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…
Anja Bates, head of data at Pnet A new report from Pnet shows that software development jobs are highly available but there is little competition for them among jobseekers. The difference between the number of software developers needed in the economy versus the number of qualified individuals applying for roles is so significant that there…
Several major renewable energy projects currently under construction will go live this year, according to industry organisation Sapvia. Once operational, these projects will collectively add hundreds of megawatts of new generation capacity to the national grid. This additional capacity is expected to contribute to improved energy security, reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based generation and support increased…
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…
Sola Group’s Springbok solar farm South Africa’s renewable energy sector is poised for a busy year, with multiple projects set to reach commercialisation or break ground as market confidence remains generally upbeat. According to industry body the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association, the country’s renewable energy sector is heading in the right direction. “The policy…
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…
Many of South Africa’s JSE-listed technology companies performed well in 2025, with the likes of Weaver Fintech, Blu Label Unlimited, MTN Group, iOCO and Telkom improving their share prices by over 70% over the course of the year. At the bottom end, however, some of South Africa’s biggest technology firms performed poorly, with the likes…
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi Starlink’s proposed entry into South Africa is facing mounting political backlash, driven by concerns over owner Elon Musk’s conduct and public statements. Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi and parliament’s communications & digital technologies portfolio chair, Khuselo Diko, have both taken to social media to voice their opposition to Musk and…
Just 20 countries produce 80% of the world’s oil, gas and coal. Since 2019, researchers have released regular reports analysing how these governments plan to continue drilling and mining for fossil fuels – and how those plans diverge from the global climate goal set out in the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit temperature rise…
Launching on Friday, South Africa’s joint naval exercise with China, Russia and Iran goes beyond manoeuvres at sea. The drills signal determination to project influence in southern Africa, a region that holds growing strategic importance for Moscow and Beijing. The Mosi-3 exercise will run for a week off the coast of Cape Town, under Chinese…
