Uncapped fibre internet for R5/day? It’s a reality in parts of South Africa as broadband providers push affordable fibre into communities long underserved by traditional fixed-line networks. What was once the preserve of affluent suburbs is now creeping into dense urban and township footprints, powered by new pricing models, new deployment strategies and a business…
Net Nine Nine CEO Albert Oosthuysen Despite global trends showing a correlation between higher internet penetration rates and GDP growth, South Africa’s high internet penetration has failed to translate into robust economic growth. This is because uncapped fibre broadband reaches only 26% of the population, despite mobile internet penetration exceeding 80%, according to Net Nine…
Member states of the African Union (AU) will hold their most consequential election of the year in February 2026, to fill ten vacancies in continental human rights institutions. They will elect three experts to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and seven to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare…
The authors, Altman Solon’s Björn Menden and Switala Ventures’ Thomas Switala When the competition authorities last year finally approved Vodacom’s acquisition of a 30% stake in Maziv – the parent of Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa – they quietly reshaped the rules of engagement for South Africa’s digital infrastructure market. For years, open access has been…
Not long ago, industrial work across Africa was defined by risk. In sectors like mining, ports, logistics and heavy manufacturing, dangerous conditions were seen as part of the job. Fatal accidents, equipment failures and human exposure to hazardous environments were often treated as operational realities rather than preventable outcomes. Today, that mindset is undergoing a…
The decline in the number of South African learners taking and passing pure mathematics – as opposed to the more rudimentary maths literacy – at high school level is going to have profound negative consequences for the economy, experts have warned. This is because digital skills and computational thinking are increasingly becoming crucial components of…
Africa’s 2026 elections must navigate a diverse array of complexities from conflicts to entrenched incumbents, growing youth restlessness, and external actor influences for citizens to be heard. Jump to … Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Africa’s diverse governance tapestry is reflected in the 11 countries planning to hold elections in…
Minister Siviwe Gwarube hailed the Class of 2025’s NSC pass rate for climbing to 88%, the highest ever for more than 900,000 candidates, with KZN topping the provinces. Yet experts warn of low maths participation, slipping gateway subject performance, and sharp Grade 11-12 dropouts. Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has announced that the National…
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ethiopian Airlines on Saturday officially started a US$12.5-billion (R205-billion) construction project for what officials say will be Africa’s biggest airport when completed in 2030 in the Ethiopian town of Bishoftu. The state-owned airline got the contract to design the four-runway airport in the town located around 45km south-east of Addis…
Africa — NEARLY one million babies are stillborn in Africa every year. Behind every stillbirth is a mother, a family and a story left untold. Most of these are preventable, many unrecorded, and too often invisible. Each number hides a moment of heartbreak, and every uncounted loss represents a missed opportunity to learn and to…
