the twenty-first century,” he said.

For South Africa, the President's remarks form part of a broader government drive to position digitisation alongside investment, economic diversification and decarbonisation as key pillars of economic development.

## Investment and digital infrastructure

The Google Cloud Summit also carried significant investment implications for South Africa.

The Presidency said Google's investment announcements were intended to support the country's investment mobilisation drive, advance the government's Digital Public Infrastructure agenda and strengthen cooperation around AI skills development and national policy across sub-Saharan Africa.

The developments come after Ramaphosa launched a second Presidential investment mobilisation drive targeting **R2 trillion in new investment between 2026 and 2030**.

The government has identified digitisation as one of the key areas through which South Africa can attract investment, improve competitiveness and strengthen the country's position in the global economy.

Google Cloud's presence in South Africa has also expanded, following the launch of its Johannesburg Cloud Region in 2025\. The company said the new summit builds on that investment and is aimed at supporting Africa's growing digital economy.

## Skills remain critical

While celebrating the opportunities presented by AI and cloud technology, Ramaphosa also stressed the importance of ensuring that Africans have the skills required to participate in the digital economy.

The rapid development of AI is expected to change the nature of work across multiple industries, increasing demand for workers with digital, technical and analytical skills.

For South Africa, where youth unemployment remains a major economic challenge, digital skills development could play an important role in creating pathways into emerging industries.

The summit therefore placed considerable emphasis on AI skilling, innovation and partnerships between government, industry and technology companies.

The government's approach is increasingly centred on the idea that investment in technology must be accompanied by investment in people.

## A new opportunity for South Africa

The President's appearance at the summit also highlighted the growing relationship between government and the technology sector.

The event brought together senior government officials, including Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela and Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele, as well as Google's senior leadership and representatives from across Africa.

For South Africa, hosting the first Google Cloud Summit on the African continent represents an opportunity to showcase the country's technology ecosystem while attracting further investment into cloud infrastructure and AI.

Google Cloud has described Africa as a growing market for its technology, with the company announcing new initiatives aimed at strengthening the continent's digital infrastructure and AI capabilities.

Ramaphosa said Africa should not simply wait for the digital revolution to arrive.

“We intend to help shape it,” he told delegates.

That message is likely to remain central to South Africa's digital policy as government and industry grapple with the opportunities — and challenges — presented by artificial intelligence.

The challenge now is to translate major technology investments and ambitious policy commitments into tangible benefits for ordinary South Africans: better public services, stronger businesses, new jobs and wider access to the digital economy.

For Ramaphosa, the Google Cloud Summit was therefore not simply about showcasing the latest technology. It was about making the case that Africa can become a participant — and ultimately a shaper — of the next global technological transformation.
### How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Banking
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/how-artificial-intelligence-is-transforming-banking/
Last updated: 2026-08-05T19:29:11.000Z
How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Banking
### Technology Is Driving a New Era for the Mining Industry
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/technology-is-driving-a-new-era-for-the-mining-industry/
Last updated: 2026-08-05T19:27:42.000Z
### **1\. AI Is Reshaping the Future of Business Technology** *(\~200 words)*

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most influential technologies in modern business. From automating repetitive tasks to generating valuable insights from vast amounts of data, AI is enabling organisations to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. Companies across industries are adopting AI-powered solutions to improve customer service, strengthen decision-making, and reduce operational costs.

Generative AI has accelerated innovation by helping businesses create content, analyse documents, write software, and streamline internal processes. At the same time, predictive AI is helping organisations forecast demand, detect risks, and optimise supply chains with greater accuracy than ever before.

However, successful AI adoption requires more than implementing new software. Businesses must invest in data quality, cybersecurity, employee training, and responsible governance to ensure AI systems remain ethical, transparent, and secure. Human oversight continues to play a vital role in building trust and maintaining accountability.

As AI technology continues to evolve, organisations that embrace innovation while maintaining strong governance will be best positioned to remain competitive. Rather than replacing people, AI is increasingly becoming a powerful tool that enhances human capabilities, allowing employees to focus on strategic thinking, creativity, and solving complex business challenges.

---

## **2\. How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Banking** *(\~200 words)*

Artificial intelligence is changing the way banks operate and how customers experience financial services. Financial institutions are increasingly using AI to improve efficiency, strengthen security, and deliver more personalised banking experiences. From intelligent chatbots to fraud detection systems, AI has become an essential part of the modern banking landscape.

One of AI's greatest strengths is its ability to analyse enormous volumes of financial transactions in real time. This enables banks to identify suspicious activity quickly, helping prevent fraud before significant losses occur. Machine learning models also assist with credit scoring, allowing lenders to make faster and more accurate lending decisions based on a wider range of financial indicators.

Customers are also benefiting from AI-powered virtual assistants that provide instant support, personalised financial recommendations, and automated account management around the clock. These tools improve convenience while reducing pressure on customer service teams.

Despite these advantages, responsible AI remains critical. Banks must ensure customer data is protected, algorithms remain transparent, and regulatory requirements are met. Maintaining public trust is just as important as technological advancement.

As digital banking continues to expand, AI will play an even greater role in creating secure, efficient, and customer-focused financial services that support both institutions and consumers in an increasingly digital economy.

---

## **3\. Technology Is Driving a New Era for the Mining Industry** *(\~200 words)*

Technology is transforming the mining industry by improving safety, increasing productivity, and supporting more sustainable operations. Mining companies are investing heavily in digital innovation to meet growing global demand while reducing environmental impact and operational costs.

Artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced analytics are now helping mining companies optimise exploration, equipment maintenance, and production planning. AI-powered predictive maintenance systems can identify potential equipment failures before they occur, reducing costly downtime and improving operational efficiency.

Automation is also changing how mines operate. Autonomous trucks, drilling equipment, and remote-controlled machinery are allowing companies to improve worker safety by reducing the need for employees to operate in hazardous environments. Meanwhile, drones and satellite imaging are providing more accurate geological surveys, helping companies identify valuable mineral deposits with greater precision.

Data has become one of mining's most valuable assets. Real-time monitoring systems allow operators to track equipment performance, energy consumption, and environmental conditions, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.

As the industry moves toward smarter and greener operations, digital technologies will continue to play a central role in improving efficiency, strengthening sustainability, and enhancing workplace safety. Mining companies that embrace innovation today will be better equipped to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven global market.
### AI Is Reshaping the Future of Business Technology
URL: https://www.techinsightsafrica.com/ai-is-reshaping-the-future-of-business-technology/
Last updated: 2026-08-05T19:25:19.000Z
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most influential technologies in modern business. From automating repetitive tasks to generating valuable insights from vast amounts of data, AI is enabling organisations to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. Companies across industries are adopting AI-powered solutions to improve customer service, strengthen decision-making, and reduce operational costs.

Generative AI has accelerated innovation by helping businesses create content, analyse documents, write software, and streamline internal processes. At the same time, predictive AI is helping organisations forecast demand, detect risks, and optimise supply chains with greater accuracy than ever before.

However, successful AI adoption requires more than implementing new software. Businesses must invest in data quality, cybersecurity, employee training, and responsible governance to ensure AI systems remain ethical, transparent, and secure. Human oversight continues to play a vital role in building trust and maintaining accountability.

As AI technology continues to evolve, organisations that embrace innovation while maintaining strong governance will be best positioned to remain competitive. Rather than replacing people, AI is increasingly becoming a powerful tool that enhances human capabilities, allowing employees to focus on strategic thinking, creativity, and solving complex business challenges.