AI Is Ready. Are We?
AI technology is now mature, but organisations must still steer its use, says Sandra Lehmann, chief actuary at Discovery Vitality. She warns that AI can process massive data but cannot ask the novel questions only humans can. Lehmann stresses that investing in data governance, quality and accessibility is essential before AI can deliver value. At the ITWeb AI Summit 2026 she will outline how treating AI like a new hire—providing context, oversight and continuous feedback—drives real outcomes.
Cape Town’s Tech Talent a Pull for ClearScore
ClearScore plans to grow its Cape Town workforce to roughly 125 employees over the next two years, establishing the city as its second global tech hub after London. The expansion will add about 100 engineers focused on AI‑enhanced software development...
AI Tech Collab Takes on SA’s Energy Distribution Crisis
South African energy tech firm Plentify and developer Balwin Properties have launched an AI‑driven geyser management system using HotBot devices to optimise residential water heating. The controllers, now deployed in over 7,500 homes, adjust heating based on occupancy patterns, solar...
Cape Town’s First MyCiTi E-Bus to Arrive in August
Cape Town will receive its first MyCiTi electric bus in August, followed by 13 more before year‑end, as part of a rollout of 30 Volvo BZRLE low‑floor e‑buses slated for delivery through June 2027. The buses feature bodies manufactured locally in...
Too Many Tools, Not Enough Outcomes: Redefining MDR with Exposure Management
Rapid7 will speak at the ITWeb Security Summit JHB 2026 about redefining managed detection and response (MDR). The firm argues that the proliferation of point tools has produced fragmented defenses, and advocates an outcomes‑first model that merges detection, continuous threat exposure...
SA Firm Raises R85m to Scale AI Stethoscope for TB Screening
South African medtech firm AI Diagnostics secured roughly R85 million (about $4.6 million) in a pre‑Series A round led by The Steele Foundation for Hope. The capital will accelerate rollout of its AI‑enabled Ostium digital stethoscope, which screens for tuberculosis using lung‑sound analysis...
IStore SA Expands Amid Growing Trade-In Business
iStore South Africa is accelerating its retail expansion, having opened its 40th store last year and targeting additional locations this year. The growth is fueled by rising iPhone sales, especially through a robust trade‑in programme that makes upgrades more affordable...
InfoReg Calms Payroll Fears After Sage 360 Switch
The Information Regulator migrated its payroll from the legacy Persal system to Sage 360 on 1 April, assuring that the 15 April salaries for permanent staff were paid on time. The Public Servants Association raised alarms about pro‑rata bonuses, missing medical aid contributions,...
KZN Schools Receive Connectivity, Digital Learning Tools
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a Cassava Technologies unit, has wired 45 public schools in Umlazi and Pinetown, KwaZulu‑Natal with at least 10 Mbps internet and a 500 GB fair‑use cap. The rollout is part of a national effort to connect 298 public‑service institutions,...
Ideathon Kicks Off Road to Security Summit Hackathon
ITWeb and Geekulcha hosted a virtual ideathon to prime participants for the 10th ITWeb Security Summit hackathon, which boasts a record‑breaking turnout. The event featured three challenge streams—secure design thinking, red teaming, and blue teaming—centered on AI‑driven cyber resilience. Industry...
AutoTrader in AI Push as Fuel Prices Drive EV Shift
AutoTrader is accelerating its AI push with the November 2025 launch of AutoTrader Intelligence, an in‑house platform that analyses three decades of market data to auto‑generate listing insights and personalised vehicle recommendations. The South African marketplace reports diesel enquiries down 18%...
AI-Driven Threats Outpace Traditional Defences
Qualys will showcase its Agent Val platform at the ITWeb Security Summit JHB 2026, highlighting how autonomous exploit validation and risk remediation can keep pace with AI‑driven attacks. The company’s ROC framework and Enterprise TruRisk Management aim to shift security from issue...
QBS Software Africa, Partners to Tackle AI Threats at ITWeb Security Summit 2026
QBS Software Africa (Maxtec) will showcase AI‑focused security solutions alongside partners Atera, Fortinet, Fortra, Ivanti and Thales at the ITWeb Security Summit in Johannesburg. The event will address rising AI‑driven attacks, supply‑chain vulnerabilities, and the acute cybersecurity skills shortage in...
Global Capital Shifts Beyond Silicon Valley – and SA Benefits
Global investors are moving capital beyond traditional US tech hubs, with South Africa emerging as a key destination. The country secured $715 million in venture funding in 2025, the second‑largest in Africa, and total deal volume rose 25% YoY to $4.1 billion...
InfoReg Raises Alarm as Data Breaches Hit 788 in Q1
South Africa’s Information Regulator recorded 788 data‑breach notifications in the first quarter, a sharp rise that includes high‑profile incidents at Standard Bank, Liberty Group and Statistics South Africa. The regulator, led by Advocate Pansy Tlakula, warned that many reports lack...
Samsung Supports Mobile Device, Electronic Repairs SMEs
Samsung South Africa, together with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, has launched the 2026 Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) targeting black‑owned small‑business service centres that repair mobile devices and consumer electronics. The initiative focuses on underserved provinces and...
Top ICT Tenders: Transversal Computing Contract up for Grabs
The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has issued a new transversal computing contract that will replace the 2020 RFB 740 tender. The contract covers outright purchase of desktop and mobile PCs, monitors, printers, biometric devices, consumables and related services for South...
Nutanix Makes Play with Agentic AI, Bare-Metal Kubernetes
Nutanix unveiled an agentic AI platform and a bare‑metal Kubernetes service, NKP Metal, at its .Next conference. The AI stack includes an AI Catalogue of open‑source components and an AI gateway to govern large‑language‑model policies. NKP Metal offers dual‑native architecture,...
Unscrupulous Trading Platforms Probed Amid Rising Investor Losses
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has launched more than ten investigations into South African online trading platforms after a surge in retail investor losses. The market, worth about $115.9 million in 2025, is projected to grow to $201.3 million by 2033...
Tech at Centre of SA’s Border Control over Easter
South Africa’s Border Management Authority reported a 24% drop in illegal crossings during the 2026 Easter period, intercepting 4,763 travelers versus 6,253 the previous year. The decline coincided with a 22% rise in arrests of migration facilitators, reaching 138 individuals....
Tech Personality Masie Leaves ABC Board
African Bitcoin Company (ABC) announced that long‑time tech entrepreneur and Bitcoin advocate Stafford Masie has resigned as chairman but will remain as executive director amid a board reshuffle. The firm, Africa’s first listed company to hold Bitcoin on its balance...
AgileSP Builds Momentum Inside Teraco’s Carrier-Neutral Ecosystem
Agile Solutions Provider (AgileSP) has expanded its footprint by operating points of presence (POPs) in five Teraco Data Environments facilities—JB1, JB3, DB1, CT1 and CT2—across Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The carrier‑neutral model of Teraco lets AgileSP deliver IP Transit,...
Modern Digital Identity Is Win for Government, People and Banks
South Africa is at a turning point as it moves from paper‑based verification to a reusable digital identity layer. The 2024 South Africa Identity Index shows 44.8% of organisations still depend on in‑person checks, while AI‑driven fraud is flagged by...
A Legal Imperative for Strengthening Data Governance, Protecting Personal Information
South African companies face mounting pressure from the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) to tighten data governance as digital transformation creates fragmented record‑keeping environments. Mohammed Vachiat of Konica Minolta South Africa argues that integrating digital record systems is now...
ITWeb TV: Microsoft SA CEO Talks SMME Development, Upskilling at Scale
Microsoft South Africa CEO Vukani Mngxati told ITWeb TV that building small, medium and micro‑enterprises (SMMEs) is the nation’s primary engine for growth and job creation. He highlighted Microsoft’s Black Economic Empowerment fund, which invests in and certifies young, women‑led,...
Naspers Feels Heat as Tencent Faces AI Reality Check
Naspers, through its 55%‑owned arm Prosus, holds a 24% stake in Tencent, and all three entities have seen their shares slump amid growing investor scepticism about AI‑driven spending. Tencent’s stock is down 18.38% year‑to‑date and has lost a similar share...
Automating Financial Operations for Faster, Safer Financial Reporting
South African firms are adopting MoData’s integrated Record‑to‑Report suite—Accurate, Adra and Cadency—to automate reconciliation and accelerate the financial close. The automation cuts manual reconciliations by up to 90% and reduces month‑end close time from 10‑11 days to 5‑7 days. The...
Canon Named a Leader in Latest IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Speed Inkjet 2025 Vendor Assessment
Canon has been named a leader in IDC's Worldwide High‑Speed Inkjet 2025 Vendor Assessment, confirming its strong market presence and growth in installations and page volume. The report highlights Canon’s expanded high‑speed inkjet portfolio, including a new 1,200 dpi piezo printhead...
IC Logistix Introduces Fujikura 99S Fusion Splicer
IC Logistix has launched the Fujikura 99S Fusion Splicer, a next‑generation fiber‑optic splicing tool that combines advanced core alignment, high‑speed splicing, intelligent automation, rugged construction, and extended battery life. The device is engineered for Africa’s rapidly expanding fiber networks, promising...
Can Universities Adopt AI and Remain in Control?
Universities confront a 92% student adoption rate of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini, raising alarms over plagiarism, hallucinations and data security. Edward Müller of Mint Group argues that institutions should move from restriction to building in‑house, governed AI...
SA’s R142bn Connectivity Plan: The Real Question Isn’t Funding; It’s Execution
South Africa unveiled a costed roadmap investing roughly R142 billion (about $7.7 billion) to deliver 100 Mbps broadband to every household by 2035. The plan spreads the spending over ten years, aligning public and private capital rather than creating new funding. Analysts argue...
AI’s Stealth Is Business Leadership and IT Concern
AI’s stealth integration means it often appears in existing tools without formal governance, turning it into a business leadership issue rather than just an IT concern. Centrax Digital COO Sarah Msimango warns that AI influences outcomes silently, exposing gaps when...
The Ghost in the Machine: Securing Non-Human Identities
BeyondTrust will address the growing risk of non‑human identities at the ITWeb Security Summit in Johannesburg, highlighting how machines, applications and service accounts are becoming prime attack vectors. The firm warns that attackers now prefer logging in with over‑privileged or...
AI Both Boon and Bane for SA’s Channel
AI is reshaping South Africa’s formal ICT channel, offering unprecedented speed, scale and intelligence while exposing deep‑seated legacy systems, data silos and skills gaps. GrowthGuru.ai’s co‑founders argue that AI can be a great equaliser for SMEs, but only if partners...
Fire Risk Sparks Power Bank Recall in SA
South Africa’s National Consumer Commission (NCC) has ordered a recall of ESR HaloLock Kickstand Wireless Power Banks (model 2G505B) after nine reports of lithium‑ion batteries overheating, catching fire and causing property damage. The devices, imported from China and sold through...
North West Accelerates Digital Shift with SmartGov Rollout
The North West province of South Africa launched its SmartGov platform across all departments on April 1, shifting from paper‑based to integrated digital administration. The rollout includes migration to Microsoft 365, Azure cloud, real‑time dashboards and strengthened cybersecurity, aiming to streamline procurement,...
New CEO Appointed at Technology Innovation Agency
The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) announced Dr. Titus Mathe as its new chief executive, effective 1 April, succeeding acting CEO Ismail Abdoola. Mathe brings senior leadership experience from Eskom, CSIR, Sappi Saiccor, SA Cyanamid, and the South African National Energy Development...
Digital Tools Fuel 46% Rise in Deportations Across SA
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs reported a 46% jump in deportations, reaching 109,344 over the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years. The surge stems from intensified campaigns such as Operation New Broom and the rollout of biometric verification, drones, and...
National Gambling Board Intros Portal to Verify Operators
The National Gambling Board (NGB) has launched an online portal that lists every gambling operator licensed in South Africa, giving the public a single source to verify legitimacy. The move targets a booming illegal betting market that siphons roughly R50 billion...
Cross Switch, Absa Expand Secure Checkout with Absa Pay
South African bank Absa has partnered with payments‑infrastructure provider Cross Switch to launch Absa Pay, a bank‑authenticated checkout option for e‑commerce merchants on the Cross Switch platform. The solution uses a payment‑initiation API that lets customers pay via phone number...
Broadband for All Still a Distant Goal in SA
South Africa’s regulator ICASA reports that only 4,377 of 21,878 public schools, clinics, libraries and traditional authority sites – about 20% – were linked to broadband by October 2025, far short of its universal‑access goal. Mobile network reach is near‑ubiquitous (99.5%...
Sentiv, Formerly Altron Nexus, Buys Stake in Visiosoft
Sentiv, the rebranded Altron Nexus, has purchased a majority equity stake in South African IoT specialist Visiosoft. The deal creates a strategic collaboration that will blend Sentiv’s mission‑critical communications expertise with Visiosoft’s hardware and firmware capabilities. Executives say the partnership...
Standard Bank Notifies Clients of Data Breach
Standard Bank, Africa’s largest lender by assets, disclosed a data breach that exposed business client records such as account numbers, limited account information, business names, and ID or registration numbers. The bank emphasized that its transactional banking systems were not...
Jobs Threat: Who Loses and Who Survives Automation Wave?
The Planera report identifies the ten occupations most vulnerable to automation by 2026, highlighting that routine, manual roles such as cashiers, data‑entry clerks and warehouse pickers face exposure rates up to 89 % in sectors like agriculture. Conversely, jobs requiring real‑time...
ESIM Capability Boosts FNB Connect’s Subscriber Volumes
FNB Connect, the bank‑owned MVNO in South Africa, says eSIM‑enabled plans now account for 10% of its sales, with a 96% year‑on‑year jump in eSIM revenue. The digital‑SIM push has driven a 180% surge in data consumption, totaling 26 petabytes, and...
When Silicon Got Serious About Security
The article traces cryptography’s evolution from the 1970s Data Encryption Standard (DES) to today’s Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). It highlights how silicon’s exponential speed gains exposed DES’s 56‑bit weakness, prompting the 1998 Deep Crack break. The...
Networks Emerge as Critical Bottleneck in AI Adoption
South African firms risk stalling AI projects unless they modernize their networks, HPE executives warned. While global AI adoption sits near 30%, Africa lags at roughly 27%, and many deployments are reactive and fragmented. HPE argues that legacy networking lacks...
Melon Digital Secures Global eSIM Deal
Melon Digital, an MVNO platform‑as‑a‑service provider, has teamed up with global eSIM specialist Airalo to deliver instant digital connectivity for international visitors in South Africa. The partnership launches an eSIM offering through Melon Mobile, allowing travelers to access data, voice...
Senior Tech Talent in Demand as AI Changes iGaming Hiring
The 2026 iGaming Talent Trends report shows the sector shifting from rapid growth to operational maturity, prompting firms to favor senior technical talent as AI automates routine work. Companies are scaling back entry‑level hires and focusing on experienced engineers in...
OpEd: UK Just Levered Open Multicloud in the Precedent SA Needed
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority has compelled Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure to provide standardized egress terms for individual services, eliminating hidden fees and ensuring continuity during migration. The new rules, part of the UK’s broader push for cloud...