WhatsApp starts charging South Africans

WhatsApp starts charging South Africans

WhatsApp Plus, Meta Platforms’ optional paid subscription for its messaging app, is now available to South African users at R28.99/month, with the first month free. The tier is part of a broader push by Meta to build subscription revenue beyond its core advertising business. The company announced the global roll-out of consumer “Plus” subscriptions across…

Read More
Local SMEs enter digital maturity phase

Local SMEs enter digital maturity phase

SMEs increasingly adopt AI, cloud systems and analytics tools to improve efficiency, reach customers and manage operations. (Image source: 123RF) South Africa’s small business sector is entering a more advanced phase of digital adoption, with SMEs increasingly moving beyond basic digitisation and focusing on the financial systems and innovations required to scale sustainably. The newly-released…

Read More
Another windfall for Datatec shareholders

Another windfall for Datatec shareholders

Datatec CEO Jens Montanana Datatec is bringing in General Atlantic – a major global growth equity firm – as a minority investor and lender in Westcon-Comstor, its networking and cybersecurity distribution arm. The deal values Westcon at US$950-million (roughly R15.5-billion) and generates about $434-million (R7.1-billion) in cash for Datatec, which it intends to pay out…

Read More
AI debt collector rakes in R10m per month

AI debt collector rakes in R10m per month

Nutun South Africa CEO Robert Amoils. (Image supplied) Global business process outsourcing (BPO) and credit-lifecycle management company Nutun launched its new AI Lab in Johannesburg last night. The team introduced Zoey, an agentic AI debt collector that is already recovering close to R10 million a month. “Zoey is live. Zoey is working. Zoey is operating…

Read More
Yoco expands beyond payments with new AI platform

Yoco expands beyond payments with new AI platform

Yoco provides card payment solutions and point-of-sale systems for SMEs. South African fintech firm Yoco is set to introduce a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered assistant, Yoco AI, as part of a wider strategy to ease administrative workloads for small businesses, enhance decision-making and support growth. The company teased the upcoming offering at its Unfair Advantage…

Read More