Southern Africa
24 Million South Africans at Risk After Experian Hack
South Africa has just been hit a major data breach that may have put the personal information of as many as 24 million South Africans at risk. This information could include First and last names, ID numbers, Telephone numbers, Physical addresses and Email addresses. Experian South Africa – business and credit information services agency – has confirmed that “an individual in South Africa, purporting to represent a legitimate client, fraudulently requested services from Experian”. This resulted in the “release of information which is provided in the ordinary course of business or which is publicly available.” The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) says that “Banks have been working with Experian and SABRIC to identify which of their customers may have been exposed to the...
Microsoft Launches Safe@Home Hackathon to Tackle GBV
Microsoft South Africa is partnering with NPO’s, 1000 Women Trust and TEARS Foundation, to launch the Safe@Home Hackathon which aims to address gender-based violence in South Africa. Hackathons are aimed at finding solutions to specific challenges through collaborative brainstorming and programming in a short space of time. The Safe@Home Hackathon will look to facilitate collaboration to create and develop technology-based solutions that will work in the context of South Africa’s unique circumstances and challenges. “Gender-based violence is one of the most pressing and critical challenges South Africa faces: President Cyril Ramaphosa identified it as the second pandemic our country is currently battling and a war that is being waged against our women and children, with over 40% of S...
Huawei AppGallery Launches Discovery Bank App
Huawei has announced that the Discovery Bank app is now available on its AppGallery platform, ensuring that the bank’s users now have access to this app across multiple platforms and can use it from anywhere in South Africa. “We are happy to welcome Discovery Bank to our Huawei AppGallery family of apps,” says Zhao Likun Zhao, VP at Huawei Consumer Business Group for Southern Africa. “AppGallery has over 400 million active monthly users worldwide and has secured its position as one of the Top 3 app marketplaces globally, even though we only launched it to a wider market in 2018. Locally, Huawei has partnered with a number of companies who create apps that are key to the daily life of South Africans, which includes banking apps, so people can manage their financial present and future.” Comm...
INTERVIEW: ITC Infotech Set to Invest in South Africa
IT services major ITC Infotech is all set to take its long-standing association with South Africa to the next level. The company will soon inaugurate a new global delivery centre in Johannesburg. ITNA’s Jenna Delport had the opportunity to chat to Vishal Kumar, President & Regional Head at ITC Infotech, about the launch of this 10,000 sq ft facility. Here’s what transpired: What inspired the need for ITC Infotech’s delivery centre? ITC Infotech established its presence in South Africa in 2010, and we have steadily expanded our operations across the region. Over the years, we have witnessed firsthand the evolution of South Africa into a very attractive destination for IT service delivery, both for our clients in the region, as well as our global clients. South Africa offers a rich &...
Capitec’s Banking App Ranks #1
Capitec has revealed that its new banking app has reached the #1 spot on both the South African Google Play and Apple app store charts. It currently trends on the charts ahead of Zoom, Whatsapp Messenger, Tik Tok and Facebook. “Our digital banking services are the most widely used in the country, with over 7.5 million active users. We’ve also noted a significant increase between January and July 2020, with the bank welcoming almost 600 000 new digital banking clients,” says Gerrie Fourie, CEO of Capitec Bank. This success comes at a time when the bank’s traditional service channels are taking a back seat to its digital offerings; a trend, which was been significantly augmented by the COVID-19 crisis. The bank believes that its clients are seeking safer, more convenient and affordable ways ...
Do You Need a Reason to have Intelligence at your Fingertips with the Huawei IdeaHub?
If you are looking for an endpoint solution that will migrate your workspace into the 21st century and meet all your smart office needs, Pinnacle has the perfect offer for you. In July 2020, Huawei launched its elegantly simplistic IdeaHub in Southern Africa. When using the term simplistic, this in no way refers to the various functions the unit can offer, but to the modern user-centric design. The Huawei IdeaHub finally gives you the opportunity to throw your outdated whiteboard out the door with its intelligent handwriting capabilities, HD projection, video conferencing feature and open office App Gallery, this all in one solution is all you need to host meetings, presentations, or just a simple brainstorming session. Suitable for meeting rooms, open offices, executive boardrooms or even...
Huawei Launches P40 lite 5G
Huawei has just launched its first 5G phone for the mid-range smartphone market – the P40 lite 5G. Other than its 5G compatibility, this trendy handset boasts a smart look, powerful performance and impressive photography specs. To meet the more diverse needs for photography and videography in the 5G era, the P40 lite 5G is equipped with a 64MP Hi-res AI Quad Camera system. This includes a 64MP main camera, 8MP super wide-angle camera, a 2MP Boken camera and a 2MP macro camera. The 64MP main camera is perfect for shooting in all scenarios, ranging from outdoor settings with strong lighting to low-light settings such as night time photography. The camera setup is designed to let more light in, and so captures hi-res photos with sharp details. For those who want to shoot videos in 4K, t...
Microsoft Appoints Official Surface Notebook Distributor
Microsoft South Africa has appointed Tarsus Distribution as an official distributor for its Surface notebooks and hybrid devices. Tarsus Distribution will initially supply the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Pro 7 models, partnering with limited retailers to bring the products to market from August. This marks the first time that Microsoft Surface products are available in South Africa through official channels. Designed with a premium look-and-feel and tight integration with Microsoft 365, the Surface Windows 10 devices are aimed at discerning professional users and consumers looking for a device that balances security, aesthetics, speed and versatility. “We’re excited to introduce the Surface Laptop and Pro products to the South African market, offering a new, Windows-powered alternative in...
Sony Announces New Addition to Alpha 7S Series
Sony has introduced the long-awaited addition to its acclaimed Alpha 7S full-frame mirrorless camera series — the Alpha 7S III. “The Alpha 7S III is the ultimate representation of Sony’s passion to solve the pain points of customers in the Middle Eastern region,” said Murat Gebeceli, Head of Digital Imaging at Sony MEA. “We are always listening to our customers’ feedback, pushing hard to deliver innovation that goes far beyond their expectations. There is no better example than this new camera. Combining classic S series sensitivity with a feature set, performance level and user experience that is simply unmatched in the market today — at any price level — the Alpha 7S III opens up a new world of possibilities for today’s creators.” Sony Alpha 7S III key specifications: /* custom css */ ....
Westcon-Comstor Appoints New Commercial Director
Global technology distributor, Westcon-Comstor Sub-Saharan Africa has appointed Dorio Bowes to the position of Commercial Director for Westcon Southern Africa. In his role, Bowes will be responsible for oversight of the Westcon business unit portfolios, including Collaboration and Networking, Cybersecurity and Microsoft solutions, and identifying collaborative opportunities across vendor technologies. This includes driving unique solution and value-led services and product offerings that will provide the Westcon channel with a strategic advantage in addressing opportunities for the South Africa and SADC territories. “Solution selling and value-added services are quintessential to the success of the modern distributor, and I am delighted to welcome Dorio as an executive member to the W...
Has South Africa Run with 5G Before it could Walk?
A number of South African telecommunications companies have recently launched local 5G networks. “The decision to introduce 5G means the service provider has determined that there are enough people in one place who are able to pay for super-fast wireless internet. Yes, it is a great technology. It is fast. It is the cream of mobile terrestrial telecoms and it serves the elite few who can afford it,” says Victor Stephanopoli, COO of MzansiSat. When 2G was introduced to South Africa in 1992, 2G networks were the first to offer data services and SMS text messaging. 2G was followed by LTE, which became 3G and which offered faster data transfer and video calling, making it preferable for smartphones. In 2012, 4G was launched in SA, initially only covering small areas in Johannesburg. Stephanopo...
Openserve Supports Increased Internet Consumption Amidst Pandemic
South African-based infrastructure provider, Openserve has launched another data-led wholesale broadband proposition called Openserve Pure Connect. The genesis of this proposition lies in utilising the value of both copper and fibre infrastructure to connect more households to the internet. Seeing the value that the vast copper and fibre network plays in the greater connectivity ecosystem, Openserve CEO, Althon Beukes, says that “the wholesaling of the hybrid copper and fibre broadband access product compliments Openserve’s overall fixed broadband strategy which is focused on providing fast and consistent connectivity to as many people as possible”. The demand for affordable broadband connectivity has significantly grown as consumers adapt to the prolonged effects of COVID-19. The new norm...
