Premier Credit Uganda, a subsidiary of Platcorp Group, has secured a $1.5 million investment from Enabling Qapital, a Swiss impact asset manager, to expand financial inclusion in Uganda. The funding will scale microfinance services, support SMEs, and extend access to credit for women, youth, and rural communities, reinforcing Platcorp’s leadership in sustainable finance across Africa.
Africa needs to leverage Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to enhance resilience of its cities
Africa, though contributing minimally to global emissions, bears disproportionate climate impacts, with its rapidly urbanizing cities being the most vulnerable. Heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones threaten infrastructure, livelihoods, and sustainable development. The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), established at COP27, offers a critical opportunity to strengthen Africa’s urban resilience. By financing disaster-ready infrastructure, empowering informal settlements, and supporting capacity-building, the Fund could transform African cities into sustainable, inclusive hubs capable of withstanding climate shocks while advancing socio-economic development.
The trends driving uptake of IoT Platform as a Service
As the digital landscape evolves, IoT Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions are emerging as essential tools for enterprises aiming to scale and innovate efficiently. Driven by the exponential rise in connected devices, demand for real-time analytics, and increased automation, IoT PaaS offers scalability, flexibility, and enhanced security. Key trends fueling this growth include integration of AI/ML, edge computing, sustainability imperatives, and the rise of smart cities. With industry-wide investments accelerating innovation, enterprises are adopting IoT PaaS to support predictive maintenance, operational efficiency, and seamless data management—paving the way for a more connected and intelligent future.
The Cost-of-Living Crisis – A Township Economy Perspective
The Competition Commission’s Cost of Living Report highlights the severe pressure South African households face, with township entrepreneurs experiencing the hardest blow. Rising food, energy, transport, and education costs not only erode family budgets but also undermine small business survival. Township businesses face a double burden: shrinking consumer spending and escalating operating expenses, creating a cycle that stifles growth and innovation. The Township Entrepreneurs Agency (TEA) calls for urgent reforms—fair pricing, affordable utilities, and stronger support systems—to unlock the township economy’s potential. As TEA prepares for the 7th Annual National Township Economy Summit 2025 under the theme Inclusive Economic Future, the focus turns to building resilience, equity, and opportunity for South Africa’s most dynamic but vulnerable economic sector.
From Fundamentals to Growth: Why Most Midcap Stocks That Have Both?
Midcap stocks occupy a unique position in the investment landscape, balancing the stability of large caps with the growth potential of small caps. Unlike market giants, midcaps remain agile and adaptable, while being less volatile than early-stage companies. This makes them appealing to investors seeking both solid fundamentals and expansion opportunities. The article explores what defines midcaps, why they are attractive, potential risks, and the qualities that distinguish fundamentally strong midcap stocks. For investors aiming to capture growth without excessive risk, midcaps present a compelling “sweet spot” in portfolio strategy.
The Transformative Role of AI in Managing Complex IT Ecosystems
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping IT infrastructure management in South Africa, driving efficiency, resilience, and security across hybrid cloud, on-premises, and edge environments. With only 39% of IT teams enjoying full real-time visibility into device usage, AI platforms such as those deployed by Think Tank Software Solutions (TTSS) and Ivanti Neurons deliver automation, predictive maintenance, and anomaly detection. These capabilities reduce downtime costs—which can reach up to R100,000 per minute—while improving asset lifecycle management and sustainability. Beyond cost savings, AI enhances compliance, strengthens security, and accelerates employee onboarding, with clients reporting ROI above 260%. Despite only 11% of organisations being AI-ready, TTSS enables enterprises to bridge this readiness gap, positioning businesses to transition from reactive IT operations to proactive digital innovation.
The importance of making room for humans and AI in recruitment OR Successful hiring strategies must combine human judgment with AI insights
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming recruitment, offering speed, efficiency, and cost savings. Yet, while AI tools can optimise candidate assessments and streamline interviews, they still lack the empathy, intuition, and contextual understanding that human recruiters provide. Drawing on real-world examples, including the risks of algorithmic bias and misinterpretation of candidate behaviour, this article argues that AI should not replace human judgment in hiring but rather complement it. By combining AI-driven insights with human oversight, companies can enhance candidate experiences, reduce bias, and ultimately secure the best talent.
Customer value management as a tool to reduce customer churn
Customer Value Management (CVM) is a powerful tool to reduce customer churn, particularly in the telecommunications sector. Unlike traditional Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, which primarily track customer interactions, CVM focuses on maximizing customer lifetime value by leveraging data insights to create personalized offers. By identifying behavior patterns and understanding customer needs, telecom companies can reduce churn, improve satisfaction, and enhance customer loyalty. This article discusses how CVM tools can help operators understand why churn happens and provide timely, relevant offers to retain valuable customers.
Rebooting the Global Finance System Will Pay Dividends
Reforming the global financial system offers a historic opportunity to accelerate Africa’s urban development and economic integration. Although Public Development Banks (PDBs) make up just 5% of the global financial sector, they manage nearly US$23 trillion in assets and play a vital role in financing long-term development. For African cities—among the fastest-growing in the world—reform could unlock access to affordable, concessional financing for infrastructure, climate adaptation, and social services. By ensuring fairer lending practices, improving debt sustainability, and expanding climate and infrastructure finance, reforms would empower African cities to overcome structural financing barriers while strengthening the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). PDBs, as financiers, facilitators, and innovation partners, are uniquely positioned to drive inclusive growth. Their success, underpinned by global reforms, will shape the continent’s ability to build resilient, integrated, and sustainable cities that deliver shared prosperity.
The complexity of the invisible 130 milliseconds customers spent at a point of sale
Rory Bosman, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Ecentric Payment Systems, explores the complexities behind the 130 milliseconds it takes for a payment to be processed. He breaks down the technical layers and why a seamless transaction is crucial for customer satisfaction.