Majority of citizens say they suffered shortage of clean water during the past year. Key findings On average across 38 countries, water supply ranks third among the most important problems that Africans want their government to address, trailing unemployment and health and tied with education, the increasing cost of living, and infrastructure/roads. Water outranks all…
At the Arise News Women of Impact in Africa 2026, revered South African anti-apartheid activist Sophie Williams-De Bruyn called for African youths to take risks and push borders. In her acceptance speech as one of the honourees, she urged the continent’s youth to see themselves as the future, adding that “the future is bright.” Williams-De…
Nearly two-thirds of South African consumers have used artificial intelligence to assist with shopping-related tasks, according to new survey data from Visa that points to a rapid shift in how locals interact with digital payment technologies. The Visa Spending Shift Survey, conducted by Morning Consult among a thousand South African adults in October 2025, found…
The ongoing RAM shortage, driven by suppliers shifting their production lines to higher-margin high-bandwidth memory used for AI workloads in data centres, is already affecting the smartphone market as the Samsung Galaxy S26 launched at prices slightly higher than its predecessor on Wednesday evening. Speaking to TechCentral in a post-launch interview following the Johannesburg leg…
Many say they worry that others will track or steal their personal data. Key findings On average across the seven surveyed countries, among adults who access Internet content, a vast majority (84%) say they do so “every day” or “a few times a week.” Mobile phones are the primary mechanism for accessing the Internet (85%)….
Assessments of election quality have worsened over the past decade. Key findings On average across 38 countries, about three-quarters (74%) of Africans support choosing their leaders through regular, open, and honest elections. This is the majority position in every surveyed country, although support for elections has weakened over the past decade. Strong majorities favour multiparty…
Artificial intelligence is no longer a novelty for South Africans. In fact, it is rapidly becoming a practical tool woven into everyday life. According to a new study from Google and research agency Ipsos, 70% of South African adults have already used AI chatbots to upskill themselves, which is 25 percentage points higher than the…
National Gambling Board data shows about R1.5 trillion was wagered in SA’s gambling industry in 2024–2025. South Africans are diverting money they are supposed to spend on groceries to try their luck on online gambling. This is one of the biggest findings from a study conducted by Durban-based market research firm Trade Intelligence. The online…
Bonolo Sebolai, head of fraud at TymeBank. The Remote Access Trojan (RAT) attack is one of the fastest growing and most dangerous scams targeting South African consumers, warns Bonolo Sebolai, head of fraud at TymeBank. A RAT is malicious software that allows a fraudster to remotely control a person’s phone or computer. According to TymeBank,…
Some governments may in future enforce restrictions, tax implications, or bans on Bitcoin usage, warn experts. As global economic pressures persist and digital innovation reshapes financial infrastructure, Bitcoin has emerged in South Africa not only as an investment asset but increasingly as a practical financial tool. From individual savers hedging against currency uncertainty, to merchants…
