SASMA 2026 puts SA’s creator economy under the spotlight, with organisers calling for greater investment, policy support and protection. (Image source: iStock) South Africa’s social media creator economy came under the spotlight as the nominees for the 2026 Openserve South African Social Media Awards (SASMA) were shortlisted over the weekend. The industry is positioned as…
The public and foreign visitors alike visit the World Robot Conference in Beijing on Aug. 21, 2026. Evelyn Cheng | CNBC Hi, this is Evelyn, writing to you from Beijing. Welcome to the latest edition of The China Connection — a snapshot of what I’m seeing and hearing from local businesses. Unitree’s founder reminded everyone…
Africa’s youthful population is often described as its biggest opportunity. But without stronger links between education, skills and employment, the continent risks turning its demographic dividend into an economic burden, experts have warned. The message emerged at the AIESEC Alumni MEA Conference in Kigali on Saturday, August 22, where discussions focused on the future of…
Cisco Networking Academy and Hanley Group have collaborated to bring digital skills courses to 235 schools across the Northern Cape. The Northern Cape Department of Education, Hanley Group and Cisco Networking Academy have collaborated to bring networking, cyber security, AI and digital skills courses to 235 schools across the province, with classes expected to begin…
In 2024, 25.1 million Africans were living in other countries on the continent. Labour migration has long been a defining feature of Africa’s economic landscape. Migrant workers on the continent are concentrated in certain sectors: agricultural and manufacturing together absorb roughly a fifth of migrant labour. Most migrants hold medium-skilled jobs alongside high and low…
Representatives from Vodacom, UJ, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and AWS. Vodacom has partnered with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), to address SA’s growing demand for job-ready artificial intelligence (AI) and data science skills. The partnership, announced on Friday, brings together the mobile operator, academic institution…
TIA and W&R SETA are joining forces to create more pathways for young people, entrepreneurs and emerging businesses to develop ideas, access support and contribute to SA’s digital economy. The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R SETA) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at linking…
The National Skills Authority will conduct a governance and leadership assessment of MICT SETA. The National Skills Authority has been tasked to assess the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA), amid governance and leadership challenges. The move, announced by higher education minister Buti Manamela yesterday, relates to MICT SETA’s…
Artificial intelligence could increase Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic output by about four percent over the next decade, but only if governments make substantial investments in electricity, internet connectivity and digital skills, the International Monetary Fund said in a report released Tuesday. Without those reforms, the region would capture only marginal gains from the AI revolution, with…
When people talk about entrepreneurship in Africa, the conversation usually starts with everything that’s missing. Limited funding. Weak infrastructure. Poor internet connectivity. Unreliable electricity. Bureaucracy. Corruption. The implicit message is that African entrepreneurs succeed despite these disadvantages. These challenges are real. But they are only one part of the story. Follow us on WhatsApp |…
