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Showing posts from August, 2024

Bringing Possibilities to Life – An Older Brother’s Guide to Esports Success

In the vibrant realm of esports, South African siblings Ridhaa and Zaid April are forging impressive paths. At just 14, Ridhaa is already making waves in competitive gaming, while his older brother Zaid proudly represents South Africa on the international stage. Their journey highlights the power of family support and shared passion in achieving esports success. Ridhaa recently had an insightful conversation with his older brother, seeking guidance and mentorship. Their story exemplifies how sibling collaboration can propel gamers to new heights in the competitive arena.   A Shared Passion for Gaming Zaid’s esports journey began with a love for FIFA. “Playing weekend leagues was a ritual for me,” he reflects. The COVID-19 pandemic turned into a pivotal moment for him. “I entered several tournaments and qualified for South Africa’s biggest event, Telkom VS Gaming eDiski. That’s when I realized I could turn my passion into a career,” Zaid recalls.   For Ridhaa, gaming has always been a s

Vodacom empowers thousands of girls with digital skills through #CodeLikeAGirl

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   Since 2017, the Vodacom #CodeLikeAGirl initiative has gained immense popularity, inspiring young girls to venture into the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). More than 6 300 girls have benefitted from the programme to date, which teaches coding among other technology and life skills. Critically, by the end of the current financial year, the programme will have reached in excess of 10 000 underprivileged girls. The #CodeLikeAGirl initiative contributes to building a more digital, inclusive, sustainable future on the continent while tackling low representation of women in STEM education through a structured educational programme that targets underprivileged girls. The purpose is to introduce underprivileged girls to coding basics and careers paths that are related to current and future skills gaps while also building a talent pipeline that speaks to our current and future skills needs. In this past financial year alone, the programme has trained 2 451

Private 5G is Set to be A Gamechanger for SA Automation and Industry

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Local companies are set to embrace the future of operational efficiency, safety and productivity. Vox, the market-leading internet service and data solution provider, has announced their role in the introduction of private 5G into the South African market, amidst a global private 5G network market which is expected to grow in value from   US$ 1.92 billion in 2022 to US$ 27.87 billion by 2030 ,   Through strategic partnerships with internet connectivity solutions providers, Vox will soon offer private 5G networks across multiple sectors, revolutionising enterprise connectivity towards further growth and innovation.   Head of Wireless at Vox, Theo Van Zyl, says that the opportunities with private 5G within the South African context are mind blowing.   “The benefits and opportunities of private 5G are applicable to most sectors, from augmented reality and drone technology to automated cars and smart cities. Yet it is the potential of private 5G to revolutionise automation, mining and manu

The New Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs. The Galaxy Z Fold 5

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Let's put things into perspective. Samsung just announced the Galaxy Z Fold 6 at the latest Unpacked event. The new model, packed with cutting-edge features, starts at R42,995 (about $2,280) for the 256GB version, while the 512GB model is priced at R45,999 (around $2,437). That’s nearly half the price of the Z Fold 5 listed on Takealot! This discrepancy got me thinking: why would anyone opt for last year’s model at such an inflated price when they could get the latest tech at a much more reasonable cost? What Could You Get Instead? To make this comparison even more compelling, let’s see what else you could buy with that R93,800. For instance, if you wanted to stick with the latest from Samsung, here’s a shopping list that fits comfortably under that price: Galaxy Z Fold 6 (512GB) : R45,999 (around $2,437) Galaxy Z Flip 6 (256GB) : R25,999 (about $1,378) Galaxy Watch 7 : R7,499 (approximately $397) Galaxy Buds Pro 3 : R4,999 (around $265) Total : R84,496 (around $4,505) That’s the e

Samsung Expands Circle to Search to Galaxy A Series

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Built upon Samsung-Google collaboration, Circle to Search brings a seamless search experience to more Galaxy users Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the availability of Circle to Search with Google for select Galaxy A series   , furthering the democratisation of mobile AI to even more devices in the Galaxy ecosystem. This enhancement underscores Samsung and Google’s continuous dedication to providing the best of mobile technology to as many users as possible.   Circle to Search has quickly become a fan favourite since launching on the Galaxy S24 series, offering a transformative experience of discovery that goes beyond traditional search methods. As it expanded to more Galaxy devices, including the latest Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6, Circle to Search has continuously evolved to enhance its usability and intuitiveness , including adding full-page translation, homework help, and QR and barcode scanning capabilities . Now, with Circle to Search on the Galaxy A series, w

Advent International to invest in SYSPRO, a global provider of manufacturing and distribution software to enhance innovation and growth

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Advent International (“Advent”), one of the world’s largest and most experienced private equity investors, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to invest and acquire a majority ownership stake in  SYSPRO , a leading global ERP software provider for the manufacturing and distribution industries. Founded in 1978, SYSPRO currently employs around 400 people globally and serves customers across six continents, with headquarters in the UK and South Africa.    SYSPRO has established itself as a global leader within its key market verticals, with a purpose-built software suite catering to the most complex customer needs. This transaction will accelerate SYSPRO’s global growth ambitions, through additional investment to support next generation product and technology innovation to unlock growth opportunities in key markets, including the USA and UK.   Advent is an experienced software investor with investments in ERP, financial and manufacturing software. Recent invest

FlySafair’s New Route Boosts Tourism and Economic Growth

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South Africa’s leading low-cost airline, FlySafair, has begun flying its latest direct route from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Mbombela. Although the route has been operational for just over a week since its formal introduction to the market on the 2 nd of August, it has already been praised by the government for its contribution to tourism. Both the new route from OR Tambo to KMIA and its sister route from Cape Town International, launched in April this year, were applauded by Minister of Tourism, Patricia De Lille, for boosting arrivals from various markets and thus growing the tourism sector's contribution to economic growth. ''We are extremely pleased about these additional flights to our popular Kruger National Park, which is enjoyed by so many in our country and by visitors from all over the world. This is indeed a significant lever towards the tourism sector’s efforts to grow tourism’s co

Nedbank Pitch & Polish participant entrepreneurs narrowed down to 16 to compete for R1 million prize

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After a record 1 400 entries were received for the 2024 Nedbank Pitch & Polish Entrepreneurial Competition, 16 entrepreneurs have been shortlisted for a shot at securing a business upliftment prize worth R1 million. As in previous years, there is a broad mix of business types among the entries, including innovative tech start-ups, salons specialising in the treatment of dreadlocks, a biodegradable textile, a groundbreaking at-home health-testing solution, and just about everything in between.   Now in its 14th season, Nedbank Pitch & Polish will once again offer contestants a structured learning programme that will help them hone their investment pitching skills and boost their likelihood of receiving funding for their businesses. Each entrepreneur will be matched with a business mentor from Africa’s leading incubator, Raizcorp, who will work with them on strategy, finance, sales and marketing so that even those contestants who don’t win a prize will leave with valuable knowled