Wednesday, November 27African Digital Business Magazine

South Africa News

South Africa News

Real Estate, South Africa News

Luxurious Age in Place living: Franschhoek’s La Luc Estate reimagines active retirement

Independent and inspirational – the healthy, active and dynamic 55+ age group in South Africa wants community, lifestyle and privacy from their property investments[1]. Property prices in Franschhoek have soared in the last 10 years at an increase of 104%[2] In 2023, the Franschhoek residential property market generated R565 million in sales, with a total of 104 residential properties sold - of which 70 were own title properties worth R414 million and 24 were sectional title properties worth R151 million.[3] The asking price for properties in Franschhoek varies from R3.3 million to R12 million dependent on size and location Franschhoek's property market is characterised by a strong concentration of wealth, rising property values, increasing local demand and limited developmen...
Agriculture, South Africa News

Insect farming in Africa presents unique opportunity to overcome global challenges for a more sustainable future

Insect farming is rapidly emerging as a game-changer in sustainable food production. According to Antonine Hubert, second vice-president of the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed, this sector has become the fastest-growing sustainable protein production industry in the European Union (EU). With over €1.5 billion invested in EU insect-producing companies, insect farming is contributing to thousands of green jobs, proving its significance in the global economy. Dean Smorenburg, CEO at Maltento, emphasizes the potential for insect farming in Africa, and South Africa: “Insect farming in Africa offers a revolutionary way to create more sustainable food sources. By rearing insects like Black Soldier Flies (BSF), we are able to convert organic waste into high-value products such...
Fintech, South Africa News

Happy Pay, SA fintech, raises $1.8M to reduce the cost of consumer credit to zero

Happy Pay raises $1.8 million pre-seed round and secures inaugural debt facility as it accelerates its mission of bringing the cost of consumer credit to zero for South Africans. Happy Pay, South Africa’s only independent BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) provider, now with 150,000 active users, announced today that it has raised $1.8 million in pre-seed funding. The funding round was led by a group of prominent South African venture capital investors, including co-lead investors E4E Africa and 4Di Capital, with participation from DotExe Ventures, Launch Africa, Equitable Ventures, Felix Strategic Investment, U.S.-based Gaingels, and local angels. In addition, Fin Africa (formerly Finclusion Group) is providing Happy Pay’s debt facility. Happy Pay’s forward-compliant BNPL platform, designed to m...
Real Estate, South Africa News

Construction of Club Med South Africa Progresses To 2026 Opening

Construction of Club Med's first Resort in South Africa is in full swing, and the excitement is building as it moves steadily toward its scheduled opening in July 2026. Officially named Club Med South Africa, this unique destination promises to deliver the perfect mix of beachside relaxation and safari experiences. Nestled alongside the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, and bordered by vibrant wildlife reserves, the Resort will be an ideal escape for both international and local travelers looking for a blend of tranquility and adventure. Key Milestones and Construction Phases The scale of this development has necessitated a phased construction approach, allowing for multiple aspects of the project to advance simultaneously. The current focus is on three critical components: Hot...
South Africa News, Startups

Embracing the entrepreneurial mindset: Lessons from the trenches

By Daniel Levy, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Flow In the business world, nothing stays the same for long. This makes an entrepreneurial mindset not just helpful, but essential. So what does it take? How can eager entrepreneurs tackle the complexities of the modern market and come out stronger? Having walked this path myself, I know the road to success is rocky and rarely straightforward. But I’ve found it's this unpredictability that best hones the skills and fuels ambition. Here are five learnings that have shaped my experience and continue to drive my leadership at Flow into new territories. 1. Blind luck might open a door, but it’s grit that turns luck into success Luck, they say, favours the prepared mind. In my experience, luck is just the spark – grit is the fuel that keeps the fire ...
Fintech, South Africa News

Remain vigilant in the face of increased banking scams urges the SAFPS

The end of the year is fast approaching, and with it, the festive season and general anticipation for that hard-earned vacation that many South Africans work so hard for during the year. While this is a time of good cheer and increased shopping activity to prepare for the December break, it is also a busy time for scammers who want to take advantage of this activity. Many South Africans have recently contacted a popular Johannesburg radio station reporting increased attempts at banking fraud, with scammers sometimes becoming increasingly aggressive and convincing. "This is not uncommon," warns Roy Retief, Head of Operations at the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). Scammers generally tend to be more active during periods of increased consumer activity. It is essential to...
Events, South Africa News, Tech

DID:UNCONF AFRICA: Reshaping Digital Identity in the SADC

Cape Town will host an important gathering on digital identity initiatives and innovation in the SADC region at the end of September. Local digital identity start-up, DIDx is proud to announce that they, together with the renowned Internet Identity Workshop (IIW), will host DID:UNCONF AFRICA, a groundbreaking event set to revolutionise the digital identity landscape in the SADC region. This two-day open space ‘unconference’ will take place on 25 to 26 September at the Hasso Plattner Design School at UCT, following in the footsteps of its inspiration, the Internet Identity Workshop (IIW), held twice a year in Silicon Valley since 2005. An unconference is a participant-driven meeting. The term “unconference” has been applied, or self-applied, to a wide range of gatherings that try to avoi...
Agriculture, Events, South Africa News

GCCA ISSUES CALL TO ACTION ON FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE AND BOOSTING TRADE IN AFRICA

African policy leaders must support robust growth in the cold chain for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to boost prosperity, food supply chain resilience, and trade across the continent, says the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) today as the GCCA Africa conference opens at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town. The GCCA is the international association for temperature-controlled logistics businesses. The GCCA Africa conference will see Africa’s cold chain professionals gather for two days of discussion on key challenges and opportunities related to the storage and distribution of perishable goods, including improving food security, reducing trade barriers, sustainability in a changing world and the impacts on food logistics of energy load shedding. The GCCA’s...
South Africa News, Tech

Metrofile Cloud launches EverFiles: Transforming cloud storage in South and East Africa

In a strategic move to cater to the burgeoning demand for secure and efficient cloud storage solutions, Metrofile Cloud today announced the official rollout of EverFiles, a cloud storage platform designed for businesses across South Africa and East Africa. EverFiles is predicted to make a significant impact as it launches amid a fast-growing enterprise file synchronization and sharing (EFSS) market, which is projected to reach USD 2,691.01 million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 26.1%.  “EverFiles aims to be at the heart of digital workplace evolution, providing a seamless and secure platform for businesses to manage and share files,” stated Steve Porter, Managing Director at Metrofile Cloud. “In a region that is rapidly adopting digital and cloud-based solutions, EverFiles stands out by of...
South Africa News, Tech

Data breaches and their fallout for South African enterprises and consumers

Data breaches are a chronic and growing menace for South African enterprises and consumers. Interconnected systems mean data breaches have become widespread threats, affecting millions. As businesses transition to digital platforms to improve efficiency and customer experience, Carey van Vlaanderen, CEO of ESET Southern Africa, says they inadvertently create more entry points for cybercriminals. Information Regulator chairperson advocate Pansy Tlakula says the organisation receives more than 150 data breach notifications a month. That’s compared to 2023 when Tlakula revealed that the country suffered about 56 data breaches a month. This surge is partly blamed on the over-processing of personal information and a general complacency towards cybersecurity among South Africans. Notable brea...