Southern Africa – Africa Tech Digest

Capitec Mobile Banking App Down in South Africa

28Sep

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Capitec Mobile Banking App Down in South Africa

Scores of South African users online have turned to social media to report that they are having issues connecting and using the Capitec Mobile Banking app. Many users are saying that they can’t seem to log into the app. Some users are claiming that they are unable to access the app because it is rejecting their pin codes. According to DownDetector.com, a website where users can report certain outages and problems with internet services, Capitec began having issues with its app from 7 am this morning, which coincides with the users who have been claiming they have been struggling to connect since early morning. It seems the lender has noticed its outage issue and has begun sending out SMSs to make its customers aware. Continue reading Image: Capitec

FinTech Startup Chipper Cash Launches its Free App in SA

24Sep

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Apps, Fintech, Southern Africa, Start-ups

FinTech Startup Chipper Cash Launches its Free App in SA

Yesterday, Chipper, one of the fastest growing African fintech start-ups that facilitates free peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfers and instant cross-border payments in Africa, officially launched Chipper Cash to offer domestic P2P money transfers in South Africa. Chipper Cash will enable South Africans to enjoy free unlimited instant domestic money transfers, invest in cryptocurrencies, and buy and send airtime and data to anyone. Chipper was founded in 2018 by Ham Serunjogi (CEO) and Maijid Moujaled (President) and it is headquartered in San Francisco, USA. Continue reading Image: Tech Cabal

Vodacom SA Launches Coding Programme to Inspire More Women in STEM

17Sep

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Southern Africa, Telecommunications

Vodacom SA Launches Coding Programme to Inspire More Women in STEM

One of South Africa’s big 4 telecoms, Vodacom, has announced the launch of a programme that will see over 600 young girls between the ages of 14 and 18 receive coding training virtually from 4-7 October 2021. The initiative is called the #CodeLikeAGirl programme and aims to encourage more girls to explore careers that require coding skills to help them get a start in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and industries. Women in STEM Female participation is lagging in a field that is expanding globally and men continue to dominate the number of STEM graduates in most countries. Continue reading Image: itnewsafrica

SA to Issue Digital Vaccine Passports Next Week: What Will This Mean?

10Sep

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Health Tech, Southern Africa

SA to Issue Digital Vaccine Passports Next Week: What Will This Mean?

According to an announcement made by South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla, digital vaccination passes will be issued to all eligible vaccinated South Africans in less than a week. The country’s Department of Health says that currently, the digital vaccine certificates are “under development.” According to Mia Malan, editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa Health Journalism Centre, the digital certificates will be issued to vaccinated South Africans in about a week. The certificates can be uploaded onto smartphones and will be printable. South Africans will receive a certificate if their vaccination details, such as location, number of dose and type of jab match their EVDS record. Continue reading

Vodacom SA Launches 5G in Northern Cape with ICASA’s Temporary Spectrum

3Sep

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

5G, Mobile, Southern Africa, Telecommunications

Vodacom SA Launches 5G in Northern Cape with ICASA’s Temporary Spectrum

Vodacom Central Region has become the first network provider to launch a 5G mobile network in Kimberly, Northern Cape province of South Africa. The new 5G network supports both mobile and fixed wireless access services. Customers of the carrier with 5G enabled devices, and within a 5G coverage area, are now able to access the new 5G network in Northern Cape province. In May 2020, Vodacom switched on South Africa’s first live 5G mobile network in three cities – Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. This network supports both mobile and fixed wireless services and is currently available in Free State, Gauteng, Western Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal provinces. Continue reading

Nedbank Launches “Enbi” – A New Intelligent Chatbot Assistant

2Sep

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

AI, Apps, Southern Africa

Nedbank Launches “Enbi” – A New Intelligent Chatbot Assistant

Nedbank South Africa has announced the launch of a series of enhancements to its digital services, including the introduction of a conversational AI-powered chatbot. “In line with its commitment to offer cutting-edge digital banking that adds real value to clients, Nedbank works tirelessly to add new features and services across its range of digital banking platforms,” the firm says in a statement. These recent value-adding enhancements include the introduction of cardless withdrawals, simplified cellphone banking registration to access extensive mobile transaction options, and Enbi, an innovative digital conversational chatbot assistant. Continue reading

Huawei Nova 8 and Nova Y60 Now Available in South Africa

1Sep

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Gadgets, Mobile, Southern Africa, Telecommunications

Huawei Nova 8 and Nova Y60 Now Available in South Africa

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei has officially launched two new smartphones today in South Africa – the Huawei Nova 8 and the Nova Y60. The devices are being marketed to, as the company puts it, “Gen-Zers.” Huawei Nova 8 In terms of battery, the Huawei Nova 8 comes with 66W Huawei SuperCharge support, which ensures users won’t have to charge the device too frequently. “Your phone can also be charged to 60% in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes, so even if you had forgotten to charge it earlier, you can still charge up while you’re busy getting ready to meet up with the gang,” Huawei writes in a statement about the launch of the devices. Continue reading

Unitel Launches Mobile Money Service in Angola with Huawei

25Aug

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Africa, Southern Africa

Unitel Launches Mobile Money Service in Angola with Huawei

Angola-based mobile operator Unitel has launched a digital money service – Unitel Money – in the Central African country. The technology will be available in the 18 provinces of the country. The new service will allow users to make deposits, withdrawals, transfers and payments via mobile phone, all without needing a bank account. According to a statement from Unitel, the company intends to reach over 3 million users in the mobile money business, and that the company will only be able to remain profitable as the number of customers increases. “Before that we don’t have great profit prospects,” said Miguel Geraldes, General Director of Unitel. Continue reading

5 insights on using health-tech effectively to realise health equity in Africa and beyond

9Aug

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Health Tech, List & Guides, Southern Africa

5 insights on using health-tech effectively to realise health equity in Africa and beyond

Hosted by BroadReach Group CEO Chris LeGrand, the webinar was joined by panelists Dr John Sargent, Dr Andrew Kambugu, and Rochelle Mountany CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 3, 2021/APO Group/ -- How can new digital ways of working in the healthcare sector improve outcomes for patients to increase global health equity in the COVID-19 era and beyond? This was the questions tackled by a panel of globally recognised health-tech experts in a recent webinar for the African healthcare community. Hosted by BroadReach Group CEO Chris LeGrand, an internationally recognised leader in public health management, the webinar was joined by panelists Dr John Sargent, the World Economic Forum’s 2015 Social Entrepreneur of the Year, health technology innovator and co-founder of BroadReach...

4Jun

By Africa Tech DigestNo Comments

Cryptocurrency, Southern Africa

Malawi warns against cryptocurrencies

A statement issued by the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has warned people in the country that cryptocurrencies are not to be used as legal tender for goods and services in the same way they would use the country's currency, the Malawi Kwacha. This comes as more and more people in Malawi have been enquiring about using cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, as a form of payment or receiving payments. The statement was issued by RBM Governor, Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, who also added that RBM had noted with concern increased public interest in cryptocurrencies as observed through the growing number of enquiries on the subject received from the general public and other stakeholders. “Reserve Bank of Malawi wishes to advise the general public that cryptocurrencies are not legal te...