South Africa’s franchise sector contributes R721 billion to GDP. It employs hundreds of thousands of people and, on most measures, outperforms independent business ownership by a considerable margin. Those numbers are worth acknowledging. They represent real businesses, built by real people, in conditions that have been anything but straightforward. But there is a conversation the…
War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own. Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb…
Transactional sex, defined as the exchange of sex for money, food, or favours, is common among young people in Africa. Studies have reported that about 10% of those aged 15-24 have engaged in this exchange in South Africa, 23% in Nigeria and 25% in Uganda. The behaviour has been linked to negative consequences such as…
South Africa is one of the few markets with the highest rate of suspected digital fraud attempts. (Image source: 123RF) South Africa had the highest rate of suspected digital fraud among African countries analysed, with 3% of transactions involving consumers in South Africa being suspected of digital fraud during 2025 – slightly below the global…
Google’s recent I/O developer conference showcased a future heavy on artificial intelligence, introducing features like the Intelligent Search Box, which processes videos, files, and Chrome tabs, alongside 24/7 background AI Search agents for Pro and Ultra subscribers. However, this aggressive push has triggered a significant backlash from users seeking a traditional search experience, resulting in…
The Tharisa Mine is an open-pit platinum group metals and chrome mining operation in the North West province. (Image: Datacentrix) Tharisa Minerals, an integrated resource group critical to the energy transition and decarbonisation of economies, has successfully transformed its South African open-pit mining operation into a highly connected, data-driven environment. This is the result of…
Dar es Salaam — CRDB Bank Group has significantly expanded its role in driving economic growth across East and Central Africa, channelling 13.7tri/- in loans and advances into key sectors including trade, manufacturing, infrastructure and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This expansion reflects the Bank’s growing impact beyond traditional financial intermediation, positioning it as a…
The rapid expansion of Africa’s education technology (EdTech) sector, alongside increasing international student mobility, is transforming how African students access global education opportunities, industry stakeholders have said. At the centre of this shift are platforms such as EERIV Europe UAB, which operate at the intersection of digital education services and international admissions support. EdTech Sector…
The war involving Iran is pushing fuel prices higher across Africa, forcing governments to take emergency measures as supply tightens and costs rise, according to a Bloomberg report. Several countries have moved to cushion the impact. Namibia is cutting fuel levies, while Kenya plans to use petroleum taxes to cap prices. In Egypt, authorities imposed…
Africa’s sovereign credit outlook is improving as economic growth stabilizes and fiscal reforms take hold across several countries, according to recent sovereign rating assessments. S&P Global Ratings shows African sovereign ratings at their highest level since 2020. The improvement comes as some governments reduce fiscal deficits and strengthen foreign reserves. The outlook improves after several…
