Penalties for breaching proposed crypto regulations include jail terms of five years. (Image made via GenAI) If National Treasury gets its way, South Africans who do not comply with proposed regulations dealing with crypto-currency could face jail terms of up to five years, a R1 million fine, or both. In addition, if people are found…
Most citizens want news media that is free and holds government accountable. Key findings Radio remains the most common source of news in Africa: Across 38 countries surveyed in 2024/2025, six in 10 citizens (59%) say they obtain news via radio “every day” or “a few times a week,” compared to about half who do…
Cryptocurrency in South Africa has officially shed its reputation as a speculative gamble, according to the Discovery Bank SpendTrend26 report. The study, conducted in partnership with Visa, reveals that South Africans are increasingly integrating digital assets into their core investment strategies alongside traditional holdings like stocks and property. Read: Bandwidth Blog & Smile 90.4FM Tech…
South African consumers are fundamentally reshaping their digital spending habits, moving away from traditional entertainment towards services that prioritize productivity, functional value, and everyday convenience. According to the Discovery Bank SpendTrend26 report, while the overall volume of online subscriptions is rising, the “composition of the basket” has shifted toward utility-driven tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI)…
Consumers show cautious openness to 3D-printed food. (Image created by Gemini) A study by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has found that consumer attitudes, rather than technological capability, will ultimately determine whether 3D-printed food gains mainstream acceptance in South Africa. The research, conducted by the Centre for Innovative Food Research within UJ’s Department of Biotechnology…
Bruce Mellado Scientists at the University of Witwatersrand have designed South Africa’s first app to warn residents of pollution levels, as Johannesburg suffers a spike in coal emissions in recent weeks, causing breathing problems and other health issues. Africa’s wealthiest city lies not far from the country’s coal mines and the rotten-egg smell of sulphur…
Half find it difficult to obtain health care, identity documents, and police assistance. Key findings On average across 38 countries, public services dominate Africans’ agenda for needed government action. Health tops the list of citizens’ concerns, and education, infrastructure/roads, water supply, crime/security, and electricity all rank in the top 10. Africans are dissatisfied with the…
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…
