Author: Duncan McLeod

Naspers has agreed to invest R100-million in South African agriculture-technology start-up Aerobotics, which uses artificial intelligence and drone and satellite imagery to help farmers manage crop health and predict crop yields.

Vodacom is working on a new model to reduce battery theft in its base stations that involves community members, working with police, to monitor and safeguard sites.

Dimension Data will retrench in the region of 480 employees following a major restructuring exercise announced in March that saw it pull the plug on two of its biggest brands.

Net1, the company that used to manage the payment of social grants in South Africa, has appointed former Telkom and Eskom chairman Jabu Mabuza as chairman-designate of its board.

Minister Ebrahim Patel has backed down over government’s ban on unfettered e-commerce during level-4 of the lockdown, handing a stunning victory to an industry that has lobbied hard to have the restrictions removed.

A massive new submarine broadband cable is to be built around Africa and the Middle East and is being backed by the likes of Facebook, China Mobile, MTN Group, Vodafone Group and Orange.

JSE-listed technology group Altron has cut its final dividend by 24% to 55c/share to preserve cash amid the economic upheaval created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

MTN Group said it is implementing cost control measures, focusing on mission critical expenses and enhanced oversight of expenditure, amid uncertainty over the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a televised speech on Wednesday night that the Covid-19 level-4 lockdown will remain in place until the end of May – and even then, it may continue in the big cities into June.

Well-known South African technology entrepreneur Stafford Masie, who was appointed as GM of WeWork South Africa last year, joins the podcast to talk about Covid-19, WeWork, the CSIR and more.