More South Africans are turning to emergency airtime to stay connected. (Image generated via ChatGPT) As South Africans battle relentless financial pressure, millions are increasingly turning to emergency airtime and data advances to stay connected. What was once marketed by mobile operators as a short-term convenience has now become a lifeline for cash-strapped consumers −…
South African audiences and global viewers have gained access to a new free-to-view streaming platform, Afree TV, dedicated to showcasing African entertainment at scale. Powered by signal distributor Sentech’s Freevision Play over-the-top (OTT) architecture, the service aims to unify regional broadcasters and content owners into a single continental collaboration designed to take African stories to…
The biggest cyber security weaknesses are not always complex vulnerabilities, but rather a fundamental lack of visibility. (Image source: 123RF) Surfshark’s quarterly analysis of global data breaches shows South Africa ranks as the 42nd most breached country in Q1 2026. Globally, a total of 210.3 million accounts were breached, with the US ranking first at…
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…
